US embassy cable - 05BUENOSAIRES223

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BUENOS AIRES 000223 
 
SIPDIS 
 
WHA FOR A/S ROGER NORIEGA AND PDAS JIM DERHAM 
NSC FOR TOM SHANNON 
VICE PRESIDENT'S OFFICE FOR HEATHER VIEIRA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/01/2015 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, AR 
SUBJECT: VICE PRESIDENT SCIOLI OUTLINES THEMES FOR MEETING 
WITH VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY; SEEKS INCREASED COOPERATION 
WITH U.S. 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Lino Gutierrez for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
1. (C) Summary:  In a February 1 meeting with the Ambassador, 
Argentine Vice President Scioli reviewed some of the themes 
and concerns he hopes to raise in his meeting next week with 
Vice President Cheney.  Scioli said the meeting would present 
an opportunity to further develop the bilateral agenda 
between the two countries and to emphasize the current 
cooperative relationship, notably in counterterrorism and 
counternarcotics efforts.  Noting that perceptions in the 
U.S. of Argentina have a great impact on events here, Scioli 
expressed the desire for increased cultural, economic and 
political interchange.  Scioli pointed out the strategic 
importance of Argentina in hemispheric affairs, referring to 
GOA efforts to support constitutional democracy in Bolivia 
and peacekeeping in Haiti.  He expressed appreciation for 
past U.S. support with the IMF as well as the hope that such 
support would continue.  He said the GOA was committed to a 
successful Summit of the Americas and hoped that President 
Bush would be able to attend. 
 
2. (C) The Ambassador told Scioli that we were pleased with 
the direction of our bilateral agenda and particularly 
appreciative of the high level of cooperation on 
counterterrorism issues.  Regarding issues that needed to be 
addressed, the Ambassador raised the need to conclude an 
Article 98 agreement, concerns regarding the GOA's relations 
with Cuba and the need for fair treatment for U.S. investors. 
 In light of the current visit of President Chavez to 
Argentina, the Ambassador also took the opportunity to repeat 
to Scioli our concerns about events in Venezuela.  End 
Summary. 
 
3. (C) Argentine Vice President Daniel Scioli, accompanied by 
his chief of staff Ricardo Lagorio, met with the Ambassador 
in the Embassy to discuss his upcoming meeting on February 7 
with Vice President Dick Cheney.  Scioli had requested the 
meeting to outline the topics and themes he wanted to cover 
in the meeting and to receive feedback from the Ambassador on 
the current state of U.S.- Argentine relations. 
 
4. (C) Scioli remarked that he looked forward to his meeting 
with VP Cheney as an opportunity to further expand on our 
bilateral agenda.  He said the main focus of his comments 
would be to underscore to VP Cheney the current economic and 
political stability of Argentina and the reliability of the 
GOA as a strategic partner to the U.S. in hemispheric 
affairs.  He pointed out, in particular, the importance the 
GOA places on close cooperation in counterterrorism and 
counternarcotics matters. 
 
5. (C) More broadly, Scioli said the GOA wanted to cooperate 
with the U.S. on a wide range of economic, political and 
defense issues.  He pointed out the supportive role the GOA 
had played in promoting constitutional government in Bolivia, 
its military commitment to the peacekeeping mission in Haiti 
and its efforts to support democracy and human rights in 
Venezuela.  He noted that U.S. and Argentine objectives 
coincided in these countries and that GOA efforts, therefore, 
helped advance U.S. strategic interests.  He said that 
Argentina had traditionally looked to Europe for inspiration, 
but he believed that closer relations with the U.S. provided 
a more appropriate model for Argentina's future development. 
Scioli believed the way to achieve this was through increased 
investment and business ties, tourism and student exchanges. 
He said that perceptions in the U.S. about Argentina had a 
great impact on events here during the 2001-02 economic and 
political crisis.  He expressed appreciation for U.S. support 
with international financial institutions and noted the need 
for Argentina to maintain growth to help the country recover 
economic prosperity.  Regarding the ongoing effort to 
restructure its public debt in default, Scioli said the 
current offer was the best deal Argentina could support and 
that the GOA hoped for a broad acceptance of the offer. 
 
6. (C) Scioli raised the status of the FTAA, stating that as 
more countries came to individual or regional free-trade 
agreements with the U.S., they might be less interested in a 
hemisphere-wide trade agreement.  He opined that the U.S. 
might be more interested in a trade pact with Mercosur.  The 
Ambassador assured Scioli that the FTAA was still a U.S. 
priority and pointed out that Brazil's trade interests would 
not always be the same as Argentina's. 
 
7. (C) On a more personal level, Scioli drew parallels 
between his own career and that of VP Cheney.  He noted they 
both had been successful businessmen as well as 
representatives before being elected as vice presidents. 
Scioli is very interested in his role as head of the 
Argentine Senate and has proposed modernization measures 
(e.g. electronic voting, live television coverage) based in 
part on how the U.S. Senate is run.  (Note: According to 
staff members, Scioli has proposed this commonality might be 
a means of strengthening bilateral ties. End Note.) 
 
8. (C) The Ambassador told Scioli that we were, in general, 
pleased with the direction of our bilateral relationship.  He 
noted in particular our appreciation for the high level of 
cooperation and assistance provided by the GOA on 
counterterrorism issues and underscored the importance of 
Argentina's role in promoting stability and democracy in the 
hemisphere.  He also congratulated the GOA for its successful 
chairmanship of the United Nations Security Council during 
January.  When asked by Scioli what areas VP Cheney might 
raise that still need attention, the Ambassador suggested 
that reaching an consensus on an Article 98 agreement -- thus 
allowing the two countries to increase military to military 
cooperation through joint exercises -- was of high priority. 
Another area of potential concern was the GOA's relationship 
with Cuba in light of the egregious violation of human rights 
by the Castro regime.  On the commercial side, the Ambassador 
noted VP Cheney might mention the need for fair treatment for 
U.S. investors in such areas as electricity and utilities. 
 
9. (C) Taking note of the fact that President Chavez was 
currently in Buenos Aires (on what the Casa Rosada was 
downplaying as a "commercial" visit), the Ambassador also 
took the opportunity to repeat to Scioli our serious concerns 
with recent events in Venezuela.  The Ambassador noted the 
influence President Kirchner had been able to exert over 
Chavez in the past and urged the GOA to follow through on 
these issues with Chavez during his visit.  Scioli lamented 
that Chavez believed his victory in last year's recall 
referendum now gave him the right to do whatever he pleased. 
 
10. (C) Finally, Scioli noted the GOA's commitment for a 
successful Summit of the Americas, which Argentina will host 
in November.  He said the GOA is very hopeful that President 
Bush will be able to attend. 
 
11. (U) To see more Buenos Aires reporting, visit our 
classified website at: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/buenosaires.< /a> 
 
GUTIERREZ