Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
03GUATEMALA77
2003-01-10 18:18:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Guatemala
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR AND MINUGUA CHIEF TOUR D'HORIZON

Tags:  PREL PHUM EAID PGOV MOPS 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.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GUATEMALA 000077 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM EAID PGOV MOPS GT
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND MINUGUA CHIEF TOUR D'HORIZON


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 GUATEMALA 000077

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PHUM EAID PGOV MOPS GT
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND MINUGUA CHIEF TOUR D'HORIZON



1. (SBU) Summary: The Ambassador and USAID Director met
with MINUGUA Chief Koenigs, who was thankful for USG support
on extension of MINUGUA's mandate through 2004, and was
cautiously optimistic about further implementation of the
Peace Accords. The Ambassador discussed possible
counternarcotics decertification, CAFTA negotiations, and
donor collaboration in the Consultative Group. Koenigs
described MINUGUA's priorities for 2003-2004, which include a
very limited electoral monitoring role, and said MINUGUA
would have little to contribute to an investigation of
clandestine groups in Guatemala. End Summary.


2. (U) On January 6, Ambassador Hamilton, USAID Director
Anders and USAID Coordinator Reisman paid a courtesy call on
MINUGUA Representative Tom Koenigs, his deputy Maria
Maldonado and assistant Jens Urban. The discussion was
wide-ranging and cordial in tone.

Grateful for Extended Mandate
--------------


3. (SBU) Koenigs thanked the Ambassador warmly for USG
support for extending MINUGUA's mandate to the end of 2004
and outlined MINUGUA's priority agenda for its remaining two
years, namely human rights, indigenous advancement, and
demilitarization. MINUGUA's focus will be on
capacity-building of local institutions, and all human rights
case verifications will be conducted jointly between MINUGUA
and the Office of the Human Rights Ombudsman (PDH). Koenigs
said he would propose to UN headquarters that all field
officers work exclusively in local capacity building in 2004.


Upbeat on Accords; Concerned About "Differences In Agenda"
-------------- --------------


3. (SBU) Koenigs said he was optimistic about prospects for
progress on Peace Accords implementation in the remaining
year of the Portillo Administration, despite the challenges
ahead. Koenigs highlighted MINUGUA's successes and ongoing
efforts to urge the government to adhere to key elements of
the peace agenda. He cited the importance of the
Consultative Group process and meeting in Guatemala later
this year. The Ambassador pledged support for the donor
consensus in the CG while noting we had some doubts over the
value of a CG with an outgoing government.



4. (SBU) Koenigs referred to a perceived "difference in
agenda" between the USG and MINUGUA, particularly in the area
of security and demilitarization. On the security issue,
Koenigs said that although personal security is the top
concern of the majority of Guatemalans, Guatemala lacks a
"Giuliani" to help address law enforcement problems. He was
critical of the performance of the National Civil Police
(PNC),citing "stupidity" as "half of the problem." Koenigs
also noted that the PNC did not receive adequate resources
(and international donor support was limited) and was
consistently overshadowed by the military.


5. (SBU) Koenigs said that MINUGUA is particularly concerned
about "remilitarization" and the growing power of the
military (he cited joint patrolling with PNC, potential role
in maritime patrols, etc.). While claiming a good working
relationship with the military, particularly the Minister of
Defense, Koenigs nonetheless believes that civilian oversight
and control is weak at best. Koenigs also expressed concern
that no security body be set up outside of civilian control
(Comment: perhaps alluding to Presidential candidate Oscar
Berger's idea to convert the Army into a "gendarmerie-like"
institution. End Comment.). Koenigs credited the GOG for
its announced plan to demobilize the EMP, but expressed
concern that the EMP's civilian presidential security
replacement (SAAS),might be vulnerable to a security
incident intended to undermine its political viability.


6. (SBU) The Ambassador doubted that we actually have a
difference in agenda. He explained current restrictions on
our mil-mil relationship, i.e., regular IMET and FMF being
prohibited by law. He said we will have a frank dialogue
with the Guatemalan military on human rights, transparency in
the military budget and on the need for the military to be
apolitical. Thus, the Ambassador said, we see no difference
in agenda.


7. (SBU) Koenigs asked the Ambassador how USG narcotics
decertification would affect the GOG. The Ambassador
explained the possibility of a national interest waiver and
said we will seek GOG participation in a Central Amercian
Free Trade Agreement regardless. The Ambassador told
Koenigs that while there was obvious tension in our bilateral
relationship due to our concerns over corruption and
narco-trafficking, we have every intention of making progress
in these areas and in the overall bilateral relationship.

Sees Limited MINUGUA Role in Elections Observation
-------------- --------------


8. (SBU) Koenigs said that MINUGUA sees itself playing a
very limited role in elections monitoring -- since its field
presence and capacity are now so limited. He said the OAS
and the EU (which is well advanced in planning an observer
mission) must take the lead role in elections monitoring.
(Note: USAID is funding part of the OAS' broader voter
outreach effort and is gathering more information on other
OAS and EU plans for election monitoring. End Note.) Since
Guatemala's last two elections have been largely free and
fair, Koenigs does not expect UN headquarters to mount an
observation mission in 2003 unless it receives a specific
request from the GOG. Were MINUGUA asked to take a more
prominent role in elections monitoring, he said, it would
need additional resources.

9. (SBU) When pressed about a possible Rios Montt candidacy,
Koenigs commented that he guessed it to be a "50/50"
possibility, particularly now given his hold on the Army
through his son's recent promotion. Koenigs said he was
under strict orders from UN headquarters not to comment
publicly on the validity of specific candidacies,
particularly if Rios Montt were to be cleared to run by the
Constitutional Court.

Concerned About Human Rights
--------------


10. (SBU) Koenigs lauded the Department's annual Human
Rights Report for Guatemala and commended the Embassy's
continuing concern and emphasis on human rights and
implementation of the Peace Accords. Koenigs expressed
concern about recent extrajudicial killings and threats
against indigenous leaders. The style of the attacks clearly
indicate involvement of individuals trained in military
techniques.


11. (SBU) Turning to the proposal from human rights groups
to mount a commission to investigate clandestine groups and
activities in Guatemala, Koenigs was distinctly
unenthusiastic about MINUGUA collaboration and about any such
commission's prospects for success. Koenigs stated flatly
that, despite mention of the worrisome existence of
clandestine groups in its most recent report, MINUGUA does
not have specific information on clandestine groups, could
not take on the task of verifying the existence of these
groups without additional resources, and currently would not
have much to contribute to such an investigation.
Furthermore, Koenigs said that the Salvador death squad
commission being promoted as a model for this commission was
considered to have been largely ineffective by the UN.
Comment
--------------


12. (SBU) Koenigs, who has a background in Green Party
politics before working for the UN for three years in Bosnia,
seems a littled surprised but pleased to be so closely allied
with the U.S. in Guatemala, his (mis)perceptions of
"differences in agenda" notwithstanding. This initial
meeting was useful in clarifying some of those perceptions,
and setting a cooperative tone for collaboration in the
run-up to the Consultative Group meeting. Koenig's
misgivings about a commission to investigate clandestine
groups seem to stem from an understandable concern to prevent
further MINUGUA mandate-creep at a time when it is beginning
its phase-out.

Hamilton