Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ASUNCION1026
2005-08-13 19:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asuncion
Cable title:  

INITIAL REACTIONS TO NEWS OF SECRETARY RUMSFELD'S

Tags:  PREL PGOV MARR MASS PA VE CU BR AR 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 001026 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/BSC
DOD FOR OSD PARAGUAY DESK OFFICER LTC DAN MCDONALD
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD DAN JOHNSON
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MASS PA VE CU BR AR
SUBJECT: INITIAL REACTIONS TO NEWS OF SECRETARY RUMSFELD'S
VISIT TO PARAGUAY

REF: A. ASUNCION 1015


B. ASUNCION 1011

Classified By: PolOff Mark A. Stamilio, reason 1.5(b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 001026

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/BSC
DOD FOR OSD PARAGUAY DESK OFFICER LTC DAN MCDONALD
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD DAN JOHNSON
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/13/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV MARR MASS PA VE CU BR AR
SUBJECT: INITIAL REACTIONS TO NEWS OF SECRETARY RUMSFELD'S
VISIT TO PARAGUAY

REF: A. ASUNCION 1015


B. ASUNCION 1011

Classified By: PolOff Mark A. Stamilio, reason 1.5(b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: In response to news of Secretary Rumsfeld's
planned visit to Paraguay, local media reported heavily this
week that the visit marks a further shift in policy for the
Duarte Frutos administration, towards the U.S. and away from
leftist governments in the region. Some sectors of the
population would welcome such a shift, while others would be
displeased. Reportedly, the Government of Brazil falls
within the latter group. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Throughout the week, local daily "Ultima Hora"
published articles and opinion pieces claiming that Secretary
Rumsfeld's planned visit to Paraguay was further evidence of
an "about face" in policy for the Duarte Frutos
administration -- a shift in alignment towards the U.S., and
away from the left-wing governments of Hugo Chavez and Fidel
Castro and left-leaning MERCOSUR partners Brazil, Argentina
and Uruguay. In further support of its claim, the paper
pointed to Vice President Castiglioni's visit to Washington,
the Senate's approval of multiple U.S.-Paraguayan military
exercises over the course of the next 18 months, and the
conclusion of an Open Skies agreement with the U.S. In
juxtaposition, the paper noted that, earlier in his
administration, Duarte Frutos had taken a more "rebellious"
and "autonomous" stance vis a vis the U.S. by declining to
send troops to Iraq, ratifying the Treaty of Rome, and
supporting a "non-U.S." candidate for OAS Secretary General.
The paper claims that the U.S. is asserting its influence
over Paraguay in order to block consensus within MERCOSUR and
create divisions within Latin America, to thereby advance our
own interests in the region.


3. (C) The editors of all three major dailies raised the
issue in conversations with the Ambassador at an Embassy
function on August 11. Pointing to the number of
U.S.-Paraguayan military exercises scheduled to take place
during the next 18 months and FBI plans to open an office in
Paraguay, the editors asserted that there appeared to be a
growing "special relationship" between the U.S. and Paraguay
and asked why the U.S. was "paying so much attention to
Paraguay." (Note: The volume of U.S.-Paraguayan military
exercises in Paraguay is relatively high for the region, but
that has been true for years. It has increased this year but
not significantly. Rather, for purposes of efficiency, and
to ensure approval while Congressional leadership was in
hands favorable to us, the Embassy this year submitted a
consolidated request for immunities for all exercises that
fall within the 18-month period, rather than submitting them
piecemeal as in the past. Due to tendentious, heavy
publicity given to Congressional approval of the immunities
agreement by those opposed to it, there is a perception in
Paraguay and neighboring countries that our military ties
have qualitatively strengthened. End Note.)


4. (U) Other key figures, including FM Rachid and several
pro-U.S. Senators such as Sen. Carlos Mateo of the Liberal
Party and Sen. Alejandro Velazguez, Vice-President of the
Senate, are delighted by the prospect of a closer
relationship between the U.S. and Paraguay. In response to
media suggestions that such a shift in the administration's
policy marks a surrender of the country's autonomy, they
counter that closer ties with the U.S. would better enable
Paraguay to assert its independence from Brazil and
Argentina, countries that dominate the MERCOSUR bloc. Many
other members of Paraguayan society also would welcome
greater distance between the GOP and the governments of
Chavez, Castro and Kirchner.


5. (C) Uruguay's ambassador to Paraguay confided in the
Ambassador this week that the local Brazilian Ambassador told
him the GOB is displeased that Paraguay is securing closer
military and security ties to the U.S.
KEANE