CUBAN MEDICAL SUPPORT TO PARAGUAY AND AN OPENING

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 000212

SIPDIS

STATE WHA/BSC
STATE PASS TO USAID LAC/AA
NSC FOR KIMBERLY BREIER
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD DAN JOHNSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER PINR CU CO VE PA
SUBJECT: CUBAN MEDICAL SUPPORT TO PARAGUAY AND AN OPENING
WITH PRESIDENT DUARTE

REF: ASUNCION 188

Classified By: CDA Kevin M. Johnson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The ending of the Cuban Doctor program by
the GOP, and concurrent GOP fears of increased ominous
leftist influence and activities, presents an opportunity for
the USG to draw President Duarte farther away from the allure
of Cuba and Venezuela. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Reftel noted GOP Health Ministry announcement that the
GOP would end the Cuban Doctor program in December when the
current group completes their tour and the bilateral
agreement covering the program will lapse. Post believes
this decision is directly linked to foreign involvement in
crime and subversion in Paraguay.


3. (C) There was no/no GOP indication of also ending the
Cuban scholarship program, which sends poor Paraguayans to
medical school in Cuba. However, VP Castiglioni told Charge
Feb 8 that he strongly favors ending this program as well.
He said many students returned from Cuba with polluted minds
about politics and also about issues such as abortion. This
undermines Paraguayan values and foments conflict, especially
in rural areas, including his home department of San Pedro.
Supreme Court President Fretes told Charge separately that
some Colorado party activists were urging Duarte to reduce
GOP ties to both Cuba and Venezuela.


4. (C) Charge asked VFM Martinez Feb. 10 if there were plans
to also end the Cuban scholarship program. He said he knew
of no official proposal to do this, but said the MFA was
sympathetic to ending this program. There had not been any
reaction from the Cuban government to the announcement about
the doctors program, he said, and the GOP has not/not
formally informed the Cuban government of this decision (at
least not through the MFA.) Charge said the Cuban ambassador
had not raised the issue with the MFA. (Note: MFA bilateral
Director Valdez is scheduled to visit Cuba for an annual
review of bilateral relations next week. He told Charge he
had no/no instructions about this issue at all; he said the
Health Ministry handled the entire medical program and the
selection process for the next group of scholarship grantees
is almost complete. Asked what he would say to the GOC when
it asked him about this decision in Havana he said: &this
issue is not in my portfolio, and I will tell them that,
unless I get new instructions.8 End note.) Post is still
seeking Health Ministry views on the scholarship issue.


5. (C) Comment: The President is much closer to the Health
Minister than to the FM, and is likely driving this process
personally. This leaves others puzzled as to next steps and
the absence of a coherent policy, but is an opportunity for
post to re-enforce increased concerns about foreign,
subversive, and leftist influence in Paraguay; post is
engaging allies within the GOP and others with influence to
take advantage of this opening. Many here, especially the
VP, who will visit Bogota soon, hope Colombia can be a major
partner on these issues. It is unclear how far NDF,s
apparent anger about FARC activity here will take him in
reviewing broader policy toward Cuba and Venezuela, but we
should seek to find out. A scheduled visit by MCC Threshold
Plan Director Kevin Saba Feb 16-19 provides a timely reminder
of our extensive positive relationship with Paraguay. Dept.
might consider other means to take advantage of NDF,s
increased suspicions of Cuba and Venezuela through visits,
telcons, bilateral meetings at multilateral events, etc.
Duarte may not have been born again ideologically, but recent
events here have opened his eyes to the dangers Paraguay
faces from the FARC and its allies. End Comment.
JOHNSON