Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03GUATEMALA102
2003-01-14 22:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Guatemala
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES MILITARY-TO-MIILTARY

Tags:  PREL MOPS PINR MASS PGOV SNAR PHUM GT 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 GUATEMALA 000102 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2013
TAGS: PREL MOPS PINR MASS PGOV SNAR PHUM GT
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES MILITARY-TO-MIILTARY
RELATIONSHIP WITH MOD


Classified By: DATT COL RICHARD NAZARIO FOR REASON 1.5 (A) AND (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 GUATEMALA 000102

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/14/2013
TAGS: PREL MOPS PINR MASS PGOV SNAR PHUM GT
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES MILITARY-TO-MIILTARY
RELATIONSHIP WITH MOD


Classified By: DATT COL RICHARD NAZARIO FOR REASON 1.5 (A) AND (D).


1. (C) Summary: During an introductory call on MOD Robin
Moran, the Ambassador restated USG policy in dealing with the
Guatemalan military and reviewed the benchmarks for possibly
establishing normal military-to-military relations. The
Ambassador said that the military needs to improve its human
rights performance, especially its cooperation with other
agencies, show positive results in curtailing illegal
activities, and increase transparency in the military budget.
The MOD acknowledged the problems in the bilateral
relationship and agreed that more needs to be done. End
summary.


2. (U) On 9 January, 2003, Ambassador Hamilton paid an
introductory call on Minister of Defense, Major General Robin
Moran The meeting took place at the MOD's office; the
Ambassador was accompanied by DATT and the MILGROUP Commander.


3. (C) The Ambassador began by telling the MOD frankly that
the Guatemalan military continues to have a negative image in
the USG, based largely on the human rights abuses committed
during the internal conflict, the lack of cooperation in
ongoing investigations into these atrocities, and deeply
ingrained corruption. The Ambassador noted that there is a
perception that, in the last couple of years, the military
has moved backwards in terms of human rights protection and
budget transparency. As a result, the current USG
restrictions, which prevent normal military-to-military
relations in terms of training, FMF and other military
assistance, will remain in place. When the Guatemalan
military shows significant progress and complies with the six
benchmarks (see para 11) that we have previously discussed,
the U.S. Executive would be prepared to advocate lifting the
restrictions with the Congress.


4. (C) The Ambassador noted that one of his personal goals
while in Guatemala is to see Guatemalan military performance

improve to such an extent that compelling arguments could be
made for restoring a full military-to-military relationship.
He said that it is up to the Guatemalan military, however, to
show that they have reformed to such an extent as to merit a
restored relationship.


5. (C) The Ambassador told the MOD that there is a high
probability that Guatemala will be decertified based on poor
counter-narcotics cooperation, and that this would affect
other areas of the bilateral relationship. The Ambassador
noted that recertification could be possible, even in the
current year, but would take a determined effort by the
government to deal effectively with this problem. The
Ambassador said to the MOD that it is imperative that the
military redirect its priorities and resources, and increase
cooperation with other government agencies to combat drug
trafficking together and show positive results. The
Ambassador also told the MOD that the military needs to
cashier corrupt officers and eliminate the influence that
some retired military officers have over military matters
such as promotions, assignments and operations. He also
mentioned the imperative to do all possible to put an end to
threats against the Guatemalan human rights community.


6. (C) An apparently sincere MOD thanked the Ambassador for
his frankness and his candid observations regarding the
weaknesses of the military. The MOD said that these types of
criticism have provided him with ammunition he needed to
fight corruption and eliminate "bad apples." The MOD
explained that he had used recent declarations made by US
officials about parallel forces and corruption to get
authorization from President Portillo to remove from active
duty several senior officers allegedly involved in
corruption.


7. (C) The MOD described other initiatives that the military
is taking to professionalize the institution, such as a major
restructuring that will involve the reduction of
approximately 6,000 members of the Armed Forces and the
closure of several military installations around the country.
This restructuring will save money in salaries and overhead
maintenance of the installations. The money saved could be
used to improve quality of life, training and equipment. The
MOD said that the personnel reduction involves approximately
1,000 officers and 5,000 enlisted personnel and specialists.
The MOD noted that he was promised a budget allocation by
April to compensate officers and specialists for their
services and to contribute to their retirement pensions. In
response to the Ambassador's question about how these
officers will be selected for retirement, the MOD said that
an honor selection board will be formed to review each
officer's record and standard of living. Those officers with
a record of bad performance or who cannot justify their
standard of living based on their salaries or other
legitimate income will be removed first.


8. (C) The MOD tried to justify the need for secrecy of the
military budget in order to be able to protect the country,
and the lack of more active participation by the military in
anti-narcotics operations based on scarce resources. The
Ambassador responded that there are several ways to justify
the military expenditures and budget to their Congress while
maintaining legitimate state secrets. In regard to the lack
of resources, the Ambassador suggested that the military
needs to be more aggressive in working with the judicial
system and other government institutions to find ways to use
seized assets from anti-narcotics operations, such as boats
and airplanes, against illegal traffickers.


9. (C) The MOD stated to the Ambassador that on December 31,
2002, he traveled to Mexico accompanied by the Minister of
Government to meet with their counterparts in order to
increase regional cooperation in the fight against narcotics
traffickers. The MOD stated that the pledge for cooperation
between both countries was put to the test immediately upon
his return when the Mexican Navy was allowed to enter
Guatemalan waters in pursuit of narco-traffickers, and
captured two go-fast boats and over 2,200 kilos of cocaine.
The MOD said that he needs more resources and intelligence
cooperation to be able to be more responsive to these types
of operations. The Ambassador stated that based on current
restrictions, the Guatemalan military should not count on any
US material assistance other than advice and intelligence
cooperation, but instead the military should seek increased
regional cooperation and reprioritize use of their current
resources.


10. (C) Comment: The Minister of Defense clearly values the
relationship with the USG, and was open in acknowledging the
problems that have kept the bilateral military-to-military
relationship at a low in recent years. While anxious to work
with us to improve the relationship, particularly in reducing
the influence of former military officers and in increasing
military cooperation against transnational criminal threats,
Moran did not suggest that the GOG is moving to address the
specific benchmarks for restoring IMET and FMF. We will
continue to use his interest in a better relationship with us
to seek concrete action on the benchmarks during the coming
months.


11. (C) In the interest of comprehensiveness, the six
benchmarks are:
-- Military cooperation with investigation into human rights
abuses committed during the internal conflict;
-- Disbandment of the EMP;
-- Removal of certain key officers implicated in corrupt
activities, human rights offenses, or organized crime;
-- Full military cooperation and intelligence sharing with
the USG against narcotics, alien smuggling and terrorism;
-- Cooperation of the military (D-2) with civilian
authorities to identify individuals and groups harassing
human rights workers and provide intelligence;
-- Military recognition of congressional (civilian)
oversight of their budget.
Hamilton