FOREIGN MINISTER ON SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS ISSUES

C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 004644 SIPDIS BUENOS AIRES PLEASE PASS TO SOA USDEL E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/28/2015 TAGS: KSUM PREL PE SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER ON SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS ISSUES REF: A. MONSERRATE-STRUBLE EMAIL OF 10/29/05 ¶B. LIMA 4578 ¶C. LIMA 4577 ¶D. STATE 195518 ¶E. STATE 195226 Classified By: Political Counselor Alexander Margulies. Reason: 1.4(b /d). ¶1. (C) The Ambassador, accompanied by DCM and Polcouns, discussed the pressing Summit of the Americas issues (Reftels) with Foreign Minister Oscar Maurtua, U/S for the Americas Pablo Portugal, Director of North American Affairs Nestor Popolizio, and the Foreign Minister's Chief of Staff Alfredo Chuquihuara at a breakfast on 10/28. Maurtua was sympathetic to our message that we need to renew the Summit Declaration's focus on the central point that the key to poverty reduction is private-sector and SME-led growth, not State sector programs. He anticipated our concern on Venezuela's push to endorse the OAS Social Charter, noting that negotiations on this document have yet to conclude. ¶2. (C) There were two areas, however, in which the Foreign Minister indicated that Peru may not see eye-to-eye with the U.S. First, he noted that migrant labor rights is a sensitive issue for Peru, because of the large number of its citizens overseas (though he did not mention that most are in illegal status). Maurtua took thoughtful note of the Ambassador's point that migrants need host government permission anywhere in the hemisphere to work legally, and to the USG's suggestion that the Summit Declaration simply refer to internationally recognized workers' rights. Second, the Foreign Minister expressed concern that the self-standing declarations being submitted, including those proffered by the U.S., could complicate efforts to focus on and close-out the Final Declaration. ¶3. (SBU) Polcouns subsequently provided the text of the Summit talking points to Popolizio, to the Foreign Ministry's Director of Multilateral Affairs, Julio Garro, and to its Summit Action Officer Romulo Acurio (currently in Buenos Aires). Garro will brief the points to U/S for Political Affairs Fernando Rojas, who will head Peru's negotiating team and is departing for Argentina on 10/28. STRUBLE