CONGRESSMAN SOLARZ VISIT TO ARGENTINA, JANUARY 14-18, 1984

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP90B01370R000801030044-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 19, 2010
• Sequence Number: 44
• Publication Date: January 28, 1984
• Content Type: CABLE

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/20: CIA-RDP90BO137OR000801030044-2
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PAGE OCI
TOR 2818002 JAr.' 84
RR R'UEATIE
ZNY CCCCC ZOC STATE ZZH
STU3533
RR RUEHC
DE RUEHEU *0661'01 0272215
ZZn
1 :"22162 LiAN 8>
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC'SECSTATE WASHDC 0248
INFO RUESSG/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 2879
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 5663
RUESLM!AMEMBASS: 'LIMA 4716
P.JESMG' MFMBASSY MANAGUA 0449
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 0764
R-JEHMIJ.'AM.1EMBASS, MONTEVIIDES 9278
RUEHSJ/AMEME'ASS'' SAN JOSE 0841
RUEHSN'AMEMBASSI' SAN SALVADOR 0516
RUESNA/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 6826
RUEOEHA/USCINCSO QUARRY HEIGHTS ON
GJCESAA/USCTNC'--ANT NORFOLK VA
RJEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0145
Bi
BUENOS AIRES 00661
CINCSC FOR INTAFF
CINCLANT ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR
TA':S: LREF. PGC\' AR
SUBJECT. CONGRESSMAN SO~ARZ' VISIT TO ARGENTINA,
JANUARY 14-18, L984
2. SUMMARY. CODEL SOLARZ HAD AN EXCEPTIONALLY EUS
AND USEFUL STAY IN BUENOS AIRES, JANUARY 14-18,
MEETING WITH A BROAD CROSS SECTION OF PERSONS
REPRESENTING THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, CONGRESS,
BUSINESSMEN AND ECONOMISTS, POLITICAL AND LABOR LEADERS,
HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVISTS, INTELLECTUALS, AND FOREIGN
DIPLOMATS. THE CONGRESSMAN'S INTERLOCUTORS UNIFORMLY
ASSURED HIM THAT THE ODDS IN FAVOR OF DEMOCRACY
TAKING ROOT AND FLUORISHING IN ARGENTINA NOW ARE
GREATER THAN AT ANY TIME IN MANY DECADES. MOST OF
THE CONGRESSMAN'S INTERLOCUTORS WERE CAUTIOUSLY
OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE ECONOMY, VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT A
SOLUTION TO THE BEAGLE CHANNEL DISPUTE WITH CHILE
AND EUPHORIC ABOUT THE NEW ERA OF HUMAN AND CIVIL
RIGHTS OBSERVANCE IN,ARGENTINA. NOT SURPRISINGLY,
THE FOREIGN MINISTRY IS NOT OPTIMISTIC ABOUT EARLY
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RESOLUTION OF THE FALKLANDS/MALVINAS DISPUTE AND HUMAN
RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS ARE DISSATISFIED WITH THE
GOVERNMENT'S APPROACH TO HOLDING THE MILITARY
ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DISAPPEARED. MOST OBSERVERS
WERE OF THE VIEW THAT PRESIDENT ALFONSIN IS SUCCESSFUL
IN BRINGING THE MILITARY UNDER HIS CONTROL. LABOR
LEADERS ADMITTED THAT THE CURRENT UNION LEADERSHIP
AND THE ALFONSIN GOVERNMENT ARE ON A COLLISION COURSE.
LABOR MINISTER MUCCI ALLOWED THAT PRESIDENT ALFONSIN
MIGHT SEEK AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION WHICH
WOULD PERMIT A SECOND CONSECUTIVE PRESIDENTIAL TERM
OF OFFICE. WE ARE REPORTING BY SEPTEL ON CONGRESSMAN
SOLARZ' MEETINGS WITH HUMAN RIGHTS AND JEWISH LEADERS.
END SUMMARY.
3. CONGRESSMAN SOLARZ SHAPED HIS INTERVIEWS THROUGH A
SERIES OF QUESTIONS OF SIMILAR CHARACTER POSED TO EACH
INTERLOCUTOR. THESE QUESTIONS FOCUSED ON THE FOLLOWING
ISSUES: (A) THE CURABILITY OF DEMOCRACY AND FACTORS
POTENTIALLY AFFECTING IT SUCH AS THE ECONOMIC
SITUATION, PROBLEMS WITH THE MILITARY INCLUDING
ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE DISAPPEARED, AND CONFRONTATION
WITH THE LABOR MOVEMENT; (B) THE EXTERNAL SECTOR,
PARTICULARLY RESOLUTION OF THE BEAGLE AND MALVINAS/
FALKLANDS DISPUTES; (C) NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION;
(D) THE STATUS OF THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN ARGENTINA:
(E) THE U.S. ROLE IN THE HEMISPHERE AND PARTICULARLY
IN CENTRAL AMERICA; AND (F) PROSPECTS FOR ECONOMIC
REVIVAL.
4. CONGRESSMAN SCLARZ WAS RECEIVED BY PRESIDENT
ALFONSIN. THE MINISTERS OF FOREIGN RELATIONS, DEFENSE,
AND LABOR, THE PRESIDENT OF THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES.
THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE, AND SEVERAL UNDERSECRETARI
OF EDUCATION, CULTURE AND HEALTH AS WELL AS OFFICIALS
OF THE CENTRAL BANK. IN EACH OF THESE MEETINGS, THE
ARGENTINE PARTICIPANTS COVERED TERRAIN THAT WAS
SIMILAR TO THAT OF RECENT MEETINGS WITH CODELS BAKER
AND PEPPER (REPORTED IN BUENOS AIRES 434, 362. 336,
391). IN SUM, ARGENTINE OFFICIALS BELIEVE THAT THIS
NATION HAS CAST OFF THE SPECTER OF MILITARY COUPS
FOR A LONG TIME TO COME; THE BEAGLE DISPUTE IS ON ITS
WAY TO RESOLUTION AND ARGENTINA AND CHILE IN FUTURE
WILL HAVE COOPERATIVE RELATIONS; THE GOVERNMENT HAS
SUCCEEDED IN SUBORDINATING THE MILITARY TO CIVILIAN
CONTROL; ARGENTINA'S NUCLEAR PROGRAM WILL BE DIRECTED
EXCLUSIVELY TOWARD PEACEFUL PURPOSES; AND THE ECONOMY
PRESENTS SERIOUS DIFFICULTIES, BUT THEY ARE MANAGEABLE
WITH SOME UNDERSTANDING FROM THE INTERNATIONAL
E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR
TAGS: OREP. PGOV. AR
SUBJECT: CONGRESSMAN SOLARZ' VISIT TO ARGENTINA,
5. PRIVATE ECONOMISTS AND LABOR LEADERS WERE LESS
SANGUINE ABOUT PROSPECTS FOR THE ECONOMY IN 1984. LABOR
LEADERS ANTICIPATE THAT WAGES WILL NOT RISE AT 4 PACE
SUFFICIENT TO SATISFY "HE WORKING CLASS WHILE CONSERVATIVE
ECONOMISTS COMPLAIN THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S ECONOMIC PROGRAM
HAS NOT BEEN ADEQUATELY EXPLAINED AND DOES NOT APPEAR TO
BE COHERENT. THE CONSERVATIVES POINT OUT THAT THE
GOVERNMENT APPEARS 70 BE PLANNING TO REDUCE INFLATICN
THROUGH REDUCING THE GOVERNMENT DEFICIT WHILE AT THE SAME
CONFIDENTIAL
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TIME INCREASING REAL WAGES AND UNEMPLOYMENT THROUGH AN
ECONOMIC REACTIVATION PROGRAM,WHICH ARE INCOMPATIBLE GOALS.
6. CONGRESSMAN SOLARZ HAD DINNER WITH SENIOR MFA OFFI-
CIALS, INC_UDING THE FOREIGN MINISTRY'S SECOND AND THIRD-
RANKING OFFICERS, SECRETARY OF STATE FOR PEACE AND
SECURITY AFFAIRS AMBASSADOR HUGO GOBBI, AND SECRETARY OF
STATE FOR FOREIGN RELATIONS ELSA KELLY. IN RESPONSE TO
SOLARZ' QUESTION REGARDING THE BEAGLE DISPUTE, KELLY AND
GOBBI WENT INTO SOME DETAIL OF THE BACKGROUND POINTING CUT
THAT THE KEY ISSUE IS NOT THE ISLANDS OR EVEN THE
PROJECTION INTO THE ANTARCTIC BUT MARITIME JURISDICTION
IN THE SOUTH ATLANTIC, THE SO-CALLED "BIOCEANIC PRINCIPLE."
GOBBI ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE NEAR RESOLU-
TION AND THAT ARGENTINA WANTS A SETTLEMENT. HE ADDED. 'WE
WILL MAKE A SETTLEMENT EVEN IF IT MEANS ACCEPTING ONE
THAT IS NOT ENTIREL' FAVORABLE TO ARGENTINA.."
7. TURNING TO THE MALVINAS/FALKLANDS, GOBBI STATED CATE-
GORICALLY THAT THERE WOULD BE NO ARGENTINE DECLARATION OF
A CEASEFIRE UNTIL HER MAJESTY GOVERNMENT IS WILLING TO
NEGOTIATE BASED ON UN RESOLUTIONS. WHEN PRESSED E'
SOLARZ. GOBBI RESPONDED THAT THIS IMPLIES DISCUSS_ON w
SOVEREIGNTI
8. IN A SEPARATE MEETING WITH THE CHIEF OF THE BRITISH
INTERESTS SECTION OF THE SWISS EMBASSY HERE. DAVID JOY
WAS NO MORE OPTIMISTIC THAN THE ARGENTINES REGARDING
THE POSSIBILITY FOR A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM FOR MAN`'
YEARS. IN JOY'S VIEW, ARGENTINA WILL NOT GO TO THE
NEGOTIATING TABLE IF SOVEREIGNTY IS N0` ON IT AND MRS.
THATCHER WILL NOT DISCUSS SOVEREIGNTY. NEVERTHELESS,
JOY IS HOPEFUL THAT 1984 MAY SEE SOME IMPROVEMENT IN
ARGENTINE-UK RELATIONS. HE SAID THAT "ALFONSIN AND
THATCHER ARE LIKE TWO STONE STATUES WHO MIGHT JUST BE
BEGINNING TO SMILE AT ONE ANOTHER." THE UK WILL TRY TO
RESTORE RELATIONS WITH ARGENTINA ON OTHER FRONTS WITH-
OUT TOUCHING THE FALKLANDS/MALVINAS SOVEREIGNTY ISSUE.
JOY ADDED THAT TALK OF A LEASE-BACK SOLUTION TO THE
FALKLANDS/MALVINAS IS PREMATURE.
9. GOBBI DID NOT RULE OUT A LEASEBACK. THE FUNDAMENTAL
PROBLEM. IN GOBBI'S VIEW, IS THAT MRS. THATCHER AND
GREAT BRITAIN THINK THE "WISHES" OF THE SLANDERS. WHICH
ARE PREDICTABLE. MUST BE PARAMOUNT IN ANY SETTLEMENT ON
SOVEREIGNTY WHILE ARGENTINA WILL ONS'r ENTERTAIN DISCUSSION
OF THEIR "INTERESTS."
10. CONGRESSMAN SOLARZ RECEIVED STARKLY CONTRADICTORY VIEWS
OF THE LABOR SITUATION IN ARGENTINA FROM THE LABOR MINISTER
AND LEADERS OF THE TWO MAJOR CONFEDERATIONS WHICH NOW CON-
FRONT THE GOVERNMENT OVER THE LABOR REORGANIZATION BILL.
THE TRADE UNIONISTS STRESSED THAT THEY OPPOSE ALFONSIN'S
PROPOSAL FOR LABOR REORGANIZATION BECAUSE IT ALLEGEDLY WILL
RESULT IN EXCESSIVE STATE INTERFERENCE IN UNION AFFAIRS,
VIOLATE FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION, OPEN THE DOOR TO MARXIST
PENETRATION OF THE LABOR MOVEMENT AND "CHANGE THE SOCIAL
STRUCTURE OF ARGENTINA" BY REDUCING WORKERS' STANDARD OF
LIVING.
E.O. 12356: DECL:OADR
TAGS: OREP, PGOV, AR
SUBJECT: CONGRESSMAN SOLARZ' VISIT TO ARGENTINA,
CONFIDENTIAL
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11. THE LABOR MINISTER DEFENDED THE PROGRAM AS NECESSARY
TO RID THE UNIONS OF A CORRUPT AND UNDEMOCRATIC CLIQUE
WHICH HAS DOMINATED THE LABOR MOVEMENT FOR DECADES.
TRADE UNION LEADERS DENY THAT THEY INTEND TO OPPOSE THE
BILL WITH LABOR STRIFE BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT COULD
LEAD TO A COUP. THEY CLAIM THAT THEY BELIEVE IN PLURAL-
ISTIC DEMOCRACY MORE NOW THAN THEY DID PREVIOUSLY, IN
PART, ONE ADMITTED, BECAUSE THEY NOW FIND THEMSELVES IN
THE OPPOSITION DURING A PERIOD OF CONSTITUTIONAL RULE.
COMMENTING ON THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN ARGENTINA,
THE LABOR LEADERS EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE GOVERNMENT
ALLEGEDLY HAS LOST CONTROL OF THE PROCESS OF HOLDING
PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE DISAPPEARED. THE TWO
EXTREMES, THE MOTHERS OF THE PLAZA DE MAYO AND THOSE LIKE
GENERAL CAMPS (WHO IS WIDELY BELIEVED TO BE ONE OF THE
MOST EGREGIOUS ABUSERS OF HUMAN RIGHTS), BOTH WANT TO
DESTROY THE NATION'S INSTITUTIONS. THE ARMED FORCES ON
ONE HAND AND DEMOCRACY ON THE OTHER," SAID THE UNIONISTS.
12. SOLARZ RAISED U.S. NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION CONCERNS
WITH PRESIDENT ALFONSIN AND AT A MEETING WITH ARGENTINE
ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (CNEA) AND FOREIGN MINISTRY REPRE-
SENTATIVES AT CNEA HEADQUARTERS. SOLARZ PRESSED FOR
ARGENTINE RATIFICATION OF THE TREATY OF TLATELOLCO AND
FOR ACCEPTING SAFEGUARDS ON ALL OF ARGENTINA'S NUCLEAR
FACILITIES. HE WAS TOLD TWAT HE ARGENTINE POSITION ON
TLATELOLCO AND FULLSCOPE SAFEGUARDS WAS STILL UNDER STUDY
BY A SPECIAL PANEL CREATED BY PRESIDENT ALFONSIN AND THAT
MOVEMENT IN BOTH OF THESE AREAS WAS BEING SERIOUSLY
CONSIDERED.
13. DURING HIS MEETING WITH THE LABOR MINISTER,
CONGRESSMAN SOLARZ ASKED HOW LONG A PRESIDENTIAL TERM IS
IN ARGENTINA AND IF THE PRESIDENT CAN SUCCEED HIMSELF.
THE MINISTER'S ANSWER WAS THAT "THE CONSTITUTION PROVIDES
FOR A SINGLE SIX-YEAR TERM WITH NO REELECTION, BUT A LOT
CAN HAPPEN IN SIX YEARS INCLUDING AN AMENDMENT TO THE
CONSTITUTION." CRTIZ
CONFIDENTIAL
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/01/20: CIA-RDP90BO137OR000801030044-2