(SBU) PARAGUAY: REFERENCES TO SOFA AGAINST U.S.

UNCLAS ASUNCION 001224

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD DAN JOHNSON
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MARR PA
SUBJECT: (SBU) PARAGUAY: REFERENCES TO SOFA AGAINST U.S.
POLICY INTEREST

REF: A. ASUNCION 01212


B. ASUNCION 01162


1. (U) This is an action request; see paragraph 6.


2. (SBU) We enjoy excellent military-to-military relations
with Paraguay, and for many years Paraguay has provided an
open and permissive environment for exercises and other
military initiatives. The U.S. has an important policy
interest in preserving that relationship and ensuring that
the environment remains open and permissive. Public
references to our military-to-military agreements with
Paraguay as a Status of Forces of Agreement (SOFA) could work
against that interest.


3. (SBU) The U.S. conducts exercises and other military
initiatives in Paraguay based on exchanges of diplomatic
notes that grant U.S. personnel permission to enter and
Vienna Convention administrative and technical status
(immunity from criminal liability, and limited immunity from
civil liability for actions arising in the performance of
their duties). The diplomatic notes must be approved by
Paraguay's Congress.


4. (SBU) In 2005, for the sake of efficiency and
transparency, we sent the Congress a single, consolidated
note that covered exercises for a period of 18 months, rather
than sending a separate note for each exercise (reftels).
There were no significant changes to the content of the
notes, as compared to notes we submitted in previous years;
nor have we entered into any new substantive
military-to-military agreements with Paraguay in recent years.


5. (SBU) In light of current local and regional pressures,
which have manifested themselves in a widespread
disinformation campaign about U.S.-Paraguayan military
cooperation (reftels),it would be against U.S. policy
interest to refer to our military-to-military agreements with
Paraguay as a SOFA. The U.S. has not routinely referred to
the agreements as a SOFA in the past. It could be
interpreted to signal a change in the status quo if we start
doing so now, which would give our adversaries momentum in
their attempt to convince the region that the U.S. intends to
deploy large numbers of troops to Paraguay for extended
periods of time and build a permanent military base here.
While such assertions are untrue, perceptions are what matter
in this campaign to win over public opinion, and the
perception that the U.S. has entered into a comprehensive new
military-to-military agreement with Paraguay could sway the
opinions of many people unable to discern our adversaries'
blatant fabrications. In addition, the GOP continues to
publicly deny that there has been any substantive change in
our military-to-military relations in general, or to the
terms for entry and protections of U.S. troops in particular.
The GOP does not believe it has signed any substantially new
agreement with us.


6. (SBU) Action request: Post requests that the Department
and other USG officials refrain from publicly referring to
U.S.-Paraguayan military-to-military agreements as a SOFA.
To use that term could undermine the chances of continuing
our permissive exercise environment.
KEANE