US embassy cable - 04BUENOSAIRES3489

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 003489 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR TOM SHANNON 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/17/2014 
TAGS: PHUM, PREL, AR, CU, MOLINA 
SUBJECT: MOLINA INCIDENT CREATES TURMOIL WITHIN ARGENTINE 
MFA 
 
REF: A. BUENOS AIRES 3406 
     B. BUENOS AIRES 3364 
     C. BUENOS AIRES 1903 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Lino Gutierrez for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
 1. (U) Following the Molina incident at the Argentine 
embassy in Havana on December 16, Chief of Cabinet Alberto 
Fernandez told reporters on Friday that a "clarification" 
would be made later in the day regarding the status of the 
Argentine ambassador to Cuba, Raul Taleb, and the MFA chief 
of cabinet, Eduardo Valdes, following reports that both would 
be asked to resign for allegedly mishandling the Molina 
affair.  (Indeed, the pro-Kirchner Pagina 12 was already 
referring to Valdes as the "ex-chief of cabinet.")  The 
Fernandez press conference follows stories in all the major 
dailies reporting on President Kirchner's fury at the bungled 
attempt to secure permission from the Cuban government for 
Molina to travel to Argentina. 
 
2. (C) Castro's continued refusal to allow Molina and her 
mother to travel to Argentina (reftels) continues to 
complicate Kirchner's policy of "constructive engagement" 
with the Castro regime and has now caused a rift between the 
Casa Rosada and members of its Foreign Ministry team.  One of 
the Foreign Minister's senior advisors, Ambassador Fernando 
Petrella, confirmed to the DCM on Friday that Kirchner is 
very upset with the way the MFA has handled the entire Molina 
affair in general (including the embassy incident) and, in 
particular, with the Foreign Ministry making public his 
personal and emotional letter to Castro requesting permission 
for Molina and her mother to travel to Argentina for 
Christmas.  Castro's public rejection of that request did not 
reflect well on Kirchner's prestige.  Petrella said that 
Kirchner was also upset with Bielsa's statements regarding 
Molina while in Washington to meet with the Secretary. 
 
3. (C) Comment:  While we have no confirmation at this time 
that Valdes and Taleb are out, if heads are to roll, they are 
convenient scapegoats.  Reports that Bielsa's job is also in 
jeopardy are likely premature.  Already an outsider to 
Kirchner's tight inner circle, Bielsa's position has no doubt 
been further eroded.  In his favor, however, is the fact that 
Kirchner has no ready replacement for Bielsa and would likely 
be very reluctant to make such a change on the eve of 
Argentina assuming the presidency of the UN Security Council 
in January.  Kirchner's anger and embarrassment over the 
handling of the Molina case, while publicly directed at his 
own foreign affairs team, is ultimately a stinging reminder 
of the pitfalls of "constructive engagement" with the Castro 
regime. 
GUTIERREZ