PERU ON DEMONSTRATING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR IRAQ

C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 004544 SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/AND E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2015 TAGS: KDEM KPAO PREL PGOV IZ PE SUBJECT: PERU ON DEMONSTRATING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR IRAQ REFERENDUM REF: STATE 189909 Classified By: Deputy Polcouns Art Muirhead for Reason 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (SBU) Ambassador discussed this subject with Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for the Americas Pablo Portugal on 10/14. Portugal said the GOP would make a public statement of support for the constitutional process in Iraq at some point in the future. Portugal had been briefed on the reftel talking points and fact sheets on the need to demonstrate international support for the referendum by North American Affairs Director Nestor Popolizio, who received this demarche from Deputy Polcouns on the same date. ¶2. (C) Since Embassy had not seen a subsequent announcement regarding Iraq on the Foreign Ministry's web site, we followed up with Popolizio on 10/19. Popolizio said that the Ministry still intended to issue a statement, but that this would be delayed a few days, due to media attention surrounding the assurances being sought from the Department by the Peruvian Embassy in Washington concerning the contracting by U.S. firms of Peruvian security personnel for assignments in Iraq. We will continue to urge Ministry officials to issue the declaration they have committed to, and will forward the relevant text to the Department when it appears. STRUBLE