MIXED CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO TRAVEL TO HAITI

UNCLAS BRASILIA 002803

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

PORT-AU-PRINCE FOR AMB. FOLEY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV BR HA POL MIL
SUBJECT: MIXED CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO TRAVEL TO HAITI
-- REQUEST MEETING WITH U.S. AMBASSADOR



1. (SBU) On November 9, Brazilian Federal Deputy Maninha paid
a courtesy call on Ambassador Danilovich. Maninha is the
current president of COPA (Confederation of the Parliaments
of the Americas),and this week she is leading a seven-member
delegation (from three countries) on a fact-finding trip to
Haiti. She asked our assistance in arranging a meeting with
Ambassador James Foley.


2. (SBU) Deputada Maninha is a good friend and contact of the
US embassy here. She has traveled to the US on
embassy-sponsored programs, and she is currently the
Vice-Chair of the Brazilian Chamber's Foreign Affairs
Committee. As current president of COPA, she is leading a
seven-member delegation to Haiti in order to report back to
the Brazilian Congress and COPA on the state of affairs
there. She requests a meeting with Ambassador Foley or the
DCM, and we support her request.


3. (SBU) Delegation members are:

1- Federal Deputy Maninha, Brazil
2- Representative Charlotte L'Ecuyer, Canada
3- Mr. Jopel Monsils, Assistant to Rep. L'Ecuyer
4- Federal Deputy Fernando Gabeira, Brazil.
5- Federal Deputy Clair Flora Martins, Brazil
6- Mr. Joelson Dias, Assistant to Dep. Maninha
7- Sra. Jannette Madriz, Venezuela.


4. (SBU) We understand that the delegation will be in Haiti
during November 12-15. We apologize for the short notice.
Post would greatly appreciate if Embassy Port-au-Prince could
meet with Maninha's delegation at your convenience. Due to
the short notice, you can respond by contacting the Brazilian
Embassy in Port-au-Prince; or contacting Embassy Brasilia
(Poloff Richard Reiter at work: 55-61-312-7343, cel:
55-61-9982-1904; or Pol Asst Barbara Ramos at work:
55-61-312-7075),or Deputy Maninha's office (Ms. Inae at
work: 55-61-915-1952, or cel: 8118-3310).


5. (SBU) Biographical Note:
- Dep. Maninha (pronounced "ma-NEEN-ya") is a Federal Deputy
from President Lula's Workers' Party (PT); she represents the
Federal District of Brasilia. A physician by background,
this is her first term in the federal Congress after two
terms in the state assembly. As a member, and now
Vice-Chair, of the Foreign Affairs Committee, she has been
active in discussions on free trade and Haiti. She comes
from the Workers' Party's left-wing but is a reasonable
interlocutor regarding US foreign policy issues. She
understands English but speaks it only haltingly.

- Dep. Fernando Gabeira is a more complicated case. As a
leftist journalist in 1969 opposed to the military regime, he
was part of a group that kidnapped US Ambassador to Brazil,
Charles Elbrick. Gabeira released Elbrick after three days,
in return for the regime's releasing a dozen political
prisoners. Gabeira is now a respected Federal Deputy who
founded Brazil's Green Party and later joined Lula's Workers'
Party. He is currently "without party". Because of the
kidnapping, Gabeira is ineligible to receive a US visa, and
US ambassadors here have chosen not to meet with him
formally, though there are occasional informal conversations.
(NOTE: Dep. Maninha told us that her group would be
"understanding" if Amb. Foley chooses not to meet with Dep.
Gabeira.) While Gabeira is serious in conversation and his
views are respected in the Brazilian Congress, given the
context, post suggests that he not be included in Embassy
Port-au-Prince meetings with this delegation.
DANILOVICH