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