SURINAMESE DEFENSE MINISTER SHARES VIEWS ON

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000464

SIPDIS


SENSITIVE

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR -- MSEIBEL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR NS
SUBJECT: SURINAMESE DEFENSE MINISTER SHARES VIEWS ON
SECURITY



1. (U) DURING THE JUNE 14 OPENING OF A COURSE ENTITLED
"THE THEORIES AND REALITIES OF THE SECURITY OF SMALL
STATES" SPONSORED BY ANTON DE KOM UNIVERSITY'S INSTITUTE OF
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, SURINAMESE MINISTER OF DEFENSE
RONALD ASSEN PROVIDED A RARE GLIMPSE OF SURINAME'S DEFENSE
STANDPOINT. IN HIS KEYNOTE ADDRESS TO STUDENTS AND INVITED
GUESTS, ASSEN DEFINED SECURITY AS THE "ABSENCE OF FOREIGN
ARMED MILITARY AGGRESSION, TERRORISM, AND LOCAL AND TRANS-
NATIONAL CRIME." HE NAMED THE LACK OF FUNDING FOR
PERSONNEL, TRAINING, AND OPERATIONS AND THE ENTANGLEMENT OF
NATIONAL SECURITY FORCES WITH DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL
CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS AS KEY FACTORS HAMPERING SMALL
STATES IN THEIR EFFORTS TO BEEF UP THEIR SECURITY POSTURE.


2. (U) ASSEN SUGGESTED THAT SMALL STATES CAN OVERCOME
THEIR FINANCIAL PROBLEMS IN PART BY FORGING ALLIANCES WITH
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS BUT CAUTIONED THAT SUCH ALLIANCES
COULD RESULT IN OVER-DEPENDENCE ON A SINGLE DONOR. TO
EMPHASIZE THIS POINT, HE REFERRED TO THE UNANIMOUS
CONCLUSION REACHED BY CARIBBEAN COMMANDERS IN CHIEFS WHO
ATTENDED THE JUNE 1-3 CARIBBEAN NATIONS SECURITY CONFERENCE
(CANSEC) IN MIAMI ORGANIZED BY THE U.S. SOUTHERN COMMAND
(SOUTHCOM) THAT SOUTHCOM'S MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO THEIR
COUNTRIES IS ESSENTIAL TO THEIR EFFORTS TO PROMOTE
SECURITY. ASSEN RECOMMENDED THAT SMALL STATES DIVERSIFY
THEIR MILITARY SPONSORS TO PREVENT THEIR OVER-DEPENDENCE ON
A SINGLE DONOR FROM BECOMING A "POLITICAL MECHANISM IN
FOREIGN HANDS." AT THE SAME TIME, HOWEVER, HE CONCEDED
THAT THE NUMBER OF STATES WILLING TO GIVE CONSIDERABLE
MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO CARICOM IS LIMITED.


3. (U) ASSEN CALLED ATTENTION TO CARICOM'S ONGOING
DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A REGIONAL SECURITY
SYSTEM PROPOSED BY CARICOM HEADS OF STATE ONE YEAR AGO. HE
SAID THAT CARICOM MEMBER-STATES ARE PREPARING THE
FOUNDATION FOR A "REGIONAL RAPID RESPONSE MECHANISM" THAT
WOULD ENABLE CARICOM TO COMBAT AND ELIMINATE THREATS TO
NATIONAL AND REGIONAL SECURITY AND TO MANAGE POLITICAL
CRISES OR DISASTERS. NOTABLY, HE DID NOT ELABORATE ON
WHICH ALLIES WOULD BE PICKING UP THE TAB FOR SUCH A FORCE.
IN CLOSING, ASSEN URGED CARICOM MEMBER STATES TO INVEST
MORE IN NATIONAL SECURITY FORCES, WITHOUT ELABORATING ON
SURINAME'S OWN PLANS ON THAT FRONT.


4. (SBU) COMMENT. THE CONTINUING FALLOUT TO HOLD A NEW
HORIZONS EXERCISE HERE THIS SUMMER HAS CLEARLY INFLUENCED
ASSEN'S REMARKS. THE GOVERNMENT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN TAKEN
BY SURPRISE BY THE PUBLIC CRITICISM OF ITS FAILURE TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF AN INFUSION OF CASH INTO THE ECONOMY AND THE
CONSTRUCTION OF MEDICAL CLINICS. ONE PARLIAMENTARIAN WHO
IS A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNING COALITION ASSERTED THAT
SURINAME'S SOVEREIGNTY WAS WORTH MORE THAN U.S. HANDOUTS.
CLEARLY ASSEN IS PICKING UP ON THIS THEME, WHILE
RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF U.S. ASSISTANCE, ASSERTING
SURINAME'S INDEPENDENT AND PRINCIPLED POSITION IN ENTERING
INTO AGREEMENTS WITH FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS. THIS STRUTTING
POSTURE IS GOOD FOR LOCAL CONSUMPTION IN THE RUN UP TO NEXT
YEAR'S ELECTION. ASSEN, HOWEVER, REALIZES THAT NO OTHER
DONOR IS WAITING IN THE WINGS TO ASSIST THE SURINAMESE
MILITARY. END COMMENT.

BARNES



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