Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ASUNCION1066
2005-08-24 12:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Asuncion
Cable title:  

PARAGUAY: UN PERMREP NERVOUS ABOUT CTC ACTIVITY

Tags:  PREL KCRM PTER PA UN 
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UNCLAS ASUNCION 001066 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

NSC FOR SUE CRONIN
TREASURY FOR OTA WARFIELD, VAN KOCH, MILLAR
SOUTHCOM FOR DAN JOHNSON
USUN FOR AMBASSADOR BOLTON FROM AMBASSADOR KEANE
USUN FOR ERIC ROSAND, NICK ROSTOW

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KCRM PTER PA UN
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY: UN PERMREP NERVOUS ABOUT CTC ACTIVITY

REF: ASUNCION 875

UNCLAS ASUNCION 001066

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

NSC FOR SUE CRONIN
TREASURY FOR OTA WARFIELD, VAN KOCH, MILLAR
SOUTHCOM FOR DAN JOHNSON
USUN FOR AMBASSADOR BOLTON FROM AMBASSADOR KEANE
USUN FOR ERIC ROSAND, NICK ROSTOW

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KCRM PTER PA UN
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY: UN PERMREP NERVOUS ABOUT CTC ACTIVITY

REF: ASUNCION 875


1. (SBU) On August 19, I was approached at a reception in
the Paraguayan Foreign Ministry, Amb. Eladio Loizaga,
Paraguayan PermRep at the UN in New York. Loizaga, in town
for a short stay, mentioned that he was concerned about
possible developments related to the CTC and its engagement
with Paraguay. He opined that Paraguay was receiving
conflicting messages. On the one hand the US is demonstrating
its interest in closer relations with Paraguay, such as the
visit of Secretary Rumsfeld, while on the other the U.S. is
pressing Paraguay on anti-terrorism legislation. He had
heard that the CTC was again focusing on Paraguay in
connection with compliance with UN resolutions. His concern
was also related to the fact that President Duarte would be
in New York in September and would be a Vice President of the
UNGA, (implying that he did not want to see Duarte put in an
awkward situation). He said he hoped to meet with US PermRep
John Bolton during the coming week to explain Paraguay's
situation. He claimed that he did not understand the reason
for such focus since Paraguay has done as much as Brazil,
Argentina and many other countries.


2. (SBU) Disregarding his attempt to link this issue to our
warming bilateral relationship, I replied that, regardless
of what Brazil and Argentina have done -- whose situations I
had not studied -- Paraguay is tardy in fulfilling its
international obligations. Moreover, the Paraguayan
President, I noted, had committed to seeking enactment of
anti-money laundering legislation (AML),languishing in
Congress for 15 months already, as a precursor to presenting
and getting enacted new anti-terrorism legislation. We have
seen no movement nor serious Executive Branch efforts to
engage with Congress on this legislation. I suggested that,
with the Executive now enjoying the support of a coalition of
parties in both houses of Congress, it would not be
unreasonable to expect passage of the AML in at least one
house by September, and presentation of the anti-terrorism
law, so that there would be some chance of achieving
enactment of both this year.


3. (SBU) Comment: Post appreciates the efforts of USUN to
bring more CTC pressure to bear upon Paraguay for
non-compliance with its UNSCR 1371 obligations. We will
build on Loizaga's nervousness about his President coming up
for criticism on this score to seek movement on the AML draft
already before Congress and the introduction of the CT law by
September. Continuing pressure from others in the
international community, particularly the UN, is important as
well and is less likely to lead to a natinalist backlash
here. End Comment.
KEANE