PROGRESS TOWARD REGIONAL ARMS INVENTORY

C O N F I D E N T I A L GUATEMALA 000534

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/ PPC (LYNN) AND PM/B (WESTMORELAND)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2013
TAGS: PARM PREL MARR MCAP GT
SUBJECT: PROGRESS TOWARD REGIONAL ARMS INVENTORY


Classified By: Robert E. Copley for reason 1.5 (b).


1. (C) Summary: On February 19, Central American Foreign
Ministers ratified a model format for providing each other
with information about the composition, armaments, material
and equipment of their military and police forces. The
measure removes another hurdle in establishing a "reasonable
balance of power" in the region--a fundamental objective of
the 1995 Framework Treaty on Democratic Security in Central
America. The measure is also required as a confidence
building measure and will serve to shore up the Central
American Integration System (SICA),which was created by the
Framework Treaty and will oversee implementation of the
inventories. Guatemala Foreign Minister Gutierrez said
ratification was a tough sell among some of his counterparts.
Once implemented, however, Gutierrez believes the measure
will strengthen arguments for reducing the size of the
Guatemalan military. The Ambassador mentioned the measure
during recent consultations with SouthCom Commander General
Hill, and suggested that if the inventories appear to be
going forward, there could be a substantial USG interest in
enlisting an entity, such as the Inter-American Defense
Board, to verify them. End Summary.


2. (U) The Foreign Ministers of Guatemala, El Salvador,
Honduras, Panama, and Nicaragua, as well as the Vice Foreign
Minister of Costa Rica and Ambassador Moises Cal of Belize
met in Panama City on February 19, inter alia, to ratify the
model format for arms inventories. Ratification was the
major hurdle in the approval process for the arms inventories
begun in August 2001. The model format requires disclosure
of information about the composition of naval, land, air and
security force units as well as their installations, weapons,
material and equipment. The model format provides official
definitions for the types of weapons, vehicles, ships and
aircraft to be inventoried. In some cases, such as
ship-borne radar, the model format requires very specific
information. If this initiative goes forward, the resulting
disclosures among Central American neighbors could greatly
enhance mutual confidence on the isthmus. There are
exemptions in the agreement, however, from providing any
information that by its nature is reserved in the
Constitutions of member states. In the case of Guatemala,
Ministers of Defense routinely cite article 30 of the
Constitution when refusing to provide a wide array of
military information, even to the Guatemalan Congress.


3. (C) Foreign Minister Gutierrez told the Ambassador that
ratifying the model format was very difficult and that four
of the Ministers in the meeting almost refused to sign.
Gutierrez was surprised and pleased with the positive
outcome.


4. (C) Comment: This appears to be a step forward in the
initiative of Honduran President Maduro as reported by
Ambassador Palmer and as discussed December 2002 and February
2003 during the Chiefs of Mission Conferences. Whether or
not the Guatemalan military hides behind its Constitution,
the value of the inventories as confidence building measures
would be greatly enhanced if they could be independently
verified. Ambassador Hamilton mentioned the model format in
discussions with Combatant Commander Hill of Southern Command
February 23, and raised the possibility that the
Inter-American Defense Board or a similar entity could verify
the inventories.
HAMILTON