PARAGUAY ON CABRAL INSTRUCTIONS

UNCLAS ASUNCION 001449

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

NSC FOR SUE CRONIN
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD BARBARA MOORE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL SNAR KCRM PA CU VE
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY ON CABRAL INSTRUCTIONS

REF: CABRAL INSTRUCTIONS EMAILED 11/23/05


1. (SBU) On 11/25, Charge delivered ref message to Acting FM
Gimenez in FM Rachid's absence. Charge noted that he
previously delivered the message to VP Castiglioni and
Presidential Advisor Walde and spoke to FM Rachid by phone,
and that the Department had delivered the message to
Ambassador Spalding in Washington.


2. (SBU) Gimenez told Charge that he would forward the
message to Rachid and others within the GOP, but noted that
the MFA was not in the driver's seat on the issue. He
intitially was very serious and said he had no other
response. After a brief pause, however, he lamented that the
USG did not focus more on the positive steps the GOP has
taken in the fight against illicit narcotics and other
issues, and laughingly cautioned that cutting support could
force the GOP "into the arms of the axis of evil" for
economic and political support. He noted that Cuba and
Venezuela have offered considerable assistance in numerous
areas, which the GOP has declined to accept. He added that
the USG provides "less support to Paraguay than to other
countries" and Paraguay needs assistance in all areas.


3. (SBU) Charge responded that, throughout Ambassador Keane's
tenure, the USG focused heavily on the positive steps the GOP
has taken, but that the attempt to promote Cabral and his
subsequent reassignment crossed red lines for the U.S. and
suggested that the GOP misunderstood our position, something
we hoped to correct. Charge explained that the USG wants to
support reform in Paraguay, but that the Cabral issue raised
doubts about GOP political will to fight corruption. Charge
concluded that he would consult with Ambassador Cason and
other officials next week in Washington and speak to the FM
and VP again upon his return.
JOHNSON