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### Viewing cable 08BUENOSAIRES225, ARGENTINE PRESIDENT KIRCHNER ENGAGES CONSTRUCTIVELY WITH

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
08BUENOSAIRES225 | 2008-02-25 13:01 | 2011-03-13 07:07 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Buenos Aires
Appears in these articles: http://www.lanacion.com.ar/1356989-la-presidenta-queria-una-relacion-mas-estrecha-con-estados-unidos

`

    VZCZCXYZ0000
    RR RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHBU #0225/01 0561316
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    R 251316Z FEB 08
    FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0295
    INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
    RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 1049

` `

    UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000225

    SIPDIS

    SENSITIVE
    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: PREL OREP PTER KIRF PHUM KV IR VZ AR
    SUBJECT:  ARGENTINE PRESIDENT KIRCHNER ENGAGES CONSTRUCTIVELY WITH
    CODEL ENGEL

    ¶1. (SBU) Summary and introduction:  Argentine President Cristina
    Fernandez de Kirchner (CFK) engaged enthusiastically for an hour in
    her office February 21 with visiting U.S. Congressional delegation
    headed by Representative Eliot Engel (D-NY), chairman of the House
    Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, and the Ambassador.  In the
    very positive, upbeat meeting, the codel congratulated the President
    on Argentina's economic recovery, and she drew attention to
    employment gains and other positive social indicators.  They
    reviewed the potential for greater cooperation in areas such as
    science and technology, including renewable energy.  The codel
    raised concerns about Iranian political activities in the region,
    and the President promised to combat vigorously anti-Semitism and
    other forms of discrimination and said she would fight terrorism
    ""out of conviction.""  The codel urged passage of legislation
    criminalizing trafficking in persons, and Rep. Engel made a pitch
    for recognition of Kosovo's independence.  CFK expressed her
    admiration for the United States' bipartisan practices and her
    desire to work to improve bilateral relations.  The Casa Rosada gave
    high-profile media attention to the meeting, and
    Ambassador-designate Timerman told the Ambassador subsequently that
    CFK was enthused about prospects for relaunching relations.  End
    summary.

    ¶2. (U) U.S. participants included Representatives Jerry Weller
    (R-IL), Gene Greene (D-TC), Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Virginia Foxx
    (R-NC), and State DAS Joel Starr.  GOA participants included Chief
    of Cabinet Alberto Fernandez, Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana, and
    Argentine Ambassador to the United States Hector Timerman.

    ------------------------------------
    CFK on Argentina's Economic Recovery
    ------------------------------------

    ¶3. (SBU) Rep. Engel congratulated President Cristina Fernandez de
    Kirchner (CFK) on winning the elections.  He said that growing up in
    a blue-collar family instilled in him the belief that government's
    role is to improve the lives of working people.  CFK's political
    record demonstrated to him that she shared the same perspective.
    Rep. Weller added that he was a big supporter of female
    participation in political life, noting that he was married to Zury
    Rios Sosas, a leading member of the Guatemalan Congress.  CFK
    described her election as Argentina's first democratically-elected
    female President as ""eventful"", and noted that what was even more
    ""remarkable"" was Argentina's economic recovery from the 2001-02
    economic crisis.  She cited several GOA socio-economic achievements
    accomplished during the administration of her husband, former
    President Nestor Kirchner:  1) Argentina's unemployment fell from
    24% to 7.5%; 2) salaried workers earned the equivalent of 34% of GDP
    in 2003 and now earned 41%; and 3) the value of Argentina's exports
    grew 67% in the last year.  Rep. Hinchey commented that
    congratulations are overdue for Argentina's economic success.

    --------------------------------------------- --
    CFK Desire to Expand Energy and S&T Cooperation
    --------------------------------------------- --

    ¶4. (SBU) Rep. Weller and Rep. Hinchey both expressed the codel's
    desire to build the US-Argentine relationship.  Weller expressed
    appreciation for GOA efforts to combat the drug trade and terrorism,
    as well as its ongoing commitment to rebuild Haiti.  Hinchey then
    asked what the USG could do to improve the bilateral relationship.
    CFK noted that when she was a guest at the 2004 Democratic National
    Convention, she participated in a meeting for foreign visitors
    hosted by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.  According
    to CFK, participants in the meeting concluded that the U.S. was not
    paying enough attention to Latin America.  CFK said she agreed with
    that assessment.

    ¶5. (SBU) CFK said there were a number of areas where the U.S. and
    Argentina could cooperate more, such as in the areas of science and
    technology.  She added that she had just created a Ministry of
    Science and Technology.  When Hinchey asked about Argentina's energy
    situation, CFK stated that they are trying to diversify their energy
    sources and move away from over-reliance on natural gas and oil.
    This is another area for more U.S.-Argentine cooperation.  Rep.
    Greene noted that the U.S., like Argentina needs to diversify its
    power sources.  He stated that wind power has great potential in
    southern Argentina, and that a number of U.S. companies are working
    in this area.  ""We know that decreasing the use of coal and
    petroleum is better for the environment, and we need to focus on
    developing natural gas, wind, and nuclear power,"" he stated.  CFK
    agreed.

    --------------------------------------------- --------
    CFK: LatAm will Reject Iranian Propaganda by Instinct
    --------------------------------------------- --------

    ¶6. (SBU) Turning to Iran, Weller observed that no nation in the
    Western Hemisphere has suffered more than Argentina from
    Iran-sponsored terrorism and praised CFK for being a strong advocate

    for the Jewish community.  He raised the U.S. Congress's concern
    over Bolivian President Evo Morales' February 18 announcement that
    Iran will open a regional television station in Bolivia.  He
    cautioned that the channel could be used as a vehicle to broadcast
    anti-Semitic propaganda.

    ¶7. (SBU) CFK indicated she was not aware of the potential TV
    broadcasts but recalled that shehad served on the congressional
    joint committee charged with investigating the terrorist bombings of
    the Israeli Embassy in 1992 and the AMIA Jewish cultural center in
    ¶1994.  She downplayed the concern over the possibility of the
    Iranian TV channel being used to spread anti-Semitism propaganda,
    saying that Latin American would reject this ""by instinct.""  ""Latin
    America has a lot of problems, but anti-Semitism is not one of
    them,"" she insisted.  She noted that Argentina had just hosted an
    Arab-Latin American Summit and claimed that the Saudi Foreign
    Minister told her he was ""amazed at how well Muslims, Jews, and
    Christians exist in Argentina.""  She noted that the Jewish people
    have suffered throughout history, and that others have suffered
    persecution as well, not just Jews.  She assured the delegation that
    she would ""guarantee"" that Argentina would never accept policies
    that discriminate on the basis of religion, color, gender, or sexual
    orientation.  ""I am very passionate about this,"" she said, adding
    that she did not believe anti-Jewish ideas could take root today in
    Argentina and said Argentina would remain strongly committed in the
    fight against terrorism.  We do this not just because we have been
    victims but out of conviction, she concluded.

    ¶8. (SBU) CFK noted that she was invited last year to speak at the
    Venezuelan Jewish Community's 40th anniversary celebration and was
    aware of their fear of pressure on them.  Engel expressed his
    appreciation for CFK's efforts to help the embattled Jewish
    community in Venezuela.  He indicated that he had also been invited
    to visit Caracas, but had not yet accepted the invitation due to
    conflicting advice on whether or not his visit would help or hurt
    Venezuela's Jewish community.

    ----------------------
    Trafficking in Persons
    ----------------------

    ¶9. (SBU) Rep. Foxx said that she is a conservative Republican but
    also a champion of women's rights and a member of the Women's Caucus
    in the U.S. House of Representatives.  The U.S. Congress was
    strongly supportive of global efforts to combat trafficking in
    persons, particularly education programs to prevent people from
    falling prey to traffickers, assistance to protect victims, and
    greater efforts to prosecute traffickers.  In that last connection,
    she understood the Argentine Congress was working on federal
    anti-trafficking legislation, and expressed support for its prompt
    passage and implementation.  CFK acknowledged that it was a
    legislative priority.

    --------------------------
    Venezuelan Agents in Miami
    --------------------------

    ¶10. (SBU) Rep. Engel said he agreed with CFK that the U.S. had not
    paid enough attention to Latin America, a region we neglect at our
    own peril.  He said he hoped we could work together on this, despite
    the bad start because of the misunderstanding over the Miami court
    case against four aliens charged with acting as unregistered agents
    of a foreign power in the United States.  The way the case was
    publicly presented ""pained us,"" he said.  The case would follow its
    due course, he added, because that's the way our system works.
    Whatever happens in that court case, he and his subcommittee would
    regard Argentina as a partner and seek to work closely to strengthen
    relations.

    ---------------------------------
    Kosovo and the Malvinas/Falklands
    ---------------------------------

    ¶11. (SBU) Rep. Engel thanked the President for Argentine cooperation
    in security issues, including the tri-border area,
    counter-narcotics, and counter-terrorism, and then he raised Kosovo.
     Acknowledging Argentina's sensitivities (related to its claim to
    the Falklands/Malvinas), Engel noted that he had visited Kosovo
    10-12 times.  He took an interest in Kosovo because when he first
    got involved in politics, Albanian-American constituents started
    educating him about the extent of repression against ethnic
    Albanians in the region.  He had long supported Kosovo independence,
    and he hoped we could address Argentine concerns so that it, too,
    could help Kosovo.

    ¶12. (SBU) CFK said recognition of Kosovo independence was
    problematic due to Argentina's need to avoid doing or saying
    anything that could undermine its claim to the Malvinas/Falklands.
    While the GOA could recognize and honor the U.S. position, its
    overriding concern was to protect its claim to the

    Malvinas/Falklands, which was ""enshrined in our constitution.""   She
    noted that the GOA had been trying to get HMG to family members of
    Argentine troops killed in the 1982 war to charter a flight to the
    islands to visit the tombs of their loved ones.  She said HMG had
    yet to grant this ""humanitarian gesture"" because of resistance from
    the islanders.

    --------------------------------------------- -----
    Bilateral Relations and Argentina's New Ambassador
    --------------------------------------------- -----

    ¶12. (SBU) CFK thanked Engel for his remarks regarding the Miami
    court case, which she considered an unfortunate incident.  She said
    the codel's visit was ""a very important gesture,"" which she
    appreciated and that she wanted to improve bilateral relations,
    which is one of the reasons Hector Timerman would soon be
    Argentina's Ambassador in Washington.  Engel said he hoped to make a
    positive contribution to the bilateral relationship.  He said he
    looked forward to working with Timerman.  CFK said Timerman was a
    close advisor and good friend, ""one of my most intelligent
    appointments.""  She credited Timerman for her first visit to Israel,
    when she received a human rights award from the University of
    Jersualem.  CFK recalled that Timerman had been an exile in the
    United States, became an American citizen, and eventually
    relinquished that citizenship in order to take up responsibilities
    as Argentina's consul general in New York City.  She said he
    remained deeply grateful to the United States and would work
    diligently to help the bilateral relationship.

    -------------------------
    A Fan of the American Way
    -------------------------

    ¶14. (SBU) CFK drew the meeting to a close with praise for the United
    States.  ""Don't forget -- Argentina's Constitution is a copy of the
    U.S. Constitution,"" she said.  Sadly, Argentina had lost its
    bipartisan system when it ""exploded"" in the 2001 crisis.  That
    bipartisanship had never worked so well in Argentina as it has in
    the United States.  She said she greatly admired the civic spirit of
    the United States, particularly the commitment, once an election was
    over, to pull together behind the winner, and the willingness to put
    country over party, national interests over partisanship.

    ¶15. (SBU) Comment:  CFK had her media advisors give prominent
    attention to the meeting, and it was widely and positively covered
    locally.  GOA Ambassador-designate Timerman told the Ambassador
    February 22 that he had met later in the day with CFK and that she
    was very upbeat about the meeting and about relaunching efforts to
    improve bilateral relations with the U.S.

    WAYNE

`