PARAGUAY TOWS BRAZILIAN LINE ON MERCOSUR - ECUADOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 000546

SIPDIS

STATE WHA/BSC AND OAS
NSC FOR KIM BREIER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2015
TAGS: PREL KDEM EC BR PA OAS
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY TOWS BRAZILIAN LINE ON MERCOSUR - ECUADOR
STATEMENT

Classified By: Political Chief James P. Merz for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d
).


1. (U) On April 21, Paraguay, in its capacity as temporary
President of Mercosur, issued a statement calling upon the
"political and social forces of Ecuador to preserve
democracy" and seek a peaceful solution to the crisis
occurring in that country. According to the press,
Paraguay,s statement 1) recalled the Protocolo de Ushuaia --
the declaration that articulates the democratic principles to
which Mercosur members subscribe -- which excludes partners
in the event of a rupture with democracy and 2) affirmed that
Mercosur would support the approach of the recently created
South American Community of Nations.


2. (C) FM Leila Rachid confided to the Ambassador on April
21 that Brazil's Foreign Minister Celso Amorim had insisted
that the Mercosur statement refer to the "South American
Community of Nations" (SACN) and not to the Inter-American
Democratic Charter. She argued against the idea because the
SACN is merely a gleam in the eye at this point; it was
announced as a proposal last year but it lacks structure, a
set of guiding principles agreed to by members and any other
normal characteristics of "institutionalization." Amorim
prevailed, however, because she suspected Duarte Frutos would
not back her if she resisted (subject of a septel).


3. (C) Rachid noted that Amorim said he wanted no mention of
the Inter American Democratic Charter because that would be
an invitation for the OAS, and therefore the U.S., to
"meddle" in "regional" (i.e., South American) issues that "we
should be taking care of ourselves in the region." She added
the personal comment that Amorim is pushing an agenda
designed to minimize U.S. influence in South America and
assert Brazilian dominance, a course she strongly opposes
because it translates into unfettered Brazilian control of
Paraguay's destiny.
KEANE