AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH GOES FOMIN ON SUMMIT,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 003229

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2025
TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD EINV ES
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH GOES FOMIN ON SUMMIT,
INTERNAL POLITICS


Classified By: Ambassador H. Douglas Barclay. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).


1. (C) On November 14, the Ambassador met with Salvadoran
Foreign Minister Francisco Lainez (strictly protect) at the
Ambassador's request to discuss Summit of the Americas issues
and Salvadoran domestic politics, inter alia. Regarding the
Mar del Plata Summit, Lainez said that Saca had been very
insistent about getting a private meeting with the President,
especially after he was unable to talk with the President at
the dinner. Lainez added that he was also uncomfortable
because he knew a priori that Saca did not have any new
points to raise with the President, other than to extend an
invitation to visit El Salvador in January 2006, which Lainez
knew the President could not likely accept.


2. (C) The Ambassador said that Washington would like Saca
to become a regional leader and ally on issues like CAFTA,
free trade, and democratization, among others, but that there
was some disappointment that Saca left the Mar del Plata
Summit early and did not stay to advocate for FTAA, as some
other leaders had done. Lainez took in the Ambassador's
message, and agreed that Saca should assume a strong regional
leadership role. He said that he (Lainez) is having more
access to Saca, but that Secretary to the Presidency Elmer
Charlaix continued to try to block access. Asked who are
Saca's closest advisers, Lainez responded that "it is the two
uncles who raised him," and recommended that we get closer to
them. Asked about GOES Washington Ambassador Rene Leon,
Lainez said that Leon does have access to Saca, but that
access is waning. Lainez predicted that Leon would be gone
right after the March 2006 national elections, but that Leon
would have to get a "golden parachute" to ease his exit.


3. (C) On domestic politics, Lainez opined that the present
political party system, with only two predominant parties
representing the right and the undemocratic left, was
detrimental to building democracy. Lainez further stated
that ARENA needs a credible opposition in the form of a
moderate left, and that the decision to not certify the FDR
was misguided. Separately, Lainez stated that Mrs. Saca would
like to host a summit of Central American first ladies early
next year and would like to invite First Lady Laura Bush.
The Ambassador said he would pass the message to Washington.


4. (C) Comment: Although Lainez may be in good graces with
Saca he still has several key detractors to worry about,
including Ambassador Leon and the "palace guard" composed of
Charlaix and Governance Minister Rene Figueroa. Lainez's
candor is much appreciated and confirms his importance to us
as a key GOES interlocutor.
Barclay