UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 000879
USDOC for 4322/ITA/MAC/OLAC/APeacher
USDOC for 3134/ITA/USFCS/OIO/WH/MKeshishian
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL, OVIP, EINV, PINR, AR
SUBJECT: More than Malbec: Ambassador Donates Scholarships and
Talks Development in Mendoza
Summary
--------
1. Ambassador visited the Binational Center in Mendoza and presented
certificates to 21 Mendoza high school students who have received
scholarships to study English as part of the Embassy's
Sarmiento-Mann scholarship program. Ambassador then met with
influential Mendoza Governor Celso Jaque and received a thorough
update on the Governor's broad-based approach for improving public
security in the province. Jaque described the results of his first
six months in office, his administration has made important strides
in improving the work of the police, in fighting drugs, child labor
and trafficking in persons, and has developed a long-term,
strategic, plan for bringing improved public security to the
province. Governor Jaque also detailed a series of progressive
policy initiatives designed to improve education, promote economic
growth and bring an overall better quality-of-life to his
constituents. End Summary.
Sarmiento-Mann Scholarships to Study English
--------------------------------------------
2. Following up on a successful visit to President Sarmiento's
birthplace in neighboring San Juan province, Ambassador Wayne
visited the Asociacion Mendocina de Intercambio Cultural Argentino
Norteamericano (AMICANA), to present certificates to 21 local high
school students who are studying English at the binational center as
part of the Embassy's Sarmiento-Mann scholarship program. The visit
afforded the Ambassador the opportunity to highlight the ECA/Embassy
June 3 announcement of a 250,000 dollar investment by the U.S.
Department of State that will allow the Embassy to expand the
Sarmiento-Mann Scholarship program and provide scholarships for
Argentine high school students throughout the country to study
English as a second language. After presenting the certificates,
Ambassador participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new
wing of classrooms at the AMICANA facility and met many of the
AMICANA students. The events received prominent press and TV
coverage.
Governor Jaque's First Priority is Public Security
--------------------------------------------- -----
3. Subsequently, Ambassador met with Mendoza Governor Celso Jaque.
The two have met on a number of occasions (Reftel) and in previous
meetings Jaque has acknowledged problems with law and order in
Mendoza and stated that his first priority as Governor is improving
public security. He began the meeting by explaining his
administration's broad-based approach to public security.
4. After only six months in office, Governor Jaque said his
administration has made great strides in improving the work of the
local police, but added that this will be a long term effort. They
have invested in improved police training; have purchased police
uniforms for both hot and cold weather, and no longer require
policeman to purchase their own uniforms; have purchased
bullet-proof vests, new vehicles and enough bullets to allow for
target practice; and have re-established a 911 system for reporting
emergencies. Governor Jaque stated his police force is interested
in any assistance the U.S. can provide, particularly in the area of
training. [Note: Embassy law enforcement agencies, led by DEA
country office, maintain good relations with Mendoza law enforcement
officials and have provided training to Mendoza security forces and
judicial sector. End Note.]
5. Jaque explained that the provincial government has also taken a
very active role in fighting drugs with a strong focus on prevention
and treatment. His administration has set up the first centers in
the province that are working to help kids get off drugs. They are
creating programs to get kids into school, off street corners, and
away from drugs. They are also working to better coordinate the
efforts of the provincial and federal police forces in going after
drug traffickers.
6. Jaque noted that the provincial government just signed an
agreement with the national Ministry of Justice, Security and Human
Rights to build a new federal prison in Mendoza that will largely be
available for high security prisoners with provincial convictions.
They also plan to build three more provincial jails in the next
three years.
7. Jaque said that his administration is also aggressively seeking
to combat child labor and trafficking in persons. His
administration is taking an integrated approach to these related
problems with the police, labor office and family affairs office all
cooperating in pursuing wrongdoers and providing support for
victims. Mendoza would be happy to receive any U.S. assistance or
training on issues related to child labor or trafficking in persons.
8. Governor Jaque emphasized that this multi-faceted approach to
providing public security is a long-term effort. He said he
believes his administration has already helped to reverse the trend
of increasing lawlessness that existed prior to his inauguration,
even if he has not yet seen a major reduction in crime rates. He
stated that he believes little-by-little the province will see
improvements in public security and that this in turn presents
tremendous additional opportunities for the province.
Jaque Views Public Security and Education as Key Steps to Promote
Economic Growth
--------------------------------------------
9. Governor Jaque stated his belief that investment in education is
both a way to attack crime and a way to prepare the province for
increased economic growth. He related his ideas for improving
public education by investing in the infrastructure of schools,
particularly in rural schools, and explained plans for bringing
internet connectivity to substantially wider parts of the province.
Travel to Atlanta and Washington
--------------------------------
10. Governor Jaque then detailed a progressive list of policy
initiatives his administration is pursuing. He explained the
importance of lower middle-class citizens being able to afford homes
and described a program the province has developed with several
banks for offering subsidized mortgages to lower middle-class
citizens. He said he believes this program is especially important
for teachers so that good teachers can continue teaching and be
fixtures in the community. He spoke expansively about various
proposed projects including investments in infrastructure,
hydroelectric dams and a new gas pipeline. He stated substantial
investment continues in the wine industry and in the concentrated
frozen grape juice market. He presented several ideas his
government has for working with agricultural producers to increase
productivity, including ideas for protecting fruit trees from
damaging hail storms. He briefly described efforts to expand
activities in the mining and petroleum sectors. He said that
efforts to promote mining were hindered by a law passed last year by
the federal government and that expanding exploration for petroleum
was also complicated by the activities of the federal government.
He indicated that his administration has had discussions with the
federal government on these issues without elaborating.
10. Governor Jaque then described his ideas for promoting economic
growth in Mendoza. He noted that he will be attending the Americas
Competitiveness Forum that Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez
will host in Atlanta in August. The trip is part of an overall plan
to focus on economic development in the province. He said he hopes
to meet with wide and divergent U.S. audiences both to promote
exports of products from Mendoza to the U.S. and to discuss
investment opportunities for American companies in Mendoza. He said
he also plans to go to Washington during the trip to meet with
representatives of the World Bank and the Inter-American Development
Bank.
11. Governor Jaque discussed the activities of international trade
offices that Mendoza has opened or plans to open soon in Atlanta
(moving it from Miami), Sao Paulo and London and spoke of possibly
signing an accord with the Chamber of Commerce in Atlanta.
Ambassador encouraged Governor Jaque's administration to work with
the Embassy, particularly the Foreign Commercial Service, to explore
mutually beneficial investment opportunities. Ambassador alluded to
U.S. companies with an interest in possibly investing in Argentina,
but not having full knowledge of all the opportunities in Mendoza.
Governor Jaque stated his administration looks forward to sharing
further information with the Embassy concerning Mendoza's overall
plans to attract foreign investment. At that point, he requested
that Guillermo Migliozzi, provincial Minister of Production,
Technology and Innovation, join the meeting, introduced him to the
Ambassador and advised that Minister Migliozzi is the principal
point of contact in his administration for international investment
issues.
Promoting Ties to U.S. States
-----------------------------
12. Governor Jaque lamented the lack of ties between Mendoza and
states and cities in the U.S. He said he is eager to promote
cultural exchanges between Mendoza and representatives of state and
local governments in the U.S. and is keen on developing a
sister-city relationship with a U.S. city. He mentioned possibly
having a sister-city relationship in the future with an unnamed city
near Atlanta where many Argentine ex-pats are residing. Ambassador
voiced enthusiasm for this type of cultural exchange and urged
Governor Jaque to speak to Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana
about a program for promoting ties between the Argentine provinces
and U.S. states.
13. Commentand bio note: Governor Jaque appears to be an
energetic, committed, public official who genuinely cares about
improving the lives of his constituents. Heis eager to promote
closer ties and cooperation with the U.S. Heis focused on seeking
solutions to problems and not on political ideology, and appears to
view working with U.S. interests as a way to help improve the
quality of life of the people in the province. His high-school age
daughter will be studying for a year in upstate New York starting in
August 2008, and he and his wife will be hosting a high-school
student from the U.S. in their home for the year. This cultural
exchange should only increase his familiarity and comfort with the
U.S. He is a member of the Partido Justicialista (Peronist
Party)and was elected in October 2007 with the active support of
the Kirchners. Since that time he has been trying to balance
between supporting GOA policies while also pursuing independent
policies that willimprove the lives of the people in Mendoza. The
Embassy should be able to maintain an excellent working relationship
with Mendoza provincial authorities while Jaque is in office. End
Comment.
Kelly