BRAZIL: GOB REQUESTS USG "BEST EFFORTS" TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRASILIA 000388

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR A/S NOREIGA, NSC FOR TOM SHANNON, DOD/OSD
FOR DASD PARDO-MAURER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/15/2015
TAGS: PREL MARR MOPS BR
SUBJECT: BRAZIL: GOB REQUESTS USG "BEST EFFORTS" TO
DISCOURAGE ALLEGED U.S. FIRM'S RECRUITMENT OF BRAZILIANS
FOR SECURITY WORK IN IRAQ

Classified By: AMBASSADOR JOHN J. DANILOVICH. REASONS: 1.4
(B)(D).


1. (C) Ambassador, accompanied by PolCouns, Consul General
and Special Assistant, met on 15 February with Ambassador Ruy
Nogueira, Foreign Ministry (MRE) Under Secretary for
Cooperation and Brazilian Overseas Communities, at Nogueira's
request. Nogueira, whose regular portfolio focuses on
consular, immigration and expat issues, indicated that he was
substituting for Under Secretary for Political Affairs
Pedrosa (who is traveling),on instruction by FM Amorim, to
urgently register senior-level GOB concern regarding reports
of recruiting of Brazilians to work in Iraq as security
contractors for a U.S. firm, Inveco International Holding
S.A. of Florida. Nogueira noted that the issue had already
been raised in Washington in January by Brazilian Ambassador
Abdenur with senior officials at State, NSC and DOD/OSD.
Nogueira said Abdenur had been told that the USG had no
information on Inveco but would investigate and follow up
with the GOB. Nogueira provided Ambassador an aide-memoire
detailing the Washington meetings and GOB concerns (Note: An
informal translation of the aide-memoire is being e-mailed to
Department WHA/BSC. End note.)


2. (C) Nogueira said that two German nationals, identified as
Heiko Helmut Emil Seibold and Frank Gunter Salewski, had been
reportedly seeking to recruit ex-Brazilian military personnel
in Goias and Sao Paulo states for security work in Iraq.
Salewski's efforts were reported in recent days in the press,
indicating the recruiting effort was continuing weeks after
the GOB's initial manifestation of concern to the USG in
January. The press attention was proving "a source of some
embarrassment" for the GOB, Nogueira said, and although the
GOB is aware of the "delicacy" of the issue, he requested USG
"best efforts" to investigate Inveco's activities and
dissuade it from recruiting in Brazil.


3. (C) Ambassador replied that he was aware of Abdenur's
discussions in Washington, and would immediately provide the
aide-memoire to Washington. However, he noted that DOD/OSD
DAS for Western Hemisphere Pardo-Maurer had told Ambassador
that DOD could not, thus far, find record of a security
contractor called Inveco. Ambassador requested any
additional information that the GOB could provide on the
firm. Nogueira indicated that the GOB is considering
interviewing Salewski.


4. (C) Comment: With the GOB receiving heat in the press for
its inability to determine the fate, let alone arrange the
release of the one known Brazilian hostage in captivity in
Iraq, the MRE apparently is anxious to assure the pool of
potential Brazilian victims does not increase. Some
editorial comment here has already waxed indignant about
Brazil's supplying "cannon fodder" for "mercenary"
contractors in Iraq. In light of this and the repeated,
high-level GOB requests, we hope that we can provide some
feedback to the Brazilians asap. We ask that Washington
agencies attempt to track down Inveco and determine what it
may be doing in Brazil. We are checking locally; a quick
search through the internet found a few hits for "Inveco
International Holding" in stories related to Iraq, and one
Brazilian press report indicated Inveco is tied to "Global
Security Group," a New York security and risk management
firm that has a web site (www.globalsecuritygroup.com). We
will also contact colleagues at the German Embassy, where
some press reports claim Salewski and Seibold -- described as
long-time expats resident in Brazil -- have sought assistance.

DANILOVICH