PARAGUAY: DEMARCHE ON IRANIAN PRESIDENT'S

UNCLAS ASUNCION 001353 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM IR PA PTEL SUBJECT: PARAGUAY: DEMARCHE ON IRANIAN PRESIDENT'S INCREASING EXTREMISM REF: STATE 199225 On 10/28, Charge drew from reftel points in conveying to Acting FM Gimenez U.S. outrage over Iran's extremist declarations and called upon Paraguay to similarly condemn the Iranian President's recent statements. Gimenez expressed some reluctance about Paraguay's speaking out publicly on this issue. Paraguay is seeking to expand commercial ties with many countries in the Middle East and was disinclined to make statements that could dampen prospects for exports to the Middle East. JOHNSON