ENGAGING TRADE MINISTERS IN UNCTAD XI

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000717 SIPDIS SENSITIVE EB/MST FOR NISSEN USTR FOR BOHLING USMISSION GENEVA FOR KEHOE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD GT UNCTAD WTRO SUBJECT: ENGAGING TRADE MINISTERS IN UNCTAD XI REF: A. STATE 62119 ¶B. STATE 51412 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: UNCTAD is a traditional preserve of the MFA, which is prone to G-77 views and rhetoric. The new Vice Minister of Trade understands our concerns and plans to work with the pro-trade Minister of Foreign Affairs to align Guatemala's positions in UNCTAD with its Cairns Group agenda. He has asked for a chance to work this internally, and we will be following up. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) EconCouns discussed preparations for UNCTAD XI with Vice Minister of Economy for Integration and Trade Eduardo Sperisen the evening of March 18. Sperisen, recently returned to government with the inauguration of the Berger Administration in January, had not followed developments in UNCTAD for a number of years but was familiar and sympathetic with the USG's general concerns. Sperisen said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was traditionally responsible for UNCTAD issues, noting that he had regularly sparred over UNCTAD with MFA officials when he was Guatemala's PermRep to the WTO. He further noted that the MFA official with whom he had sparred in Geneva was the current Director General for Multilateral Affairs, Amb. Carla Rodriguez. He confirmed that the views of MFA careerists were generally stuck in G-77 and dependency school rhetoric whereas Guatemala's national policies were aligned with the Cairns Group's free trade agenda. He said it was a mistake to let the MFA have control of any issues linked to trade policy. ¶3. (SBU) EconCouns asked Sperisen's advice on how best to influence Rodriguez, whom Embassy knows quite well. EconCouns wondered whether a quiet approach to Foreign Minister Briz, former President of the Guatemalan Chamber of Commerce and a committed free-trade advocate, might not be the way to proceed. Sperisen said he liked the idea but asked that we give him a chance to work through Briz before contacting the MFA directly. Comment: Sperisen evidently sees a chance to take control of the policy, not simply influence Rodriguez. We believe that Briz will be a willing ally, and we will follow up over the coming days to see where matters stand. End Comment. HAMILTON