Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BRASILIA1278
2005-05-12 20:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Brasilia
Cable title:  

ARAB-SOUTH AMERICA SUMMIT - A NEGATIVE BALANCE FOR

Tags:  PREL ETRD PGOV XR XF 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BRASILIA 001278 

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D COPY (TEXT)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2015
TAGS: PREL ETRD PGOV XR XF
SUBJECT: ARAB-SOUTH AMERICA SUMMIT - A NEGATIVE BALANCE FOR
THE GOB

REF: BRASILIA 1252

Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES PHILLIP T. CHICOLA, REASONS 1.4
(b & d
)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BRASILIA 001278

SIPDIS

C O R R E C T E D COPY (TEXT)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2015
TAGS: PREL ETRD PGOV XR XF
SUBJECT: ARAB-SOUTH AMERICA SUMMIT - A NEGATIVE BALANCE FOR
THE GOB

REF: BRASILIA 1252

Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES PHILLIP T. CHICOLA, REASONS 1.4
(b & d
)


1. (C) Summary: The Arab-South America Summit ended May

11. Unfortunately, for the GOB the reverberations may take
longer to subside. The overwhelming consensus among
Brazilian opinion-makers is that the event, and its
ill-conceived declaration, will not enhance Brazil's image
and call into question the ability of the GOB to achieve its
developing world leadership aspirations. Observers concur
that Arab participants departed the Brazilian capital in a
joyous mood, as opposed to the sullen one among many South
American representatives, and both left in their wake many
ordinary Brazilians who were puzzled and irritated by the
event. From the Latins' viewpoint, there were few bright
spots. The new Iraqi government, however, emerges as a clear
winner. At his first international foray, President Talabani
was accepted as a legitimate head of state by all
participants, made a positive impression, and perhaps more
importantly, was vocally defended by other Arab participants
(led by Algeria) when criticized by Chavez. Nevertheless,
Talabani was heavily overshadowed by the distractions created
by Argentine President Kirchner's early departure, Chavez
antics, and a politically provocative declaration that, in
the eyes of many Brazilians, "imported" into Brazil the
problems of terrorism and the problematic Middle East peace
process, while providing few visible benefits to Brazil or
the region. The divisions created by the event, in the view
of Brazil's Jewish community, could damage centuries of warm
relations between Brazil's ethnic Arab and Jewish
populations. End Summary

PANNED IN THE REVIEWS
--------------


2. (U) Brazil's press overwhelmingly blamed the GOB for the
Summit's dubious outcome. Lead editorials in Brazil's
principal dailies expressed dismay that, while Arab
representatives probably departed Brasilia in a jubilant
mood, getting what they wanted in the declarations criticisms
of the U.S. and Israel, the South Americans, who mostly

wanted to talk trade issues, got little in return for their
political concessions on the declaration. Noting that the
summit is a milestone in President Lula da Silva's oft-stated
ambition to create a "new political and commercial
geography," a 12 May "O Estado de S. Paulo" editorial
lambasted the GOB for the futility of its anachronistic
"third-world" project. Meanwhile, the "bad blood" between
Argentina and Brazil actually worsened in front of everyone's
eyes, with Kirchner's early departure widely seen as a slap
in the face to Lula. One political pundit in "O Globo",
commenting on an outcome which in retrospect seemed
inevitable, opined that "Brazil has succeeded with the Summit
in displeasing the Greeks, the Trojans, and (even the) the
Argentines." "O Globo" further mused that the summit results
pointed up incompetence at Itamaraty, asking how any document
which included in its preparation Syria and Hugo Chavez,
among others, could not create major diplomatic controversy.


3. (SBU) Numerous commentators pointed out that the Summit
could have a "boomerang effect" on Brazil's foreign policy
and global leadership ambitions. Lula came under
particularly heavy fire from both the media and important
Brazilian congressional leaders for his apparent reluctance
to even use the word "democracy" in either the Summit itself
(Lula mentioned democracy once in his closing speech) or
press for its inclusion in the final declaration (where it
appears once, in reference to the workings of the UN). Also
controversial was Lula's closing comment that seemingly
attributed the existence of terrorism to the "maldistribution
of wealth." The irony was not lost --"O Estado" pointed out
that while the declaration deplores poverty and the chasm
between rich and poor countries, not a few of its signatories
are potentates with immense personal fortunes who, with
little regard for women or human rights, rule over
improverished societies.



EYE ON THE MIDDLE EAST
--------------


4. (U) Iraqi President Talabani, as it turned out one of
the few Arab stars attending the Summit, provided good copy
to Brazil's press in defense of the U.S. presence in Iraq.
Describing the outcome of the Summit in positive words,
Talabani noted that the Summit supported Iraqi sovereignty
and independence, the recent elections, democracy, the new
government formed by the National Assembly, and condemned
terrorism. "The presence of foreign forces does not signify
occupation," Talabani was quoted in "O Estado de S.Paulo".
But, he added, "We hope for the day when we will have
completed the reform of our army and police and could then
ask the Americans to depart." Referring to the lack in the
final Summit declaration of specific language targeting
countries that harbor or support terrorists, President
Talabani told Brazil's largest circulation daily, "Folha de

S. Paulo", that Iraq preferred "to resolve this problem with
its neighbors in private conversations." What was
accomplished in Brasilia, Talabani pointed out, was an appeal
to the Arab media which indirectly supports terrorism, and,
he added, that he "had received promises from Jordanian and
Syrian leadership that they would stop this propaganda."


5. (SBU) Referring to the "contretemps" with Hugo Chavez
earlier in the Summit (reftel),Talabani said that he later
spoke with Chavez and explained the difference between
"occupation and the presence of foreign forces." According
to the Iraqi President, Chavez said he understood. "Embracing
and kissing me," Talabani added, "he (Chavez) said he
supported our struggle." (Comment: Typical Chavez, inconsistent,
emotional and insincere. End comment.)


6. (SBU) In his interviews, Palestinian National Authority
President Mahmoud Abbas also sought to present a softened
image to the Brazilian press, but he was far less convincing
than Talabani in demonstrating moderation. Referring to
language in the final Summit Declaration that expresses the
right of "resistance to foreign occupation," implicitly
interpreted as condoning Hamas and Islamic Jihad, Abbas
stated that neither group was terrorist. He expected that
"all Palestinian factions will adopt peaceful means" in their
struggle. He and other Palestinian spokespersons celebrated
the final Declaration. "We are satisfied with the
Summit...Everything in the Declaration is well said and
reflects our thoughts." Abbas also praised President Lula
for his "very positive, constructive role."


7. (SBU) Understandably, Jewish groups in Brazil were less
charitable about the Summit. The Confederacao Israelita do
Brasil, speaking for Jewish organizations throughout Brazil,
issued a manifesto immediately following the Summit attacking
the role of the Brazilian Government for "importing a war
that was not ours." Under the title of "Terror, No" the
paper stated that Brazil had been "disrespected," especially
since the stated purpose of the Summit had been the
advancement of economic and cultural ties -- issues all but
overlooked in the flurry of political rhetoric. The
Declaration, the Confederacao noted, appeared to accept a
difference between "good terrorism and bad terrorism," yet
never made reference to such topics as democracy or the
rights of women. Describing GOB motivations for an event
focused solely on building commercial relations as
"disingenuous," Confederation President Berel Aizenstein
opined that the true intention was to obtain votes for a
Brazilian seat on the UN Security Council.


8. (C) Comment: In a conversation with Charge and PolCouns
on the margins of a reception on the evening of 11 May, a
subdued Marcel Biato, deputy foreign affairs advisor to Lula,
criticized "press exaggerations" about summit controversies
and defended the "symbolic value" of the event for the GOB's
continuing strategy of outreach to non-traditional partners,
in pursuit of building political and commercial alliances and
its credibility as a global leader and UNSC candidate (Note:
Septel will analyze this stragegy at the halfway mark in
Lula'a mandate. End note.) In this regard, Biato said the
GOB was prepared to absorb some criticism for an event it


still deemed useful. However, Biato then offered a curiously
contradictory and self-deprecating defense of the event --
i.e., that the Brazil summit would have no broad or long-term
international consequence, hence critics of its outcomes
should stand down and not worry.


9. (C) Comment continued. Biato's confused defensiveness is
illustrative -- the GOB will have difficulty convincingly
portraying the summit in positive terms, politically or
commercially, and its image for competence and leadership
emerged tarnished. GOB officials cannot hide the summit's
avoidable costs and the gains -- concretely, only an
agreement to negotiate a commercial accord between Mercosul
and the Gulf Cooperation Council -- do not seem to come close
to compensating for the negative balance. In addition, it is
far from clear that the summit, in any tangible way, helps
Brazil in its quest for a permament UNSC seat. In fact, an
Egyptian diplomat told Charge on the night of the summit's
closing that it would make much more (we presume a UNSC seat
for Egypt) before the Arabs would agree to support Brazil's
bid for the Security Council.

Chicola