PARAGUAY ON LATAM CONTINGENTS REMAINING IN HAITI

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 001042 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD DAN JOHNSON NSC FOR SUE CRONIN E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2015 TAGS: PREL MARR KPKO PA HA SP SUBJECT: PARAGUAY ON LATAM CONTINGENTS REMAINING IN HAITI FOR THE LONG TERM REF: A. STATE 149277 ¶B. ASUNCION PA IIR 6 875 0057 05 (23 MAY 05) Classified By: POL Chief James P. Merz for reasons of 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) On 8/17, PolOff delivered reftel demarche (ref A) to MFA Americas Director Cynthia Filartiga and MFA International Organizations Director Julio Peralta. Peralta advised that Paraguay is still discussing with Spain the possibility of equipment and materiel support for Paraguayan troops to join the Spanish contingent participating in MINUSTAH (ref B). In early July, the GOP sent a letter to the Spanish MOD requesting such support. The GOP does not expect to receive a response from the GOS until September, however, since "it is vacation season in Spain." ¶2. (C) Separately, in a meeting with SECDEF Rumsfeld on August 17th, Defense Minister Roberto Gonzalez described GOP efforts to obtain assistance from Spain and appealed to the U.S. for support. SECDEF reminded Gonzalez that the GOP's decision to sign an Article 98 agreement would facilitate delivery of assistance. ODC reps advised that the Embassy was exploring avenues for assistance. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: The fact that Paraguay continues to pursue support for Paraguayan troops to participate in MINUSTAH suggests that the GOP agrees that Latin American Troop Contributing Countries must remain steadfast about military commitments to MINUSTAH. The Ambassador will raise the issue in his next meeting with FM Rachid. KEANE