PRESS CRITICISM OF FM BRIZ COULD HURT

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 001007

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL GT
SUBJECT: PRESS CRITICISM OF FM BRIZ COULD HURT



1. (SBU) Summary: Signaling the end of the honeymoon for at
least one member of the Berger Administration, a major
national daily has attacked the performance of Jorge Briz
Abularach's Foreign Ministry. While the motives for the
attack are still unclear, Briz confided to the Ambassador he
is sensitive to the criticism. Briz's political sensitivity
could indirectly affect U.S. interests. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Leading daily "Prensa Libre," the most influential
newspaper in Guatemala, is widely viewed as a partisan
mouthpiece for elite economic interests, and was solidly
pro-Berger and anti-FRG throughout the election campaign in

2003. Until now it has refrained from direct attacks on the
performance of the new government, while featuring alleged
corruption by the previous government involving other
opposition parties.


3. (U) However, on April 19, "Prensa Libre" featured a lead
editorial entitled "A Do-nothing Foreign Ministry." The
editorial criticized the performance of the MFA under Foreign
Minister Briz, and Briz himself for his lack of diplomatic
experience, mastery of the English language and the foreign
policy issues he now confronts. It cites unnamed government
officials and diplomats as saying "international relations
are totally blocked and nothing is happening in the Foreign
Ministry, and blaming Briz." The editorial ascribes to Briz
a "Cold War geo-strategic world view," and a marked
preference for naming Ambassadors from business backgrounds
rather than those with "more progressive views." It accuses
him of ceding ground to the Economy Ministry on trade, to
Rigoberta Menchu on the Peace Accords, and to Vice President
Stein on relations with the U.S. Stein's solo visit to
Washington to prepare for the Berger visit is cited a proof
of Briz's marginalization. By the author's reckoning, Briz's
uncertainty and indecision have resulted in a paralyzed MFA.
The editorial ends by contrasting Briz's "ideological and
pro-business" vision with VP Stein's emphasis on social
inclusion. On April 20, influential "El Periodico" columnist
Jorge Palmieri also mounted an attack on Briz, citing the
VP's leading role in foreign policy among other examples of
the FM's marginalization. Those included Berger's call for
reform of the Central American Parliament, and Stein's public
pronouncement in favor of the OAS SecGen candidacy of Miguel
Angel Rodriguez, neither of which were cleared with Briz.

Comment
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4. (SBU) Briz, as a Presidential aspirant with a background
in business, not diplomacy, is vulnerable to this kind of
sniping. Since the outset of his tenure as Foreign Minister
we have noted Briz's sensitivity to criticism or perceived
slights. However, Briz has been willing to take political
risks at our request (e.g., on Cuba resolutions in Geneva and
on Article 98).


5. (SBU) The motives for the "Prensa Libre" editorial are
still a subject of speculation. We do not believe it comes
from Stein, although he has dissented from the Briz-Berger
position on Cuba and has not been enthusiastic about Article

98. It also strikes us as rather early for Briz's fellow
presidential aspirants in the Berger government to launch
such an attack against him. Skinner-Klee has speculated that
the attack may have come from within the Foreign Ministry,
either from high-ranking MFA staff replaced by Briz or from
rival aspirants for the Foreign Ministry job.


6. (SBU) Comment, continued. Regardless of the motive, the
editorial attacks on Briz have undermined his confidence and
willingness to risk exposure on issues that are controversial
in Guatemala, including accession to an Article 98 agreement
with the U.S.
WHARTON