Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 08BUENOSAIRES1665, ARGENTINA: ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY EXITS GOVERNMENT

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08BUENOSAIRES1665.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
08BUENOSAIRES1665 2008-12-05 12:03 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Buenos Aires
VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1665/01 3401203
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 051203Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2640
INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
RUEAEPA/HQ EPA WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS BUENOS AIRES 001665 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR WHA/BSC AND OES/ENV 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV SENV KCOR AR
SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: ENVIRONMENT SECRETARY EXITS GOVERNMENT 
 
1. (SBU) Summary:  Controversial Environment Secretary Romina 
Picolotti resigned on December 2, reportedly at the request 
of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (CFK).  Picolotti 
is replaced by Homero Maximo Bibiloni, an environmental 
attorney.  Presidency sources quoted in the press stated that 
"waste, bad management and environmental blunders" prompted 
CFK to ask Picolotti to resign.  Picolotti is being 
investigated for mishandling of funds.  Appointed in 2006 by 
then-President Nestor Kirchner, she gained fame with her 
spirited opposition to the installation of a giant paper 
mill, Botnia, on the Uruguayan side of a shared river.  This 
year, she became estranged from CFK when a bill she had 
pushed through Congress to protect glaciers in the south of 
the country was vetoed by CFK, allegedly to protect mining 
interests.  Picolotti's patron was ex-Chief of Cabinet 
Alberto Fernandez, and her star apparently began to decline 
with his departure last August.  It appears she was 
increasingly being perceived by new Cabinet Chief Sergio 
Massa as a liability for the government.  End Summary. 
 
Opposition to CFK's veto of law to protect glaciers 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
 
2. (SBU) Persistent rumors of Picolotti's impending 
resignation had swirled over the past couple of weeks, as 
news spread of her pique at CFK's veto of a law she had 
shepherded through Congress to protect endangered glaciers in 
Patagonia.  Picolotti was criticized at the time for having 
drafted and pushed this law without consulting with the local 
governors of the affected provinces or GOA Secretary of 
Mining Jorge Mayoral.  Powerful gold mining and oil interests 
would have been affected by the law, which the governors 
strongly opposed.  Casa Rosada officials, including 
Fernandez's replacement as Cabinet Chief Sergio Massa and his 
staff, collaborated with these forces to deliver CFK's veto. 
Picolotti reacted strongly to the veto, threatening to 
resign.  Her vocal opposition to the veto was also reported 
in the press to have upset ex-President Nestor Kirchner. 
 
3. (SBU) Argentine media offered very different explanations 
for her departure, including the malfeasance investigation, 
Picolotti's displeasure with the presidential veto of her 
glaciers protection legislation, and supposed Kirchner 
unhappiness with her handling of the Botnia protests.  While 
one newspaper insisted that Picolotti was removed due to her 
failure to clean up the long-polluted Riachuelo River, the 
Director of the World Bank, which is funding the Riachuelo 
clean-up project, discounted this version.  A close confident 
of Picolotti in the Environment Secretariat told us that her 
relationship with the Presidency, and in particular with new 
Cabinet Chief Sergio Massa, had been deteriorating for some 
time, to the point where there were "irreconciliable 
differences" regarding "key elements of environmental 
policy", and it was "better to go."  Graciela Gerola, 
President of the Environmental Protection Agency of the City 
of Buenos Aires, agreed that Massa saw Picolotti as a 
liability from the very start and was determined to "get her 
out."  Gerola added that Picolotti had not been a good 
appointment as Environment Secretary.  She thought that 
Picolotti was too young and inexperienced for the position, 
with "fundamentalist" environmental views and no management 
background to speak of. 
 
Gained fame in paper mill dispute 
--------------------------------- 
 
4. (SBU) Picolotti was appointed as Environment Secretary in 
2006 and soon gained fame for her spirited opposition to the 
construction by Finnish company Botnia of a giant paper mill 
on the Uruguayan side of a shared river.  Picolotti 
demonstrated along with the Argentine protestors who were 
blocking the bridge between Argentina and Uruguay and 
publicly pledged her support to their fight.  Her husband 
also entered the fray when he revealed that some of the most 
extreme environmental protestors were suggesting that the 
Botnia plant be bombed. 
 
Investigated for misappropriation of funds 
------------------------------------------ 
 
5. (SBU) Picolotti's abrasive style and less than transparent 
handling of the Secretariat have come under increasing fire. 
She is being investigated for mishandling of public funds 
through the contracting of personal friends, use of private 
jets and unjustified purchases of real estate.  The 
investigation is also looking into use of over $200,000 of 
public funds that were paid to consulting companies belonging 
to close personal friends. 
New Secretary: environmental lawyer Homero Bibiloni 
--------------------------------------------- -------- 
 
6. (SBU) CFK's Chief of Cabinet Sergio Massa named Homero 
Bibiloni as Picolotti's replacement.  Bibiloni is an 
attorney, professor and expert in environmental law.  His 
main challenge will be to handle the $780 million World Bank 
loan aimed at cleaning up the Riachuelo, a polluted river 
that crosses Buenos Aires and has become an open sewer for 
domestic and industrial waste.  The World Bank loan will be 
used in Buenos Aires and in several municipalities along the 
Riachuelo in the Province of Buenos Aires.  City of Buenos 
Aires EPA Chief Gerola told us that she had an excellent 
opinion of incoming Secretary Bibiloni, whom she 
characterized as a "first-class appointment" of someone who 
knows the issues. 
 
 
7. (SBU) Comment:  We tend to agree with the critical reviews 
of Picolotti's performance.  She was not a particularly 
friendly or helpful interlocutor with this Mission.  We will 
engage Bibiloni quickly to try to develop a more productive 
relationship with him. 
KELLY