

Currently released so far... 12478 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AU
ASEC
AE
AF
AORC
AEMR
AMGT
ABUD
AFFAIRS
APER
AS
AMED
AY
AG
AR
AJ
AL
AID
AM
AODE
ABLD
AMG
AFIN
ATRN
AGAO
AFU
AN
AA
ALOW
APECO
ADM
ARF
ASEAN
APEC
AMBASSADOR
AO
ASUP
AZ
AADP
ACOA
ANET
AMCHAMS
ACABQ
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
APCS
AGMT
AINF
AIT
AORL
ACS
AFSI
AFSN
ACBAQ
AFGHANISTAN
ADANA
ADPM
AX
ADCO
AECL
AMEX
ACAO
ASCH
AORG
AGR
AROC
ASIG
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
BL
BR
BO
BA
BD
BM
BK
BG
BU
BB
BH
BTIO
BY
BEXP
BP
BE
BRUSSELS
BF
BIDEN
BT
BX
BC
BILAT
BN
BBSR
BTIU
BWC
BMGT
CA
CASC
CVIS
CM
CH
CO
CU
CD
CWC
CI
CS
CY
CMGT
CF
CG
CR
CB
CV
CW
CE
CBW
CT
CPAS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CJAN
CODEL
CIDA
CDG
CDC
CIA
CTR
CNARC
CSW
CN
CONS
CLINTON
COE
CROS
CARICOM
CONDOLEEZZA
COUNTER
CL
COM
CICTE
CIS
CFED
COUNTRY
CJUS
CBSA
CEUDA
CLMT
CAC
COPUOS
CIC
CBE
CHR
CTM
CVR
CITEL
CLEARANCE
CACS
CAN
CITT
CARSON
CACM
CDB
CAPC
CKGR
CBC
EC
EG
EPET
ECON
ETRD
EFIN
EIND
EMIN
ENRG
EAID
EAGR
EUN
ETTC
EAIR
ENIV
ES
EU
EINV
ELAB
ECIN
EFIS
ELTN
EWWT
ECPS
ECONOMIC
ENGR
EN
EINT
EPA
ELN
ESA
EZ
ER
ET
EFTA
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
EXTERNAL
EI
EUR
EK
ERNG
ENGY
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENERG
EINVEFIN
ENVR
ECA
ELECTIONS
ETC
EUREM
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EURN
ECINECONCS
EEPET
EXIM
ERD
ENVI
ETRC
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ETRO
EDU
ETRN
EAIG
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
EIAR
EXBS
ECUN
EINDETRD
EREL
EUC
ESENV
ECONEFIN
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
EINVETC
IZ
IT
IR
IS
IN
IC
IAEA
IO
ICAO
IWC
ID
IV
ISRAEL
IAHRC
IQ
ICTR
IMF
IRS
IDP
IGAD
ICRC
ICTY
IMO
IL
INRA
INRO
ICJ
ITU
IBRD
INMARSAT
IIP
ITALY
IEFIN
IACI
ILO
INTELSAT
ILC
ITRA
IDA
INRB
IRC
INTERPOL
IA
IPR
IRAQI
ISRAELI
INTERNAL
ISLAMISTS
INDO
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
IBET
INR
IEA
IZPREL
IRAJ
ITF
IF
KDEM
KU
KPAL
KNNP
KCRM
KZ
KN
KS
KJUS
KTFN
KSCA
KV
KISL
KPAO
KPKO
KIRF
KTIA
KIPR
KFLO
KFRD
KTIP
KAWC
KSUM
KCOM
KAID
KE
KTDB
KMDR
KOMC
KWBG
KDRG
KVPR
KTEX
KGIC
KWMN
KSCI
KCOR
KACT
KDDG
KHLS
KSAF
KFLU
KSEO
KMRS
KSPR
KOLY
KSEP
KVIR
KGHG
KIRC
KUNR
KIFR
KCIP
KMCA
KMPI
KBCT
KHSA
KICC
KIDE
KCRS
KMFO
KRVC
KRGY
KR
KAWK
KG
KFIN
KHIV
KBIO
KOCI
KBTR
KNEI
KPOA
KCFE
KPLS
KSTC
KHDP
KPRP
KCRCM
KLIG
KCFC
KTER
KREC
KTBT
KPRV
KSTH
KRIM
KRAD
KWAC
KWMM
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KOMS
KX
KMIG
KRCM
KVRP
KBTS
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNAR
KPWR
KNPP
KDEMAF
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KGIT
KPAI
KTLA
KFSC
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KID
KOM
KMOC
KJUST
KGCC
KREL
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KO
KNSD
KHUM
KSEC
KCMR
KCHG
KICA
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KCGC
KWWMN
KPAK
KWNM
KWMNCS
KRFD
MOPS
MCAP
MPOS
MARR
MO
MNUC
MX
MASS
MG
MY
MU
ML
MR
MILITARY
MTCRE
MT
MEPP
MA
MDC
MP
MAR
MASSMNUC
MARAD
MAPP
MZ
MD
MI
MEETINGS
MK
MCC
MEPN
MRCRE
MAS
MIL
MASC
MC
MV
MTCR
MIK
MUCN
MEDIA
MERCOSUR
MW
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MTRE
MEPI
MQADHAFI
MAPS
NO
NATO
NL
NP
NZ
NSF
NI
NH
NG
NAFTA
NU
NASA
NR
NATOPREL
NSSP
NSG
NA
NT
NW
NK
NPT
NPA
NATIONAL
NPG
NSFO
NS
NSC
NE
NGO
NDP
NIPP
NRR
NEW
NZUS
NC
NAR
NV
NORAD
OTRA
OPCW
OVIP
OAS
OREP
OPIC
OIIP
OPRC
ODIP
OEXC
OPDC
OSCE
OIC
OSCI
OECD
OFDP
OFDA
OMIG
OPAD
OFFICIALS
OVP
OIE
OHUM
OCS
OBSP
OTR
OSAC
ON
OCII
OES
PGOV
PREL
PHUM
PTER
PINS
PINR
PREF
PK
PROP
PA
PARM
PBTS
PMAR
PM
PGIV
PE
PRAM
PHUH
PHSA
PL
PNAT
PO
PLN
PAO
PSA
PHUMPGOV
PF
PEL
PBIO
POLITICS
PHUMBA
PAS
POL
PREO
PAHO
PMIL
POGOV
POV
PAK
PNR
PRL
PG
PREFA
PSI
PINL
PU
PARMS
PRGOV
PALESTINIAN
PAIGH
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POSTS
PROG
PORG
PTBS
PUNE
POLICY
PDOV
PCI
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PP
PS
PY
PTERE
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PRELP
PSEPC
PGOVE
PINF
PNG
PGOC
PFOR
PCUL
POLINT
PGGV
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PGOVLO
PHUS
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PHUMPREL
RS
RU
RELATIONS
RW
RO
RM
RP
ROOD
RICE
RUPREL
RSO
RCMP
REACTION
REPORT
REGION
RIGHTS
RF
RFE
RSP
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
SU
SCUL
SNAR
SOCI
SF
SA
SHUM
SENV
SP
SR
SY
SANC
SC
SMIG
SZ
SARS
SW
SEVN
SO
SEN
SL
SNARCS
SNARN
SI
SG
SN
SH
SYR
SAARC
SPCE
SHI
SCRS
SENVKGHG
SYRIA
SWE
STEINBERG
SIPRS
ST
SNARIZ
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SIPDIS
SAN
TC
TI
TBIO
TH
TSPL
TRGY
TSPA
TPHY
TU
TW
TS
TAGS
TK
TX
TNGD
TZ
TF
TL
TV
TN
TD
TIP
TR
TP
TO
TT
TFIN
THPY
TERRORISM
TINT
TRSY
TURKEY
TBID
US
UK
UNGA
UP
UZ
UNMIK
USTR
UNO
UNSC
UN
UNESCO
UNAUS
UNHRC
UY
UG
UNHCR
UNCND
USOAS
USEU
UNICEF
UNEP
UV
UNPUOS
UNCSD
USUN
UNCHR
UNDC
USNC
UE
UNDP
UNC
USPS
USAID
UNVIE
UAE
UNFICYP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNCHC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 09ASUNCION681, PREPPING FOR A/S VALENZUELA: PARAGUAY'S FOREIGN MINISTER ON
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.
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. #09ASUNCION681.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
09ASUNCION681 | 2009-12-15 17:25 | 2011-03-22 07:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Asuncion |
Appears in these articles: www.abc.com.py/nota/ni-si-se-viste-de-papa-noel-chavez-ingresara-al-mercosur |
VZCZCXYZ0020
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHAC #0681/01 3491725
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O R 151725Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASUNCION
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0285
INFO MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUCQSAB/USSOCOM INTEL MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS
RUEHTG/AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA 0001
id: 240025
date: 12/15/2009 17:25
refid: 09ASUNCION681
origin: Embassy Asuncion
classification: CONFIDENTIAL
destination:
header:
VZCZCXYZ0020
OO RUEHWEB
DE RUEHAC #0681/01 3491725
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O R 151725Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASUNCION
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0285
INFO MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUCQSAB/USSOCOM INTEL MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS
RUEHTG/AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA 0001
----------------- header ends ----------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 000681
SIPDIS
WHA/FO CMCMULLEN, WHA/BSC MDRUCKER, BFRIEDMAN, MDASCHBACH
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2034/12/15
TAGS: PGOV CVIS ECON PREL MASS PA IR
SUBJECT: PREPPING FOR A/S VALENZUELA: PARAGUAY'S FOREIGN MINISTER ON
REGIONAL RELATIONS
CLASSIFIED BY: Perry Holloway, DCM; REASON: 1.4(B), (D)
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador and Foreign Minister Lacognata met
December 10 to review the bilateral agenda before WHA Assistant
Secretary Valenzuela's December 17-18 visit. The Ambassador told
Lacognata that we believe the investment climate is deteriorating.
She also expressed concern about the sustainability of the Joint
Special Forces Battalion (BCFE). Lacognata pumped the Ambassador
for U.S. views of the Paraguayan People's Army (EPP), worried that
the Zevala kidnapping was ongoing after 60 days. The Ambassador
said we see the EPP as a small, manageable group, but that the GOP
needs to isolate them before they have the opportunity to grow.
Lacognata expressed frustration that the public views Lugo as
following Venezuela's Hugo Chavez. He said that while Brazil will
likely approve Venezuela's entry into MERCOSUR, "it won't happen
here even if Chavez dresses up like Santa Claus." On the Colombian
DCA, Lacognata criticized Chavez's efforts to unite regional
players around his own agenda and an external enemy (the U.S.), but
viewed Chavez as increasingly isolated. On Honduras, Lacognata
said Paraguay would see how Lobo governs and if he can gain the
confidence of all sectors. He said Paraguay's position was not
set in stone, but that they worried about the precedent of getting
rid of "a government that nobody likes." Lacognata lamented that
Lugo's impeachment appears to be a permanent topic of discussion.
He thinks the votes are being gathered for impeachment, but that
two political sectors are blocking impeachment for now. The
Foreign Minister showed himself to be frank, pragmatic, and
concerned about maintaining close relations with the U.S. While
the GOP does not see eye-to-eye with us on all issues (e.g.,
Honduras), its positions were rational given their domestic
context, particularly regarding a growing frustration with Lugo's
inability to lead. While most political actors tell us that
impeachment remains only a possibility for now, we are closely
monitoring the situation. END SUMMARY.
---------------------------
COMMERCIAL ISSUES
---------------------------
¶2. (C) The Ambassador, accompanied by DCM and Pol/Econ Chief
(notetaker), informed Lacognata, who was flanked by Vice Minister
Caceres and three other staff members, that we believe the
investment climate in Paraguay is deteriorating, which would be
reflected in our upcoming Investment Climate Report. The Foreign
Minister said there is only so much he can do since his ministry is
not part of the GOP's economic cabinet. He and his team were
familiar with the Crescent Oil litigation (DCM provided an update),
but inquired if there were other pending claims/cases. The
Ambassador noted that the Embassy's commercial section was seeing
an increased number of preliminary complaints/concerns from U.S.
businesses. The Paraguayans underscored the importance of ATPA
trade benefits for Paraguay, and their continued interest in
lobbying the U.S. Congress for trade preferences.
------------------------------
MIL-TO-MIL RELATIONS
------------------------------
¶3. (C) Regarding the Joint Special Forces Battalion (BCFE), the
Ambassador expressed concern about whether the Paraguayan
government had plans to sustain the unit via this year's budget.
She noted that the BCFE, whose primary mission is anti-terrorism,
was not being used to respond to the Zavala kidnapping. Lacognata
said the BCFE's deployment was likely complicated by recent changes
in military leadership, but was not sure why the unit was not
deployed. Lacognata surmised that the GOP's decision not to use
the BCFE was a political one, and would have its consequences. The
Foreign Minister hoped that CECOPAZ, Paraguay's brand-new
engineering company to be deployed on UN peacekeeping missions,
would be ready by January to go to Chad.
¶4. (C) Lacognata pumped the Ambassador for U.S. views of the
Paraguayan People's Army (EPP), worried that the Zavala kidnapping
was ongoing after 60 days. The Ambassador said we see the EPP as a
small, manageable group, but that the GOP needs to isolate them
before they have the opportunity to grow. Lacognata asked about
the EPP's agenda, and the Ambassador responded that their goal
appears to be to destabilize the government, not to topple it (e.g.
they are not viewed as a threat in terms of political ambition or
popular support). The Foreign Minister said he doubted the EPP's
existence as recently as two to three years ago, but is now worried
about their potential political/economic impact (particularly if
Zavala does not emerge alive).
---------------
VENEZUELA
---------------
¶5. (C) Lacognata expressed frustration that the public views Lugo
as following Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Quipping that his
strategy was to continue asking questions in an effort to keep the
Ambassador from asking him questions, Lacognata solicited the
Ambassador's view on whether Lugo is a Chavista. The Foreign
Minister said when he interacts with the press, he asks them to
give him two examples of a Chavista policy of the Lugo government,
and they can't. Lacognata admitted that Lugo is ambivalent and
unclear, and that he allows others to clarify his policies for him.
He said "I'm a socialist but I know that doesn't sell in Paraguay
right now." Socialism is a "romantic" idea; the reality is
"something else." The Foreign Minister highlighted the GOP's
pragmatism, and was not sure how to change the GOP's image. He
lamented that the government's biggest challenge is Paraguay's
biased, unprofessional media. He said his children all want to
leave Paraguay because of the constant negativity in the press
centered on Lugo. (NOTE: He said that although the Zavala
kidnapping was only one case; it was like a new kidnapping every
day because it dominates headlines. He wished that the press would
agree not to damage Paraguayan institutions. END NOTE).
¶6. (C) On MERCOSUR, Lacognata said that while Brazil will likely
approve Venezuela's entry into MERCOSUR, "it won't happen here even
if Chavez dresses up like Santa Claus." Lacognata recognized
Brazil's (not Venezuela's) lead in MERSOSUR. UNASUR, however, he
described as the first victim of regional polarization, given that
Venezuela, Colombia and Peru have irreconcilable positions. He
noted that Ecuador voted with Venezuela in the past, but now
appears to have an independent agenda because Ecuador sees Chavez
as a "dead weight." Lacognata criticized Chavez for his negative
agenda in regional organizations. He thought UNASUR was a waste of
time, lamenting that the participants could not even agree on a
final declaration at the close of their meetings.
¶7. (C) Regarding the Colombian DCA, Lacognata criticized Chavez's
efforts to unite regional players around his own agenda and an
external enemy (the USG) , but viewed Chavez as increasingly
isolated. He also mentioned that Venezuela was annoyed with him
for saying that Chavez was creating political tension over the
Colombian DCA.
--------------
HONDURAS
---------------
¶8. (C) Lacognata said the GOP position on Honduras, based on the
OAS position, is to see how Lobo governs and if he can gain the
confidence of all sectors. He said Paraguay's position was not
set in stone, but that they worried about the negative precedent of
getting rid of "a government that nobody likes." Lacognata
recognized that the elections were an opportunity to normalize the
situation, but questioned whether elections could be free/fair in a
repressive environment. He said that under Stroessner, Paraguay
had "brilliant" elections every five years in which no incidents
were reported, but they were merely a ritual. Lacognata said
elections are not a one-day event, but a months-long process. And
in the case of Honduras, he said, there were threats to the
opposition, the media, etc. "We're sensitive to what is happening
in Honduras," he said, "because we're afraid we're on the menu."
In Paraguay, however, it would likely be impeachment, and not a
coup, that would interrupt Lugo's presidency. Impeachment would be
institutional according to Lacognata, but would break up the
democratic process and show that alternating power in Paraguay was
not possible. He worried about Paraguay's fragile institutions,
and said "we don't want to feed any similar tendencies here." He
also noted that many Hondurans believed the coup was appropriate
because they had to stop Chavez from meddling in their internal
affairs. In short, he said, "we will talk to the new Honduran
government, and like Brazil, see what happens." He noted that
Paraguay would stick with MERCOSUR on this issue.
----------------------
IMPEACHMENT
----------------------
¶9. (C) Lacognata lamented that Lugo's impeachment appears to be a
permanent topic of discussion. He said many actors are looking for
instability and ingovernability. He thinks the votes are being
gathered for impeachment, but that two political sectors (Beloved
Fatherland, or PQ , and Castiglioni's faction of the Colorado
Party) are blocking impeachment for now. Either, he said, could
change their position if the middle class pushed them to act based
on fear of Chavez or leftist influence, or based on a major Lugo
misstep. (NOTE: This is why Paraguay's biased media pushed the
image of Lugo as a Chavista, knowing that it could tip the scales
against him. END NOTE). He repeated that impeachment is not
equivalent to a coup, but said the Colorados don't want to see
Liberal Frederico Franco as president, which serves to delay
possible impeachment proceedings. (COMMENT: Like Lacognata,
Embassy does not believe that there are the votes for impeachment,
but will continue to monitor. END COMMENT).
-------
IRAN
-------
¶10. (C) Ambassador took advantage of the meeting to demarche the
Foreign Minister on Iran's announcement to open ten new uranium
enrichment plants. Lacognata said Paraguay has had less contact
with Iran than any other country in the region, partly because of
the Persian-Arab issue and the large Arab population in Paraguay.
He said Paraguay does not have diplomatic representation to Iran
(not even concurrent), and that they declined Iran's overtures for
a visit when President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was in the region.
(NOTE: Lacognata noted that Paraguay will open embassies in Qatar,
Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Indonesia and Sweden). Other than that, he
said Paraguay had not defined a position on Iran.
---------------------------
DEPORTATION CASE
---------------------------
¶11. (C) Regarding the Liberal Party official to be deported to
Paraguay after illegally entering the United States, Lacognata said
the Liberals (really, one vocal Liberal deputy) were making noise
about the case in order to "defend their own." The Foreign
Minister said he had gone beyond the call of duty to try to
accommodate political requests to name Noguera to Paraguay's
consulate in New York, but had pulled back the nomination after
speaking to Ambassador (and learning about Noguera's illegal
overstay in the United States). Lacognata said that after Noguera
knowingly presented an expired diplomatic passport at the border,
he can no longer claim he is a victim. Noguera told officials
working in the Paraguayan Embassy in Washington that he made a
mistake, but had been treated well by U.S. authorities. Lacognata
was sorry the issue made such a big splash in the local press.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
¶12. (C) As before, the Foreign Minister showed himself to be
frank, pragmatic, and concerned about maintaining close relations
with the United States. While the GOP does not see eye-to-eye
with us on all issues (e.g., Honduras), their positions as
articulated by Lacognata were rational given their domestic
context, particularly regarding a growing frustration with Lugo's
inability to lead. While most political actors tell us that
impeachment remains only a possibility for now, we are closely
monitoring the situation, and are being careful to stay out of this
highly charged, domestic political issue. END COMMENT.
AYALDE
=======================CABLE ENDS============================