PARAGUAY WILL SUPPORT WCO FRAMEWORK OF STANDARDS TO

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000758 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC STATE PASS TO USTR FOR SCRONIN, LYANG USAID FOR AA/LAC ADOLFO FRANCO TREASURY FOR OSIA MAUREEN WAFER COMMERCE ITA SARAH COOK NSC FOR MIKE DEMPSEY SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD US SOUTHERN COMMAND MIAMI, FLORIDA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD PA CTM SUBJECT: PARAGUAY WILL SUPPORT WCO FRAMEWORK OF STANDARDS TO SECURE AND FACILITATE GLOBAL TRADE REF: 05 STATE 94927 Econcouns delivered reftel demarche on the World Customs Organization (WCO) Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade to the Director General of Paraguayan Customs, Margarita Diaz de Vivar. The Director General stated that she would be traveling to Brussels for the June 23-25 sessions and would strongly support the initiative. She emphasized the importance of standards and training. Paraguay's customs service traditionally has been beset by problems of corruption and a lack of professionalism. Diaz de Vivar has been working hard to improve Customs and implement Paraguay's new and modern Customs Code, which took effect in January 2005. KEANE