Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05ASUNCION1413
2005-11-15 17:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Asuncion
Cable title:  

PARAGUAY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UPDATE, NOV.06 -

Tags:  PGOV PREL ECON PHUM SOCI KOCI SNAR PA 
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151704Z Nov 05
UNCLAS ASUNCION 001413 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EB/IFD/OIA
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/AA
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR LYANG
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN
TREASURY FOR OSIA MAUREEN WAFER
TREASURY FOR OTA WARFIELD, VAN KOCH, MILLAR
COMMERCE FOR ITA SARAH COOK
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD DAN JOHNSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON PHUM SOCI KOCI SNAR PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UPDATE, NOV.06 -
NOV.12


UNCLAS ASUNCION 001413

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EB/IFD/OIA
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/AA
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR LYANG
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN
TREASURY FOR OSIA MAUREEN WAFER
TREASURY FOR OTA WARFIELD, VAN KOCH, MILLAR
COMMERCE FOR ITA SARAH COOK
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD DAN JOHNSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON PHUM SOCI KOCI SNAR PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UPDATE, NOV.06 -
NOV.12



1. (U) Summary:
-- SENAD Dismantles Drug Band
-- Russia Plans to Open an Embassy in Paraguay
-- 35 Percent of Street Children are Victims of Sexual
Exploitation

--------------
SENAD Dismantles Drug Band
--------------


2. (U) On 11/08, SENAD agents dismantled a drug band that had
been operating for years, trafficking cocaine from Colombia
through Asuncion to Europe. The 6 members of the band
arrested on 11/8 included 2 Colombians, 3 Bolivians, and 1
Spaniard. All six individuals remain in the custody of
Paraguayan authorities. DEA informed that this operation was
made possible due to cooperation provided by two couriers who
were arrested on 9/24.

--------------
Russia Plans to Open an Embassy in Paraguay
--------------

3.(U) On 11/9, President Putin announced that Russia plans to
open an Embassy in Asuncion. At the beginning of this year,
the Paraguayan government renewed its diplomatic
representation in Moscow. NOTE: Paraguay's Embassy to Russia
had closed in 1998. END NOTE. The primary area of interest
appears to be exports of Paraguayan beef. As of July 2005
Russia is the principal buyer of Paraguayan beef, and over
the last year Paraguay's export of beef to Russia have
increased by 126 percent.

-------------- --------------
35 Percent of Street Children are Victims of Sexual
Exploitation
-------------- --------------

4.(U) On 11/7, the Municipal Advisory Council on the Rights
of Children and Adolescents (CODENI) a government
organization, reported the results of a study of street
children in Ciudad del Este (CDE),270 miles west of
Asuncion. According to the findings 1,050 children between
the ages of 8-16 survive by begging, working or stealing in
the streets of CDE, and 35 percent of street children are
exposed to sexual exploitation. According to the Council,
most activities of the children which include prostitution,
stealing and selling drugs, are with the consent of the
parents or guardians. The study also indicated that many of
the children are employed as mules to traffic drugs and arms
to Brazil. On 11/10, a representative of the Inter-American
Commission for Children's Human Rights, Paulo Sergio
Pinheiro, announced a visit to Paraguay to study the
conditions of street children in the country. NOTE: National
Secretariat for Children and Adolescents, said that they are

SIPDIS
analyzing the study conducted by CODENI but they are certain
that the findings are correct and precise based on other
recent studies the Secretariat has conducted in CDE.
JOHNSON