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Viewing cable 06LAPAZ597, REPRESENTATIVE LOWEY VISITS BOLIVIA AND MEETS WITH

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Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
06LAPAZ597 2006-03-07 19:20 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy La Paz
VZCZCXYZ0018
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLP #0597/01 0661920
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 071920Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8322
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 5646
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 2913
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 6784
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 4017
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1351
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 1256
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 3599
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 3986
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 8507
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS LA PAZ 000597 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/AND 
TREASURY FOR SGOOCH 
ENERGY FOR CDAY AND SLADISLAW 
STATE FOR H/CNORMAN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID ECON SNAR ETRD USTR BL
SUBJECT: REPRESENTATIVE LOWEY VISITS BOLIVIA AND MEETS WITH 
MORALES 
 
1. (SBU) Summary: Representative Nita Lowey (D-NY) 
accompanied by House Appropriations Clerk Nisha Desai and 
State Department Congressional Liaison Cherith Norman, 
visited La Paz and Santa Cruz February 23-25.  The delegation 
met with President Morales who complained about the 2004 visa 
revocation of a MAS Senator, asked for the extension of 
existing trade benefits, and argued for the immediate 
extradition of former President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada. 
The group also discussed women's representation in Bolivian 
politics with women legislators, met with NGO 
representatives, visited two USAID sites in El Alto where 
they viewed microfinance and indigenous youth training 
projects in operation, and attended a reception at the 
Charge's residence.  In Santa Cruz, the delegation was 
briefed on counternarcotics and alternative development 
strategies, visited a USAID-supported furniture factory 
working with certified lumber, and met with regional 
business, political, and religious leaders.  Representative 
Lowey, a strong proponent of foreign aid, appreciated the 
opportunity to see how U.S. aid dollars are being spent in 
Bolivia and commented on the success of USAID's programs and 
the importance of economic development for Bolivian families. 
 She encouraged business leaders to find a way to work with 
the GOB and to partner with USAID and NGOs to leverage 
development funds and improve Bolivia's future.  End summary. 
 
Visits to USAID Projects and with Congressional 
Representatives 
--------------------------------------------- --------------- 
2. (U) Representative Nita Lowey (D-NY) accompanied by House 
Appropriations Clerk Nisha Desai and State Department 
Congressional Liaison Cherith Norman, visited La Paz and 
Santa Cruz February 23-25.  The delegation met with women 
parliamentarians from three political parties to discuss the 
participation of women in Bolivian politics.  Representative 
Lowey noted that the number of women in the Bolivian 
parliament had declined with the last election, and 
encouraged the women to work together across party lines to 
increase women's political participation and to promote 
better lives for Bolivian families.  In a lunch with various 
NGOs, Representative Lowey noted that she was a strong 
supporter of USAID, but encouraged the NGOs to leverage 
private funds instead of relying mainly on U.S. aid.  The NGO 
representatives agreed that they must expand donor outreach 
efforts, but also noted that important USG programs, such as 
Title II Food Aid, enabled them to reach vast areas of 
Bolivia and respond to emergencies, such as recent floods 
which will impact families for the next nine months due to 
crop losses.  The delegation then visited Promujer, a 
USAID-funded microfinance and health NGO which provides 
services to more than 64,000 women, and an indigenous youth 
training center funded by USAID which provides vocational and 
leadership training to youth in two of the poorest areas of 
El Alto. 
 
Meeting with Morales 
-------------------- 
3. (SBU)  Representative Lowey, Charge Robinson and Embassy 
officials met February 25 with President Evo Morales and 
Minister of the Presidency Juan Ramon de la Quintana.  Lowey 
congratulated Morales on his convincing electoral victory and 
emphasized the U.S. interest in helping his government 
succeed.  Morales thanked Lowey for her kind words.  He 
continued by reporting on his recent meeting with Bolivian 
private sector representatives in which they agreed to 
cooperate to create jobs and fight corruption.  Morales noted 
that, thanks to the MAS party, there was no Shining Path or 
FARC in Bolivia, because the MAS responded to the needs of 
the people.  He lamented that in the past "the White House" 
has accused the MAS of many things, including receiving money 
from Libya, Venezuela, Cuba, the FARC, and narcotraffickers. 
 
4. (SBU)  Morales expressed concern and regret about the 
 
recently resurfaced 2004 visa revocation of MAS (substitute) 
Senator Lucilda Zurita.  Visibly upset, he stated his hope 
that this revocation was a bureaucratic mistake made by lower 
level officials in the U.S. Government.  Lowey observed that 
this was a consular issue and not a matter handled by the 
U.S. Congress.  Morales replied that, as Congressmen, "we 
have the responsibility to control our Executive branch."  He 
noted how politicians associated with former president Jaime 
Paz Zamora and who were convicted of narcotrafficking had 
their visas reinstated. 
 
5. (SBU)  On coca, Morales told Representative Lowey that it 
was important to understand that coca in its natural state 
was not harmful, and cited unspecified studies from the World 
Health Organization to back his claim.  "How can coca be OK 
for Coca-Cola and not for the Andes and others?" he asked. 
Morales assured that his government did not promote 
unrestricted coca growth, but did hope to allow coca growers 
to have small plots to cultivate this traditional crop. The 
President wanted to fight narcotrafficking and expressed 
appreciation for alternative development assistance. 
 
6. (SBU)  Turning to the Constituent Assembly, Morales 
observed that the Bolivian people wanted peaceful democratic 
change.  "We're talking about refounding Bolivia.  People 
want to recover their natural resources."  As an example, he 
continued, Potosi possessed significant mineral resources, 
"but with so much wealth, so much poverty."  He hoped Bolivia 
would be forgiven its debt with the World Bank.  Lowey 
reminded the President that the USG had already forgiven 
Bolivia's bilateral debt years ago.  In Morales' first 
mention of trade issues, he said it was important for Bolivia 
to maintain its current trade benefits with the U.S. (though 
not mentioning ATPDEA by name).  Morales also regretted that 
the (then) pending conclusion of the Colombia-U.S. FTA 
negotiations would negatively impact Bolivia's soy exports 
and threaten existing regional agreements. 
 
7. (SBU)  In an abrupt negative turn in tone, Morales said 
that the GOB would never break relations with the U.S., "but 
I won't be subject to conditionalities or blackmail, because 
we have our dignity.  The USG cannot say that they accept or 
do not accept the appointment of certain ministers, 
vice-ministers, or military commanders."  Lowey agreed that 
with mutual respect and understanding, our bilateral 
relationship could move forward.  Morales replied that 
threatening the sovereignty of a nation was unacceptable.  He 
concluded that former President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada 
should be extradited to Bolivia and that the U.S. should not 
harbor criminals who violate human rights. 
 
Santa Cruz Provides A Somewhat Different Perspective 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
8. (U)  In Santa Cruz, the delegation visited a furniture 
factory that utilizes certified wood from a USAID-supported 
Bolivian sustainable forestry project to build doors and 
garden furniture for export.  The delegation then met with 
leaders of Santa Cruz business chambers, banks, business 
owners, and a senator, who provided the delegation with a 
viewpoint that was significantly less rosy than the 
prevailing attitude in La Paz.  The business leaders lamented 
that they could not find common ground with the Morales 
administration, which lacks a clear policy but seems intent 
on reducing the role of the private sector.  The business 
leaders explained that they want to focus on investment, job 
creation, and poverty reduction, but find themselves at odds 
with the GOB on those goals.  They stated that their economic 
model had successfully reduced poverty in Santa Cruz (where 
the poverty rate is 38% compared with a national rate of 
59%), but that the GOB was against their model.  The business 
leaders feared that the GOB intended to consolidate power 
through the constituent assembly and then install a new 
economic model in which the state would play a major planning 
 
 
role.  Because of the negative economic signals sent thus far 
by the GOB, business leaders explained that investment is 
currently at 11% of production, rather than the 15 to 18% 
needed to maintain economic growth of 4% of GDP. 
Representative Lowey asked if the Santa Cruz business 
community could find a constructive way to work with the GOB 
to reduce poverty.  The business leaders responded that the 
GOB does not think it needs the business community, although 
Santa Cruz department provides 45% of national taxes.  Thus, 
Santa Cruz is focusing its efforts on achieving regional 
autonomy, rather than working with the central government. 
 
9. (U) Comment:  Congresswoman Lowey in two full days was 
able to view firsthand the diversity and ambiguities of 
Bolivia.  She witnessed the impact of USG assistance programs 
and engaged numerous Bolivian elected officials on issues 
ranging from economic development to human rights.  Her 
message encouraging the development of Bolivian democracy and 
a productive U.S.-Bolivian bilateral relationship were 
well-received. Morales, upset by the visa revocation of his 
close political ally, was certainly more combative and less 
warm then during previous meetings with the Ambassador.  End 
comment. 
 
10. (U) The Congressional delegation did not have an 
opportunity to clear this report. 
GREENLEE