PARAGUAY SEEKS TO CLARIFY POSTURE ON IMMUNITIES

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 001023

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

NSC FOR SUE CRONIN
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2026
TAGS: PREL MASS KICC PTER PINR VZ BR AR PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY SEEKS TO CLARIFY POSTURE ON IMMUNITIES
AND U.S. MILITARY EXERCISES

REF: ASUNCION 1020

Classified By: PolCouns James P. Merz; Reasons 1.4(b),(d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: FM Ramirez told the Ambassador October 6
President Duarte had decided to terminate the extension of
immunities to U.S. participants in military exercises after
2006 but conveyed openness to finding a way to continue
extending immunities for participants in Medical Readiness
Exercises (MEDRETES). Ramirez assured us that Paraguay was
committed to applying the same treatment to other States,
indicating this would require a renegotiation of Paraguay,s
military cooperation agreements with Argentina and Brazil
both of which will come up for renewal shortly. The
Ambassador signaled Paraguay,s decision could impact the
U.S. ability to provide Paraguay with various forms of
military assistance and training for lack of U.S. partners in
country. END SUMMARY.

Duarte Decides Against Immunities for Military Exercises


2. (C) FM Ramirez requested a meeting with the Ambassador
to revisit their October 3 discussion of Paraguay's decision
not to extend administrative and technical immunities to
participants in military exercises after the current military
cooperation agreement ends in December 2006. The Ambassador
had given the Foreign Minister pause when they last met by
informing him that Paraguay extended "A&T" immunities to
Argentina and Brazil in the context of military cooperation
agreements with them. The Foreign Minister told the
Ambassador October 6 he had discussed this matter again with
the President who had confirmed his decision not to extend
immunities to participants in military exercises after 2006.
He further noted that Paraguay was committed to applying the
same treatment to other States, indicating this would
require a renegotiation of Paraguay,s military cooperation
agreements with Argentina and Brazil both of which will come
up for renewal shortly. He assured us that Paraguay was
prepared to continue extending immunities to military
personnel accredited to the Embassy.

Opening the Door to Medical Exercises


3. (C) Ramirez appeared to want to draw a distinction
between military exercises that take place in form of Joint
Combined Exercise Training (JCET) with the participation of
armed U.S. Special Forces personnel vs. humanitarian
assistance via unarmed Medical Readiness Training Exercises
(MEDRETES). Paraguay would not extend immunities to the
former, but was open to exploring a way to continue extending
immunities to the latter by qualifying them as either
"technicians" or "troops." To that end, the Minister and his
staff invited us to meet the week of October 9 to discuss the
definition of technicians vs military personnel as part of an
effort to better define to whom the GOP would remain prepared
to extend immunities.

Repercussions for U.S. Military Assistance


4. (C) The Ambassador signaled Paraguay,s decision could
impact the U.S. ability to provide Paraguay with various
forms of military assistance and training. He noted that
President Bush had just signed an ASPA waiver allowing the
U.S. to reextend IMET training to Paraguay military
personnel. Separately, Congress had authorized $1.1 million
in assistance for PKO training and equipment and we had been
exploring additional assistance we could provide in the form
of equipment to Paraguay's Special Forces. He noted,
however, we need trainers on the ground of the variety that
participate in the military exercises to ensure our
assistance is effective. SOUTHCOM would have to decide
whether it would authorize sending troops to participate in
training exercises without immunities. Should the Commander
decide that was not possible, it would become very difficult
for us to provide our assistance.

Opposition Blames Duarte's Leftist Bent


5. (C) Coincidentally, the Ambassador met with the leaders
of the opposition National Union of Ethical Citizens Party
(UNACE) prior to his meeting with the Foreign Minister. They
assured us the Congress would have approved the agreement on
military cooperation with the U.S. had President Duarte
decided to seek ratification. (NOTE. This tracks with what
we've heard from other leading opposition leaders we've

lobbied privately. END NOTE.) They were convinced Duarte
was responding to political pressure from abroad in deciding
to end immunities.

Talking Points


6. (U) In addressing the press upon the conclusion of his
meeting with FM Ramirez, the Ambassador made the following
points:

-- The U.S. has conducted military exercises in Paraguay for
63 years. Since 2000, over 100,000 Paraguayans have
received medical attention in connection with Medical
Readiness Exercises. These exercises have also helped
professionalize Paraguay's military forces.

-- The U.S. has Status of Forces agreements with 80 countries
around the world, including many in Central and South
America. Participants in all U.S. exercises with Paraguay
have always received Administrative and Technical Status
consistent with the terms of the Vienna Convention.

-- The U.S. respects Paraguay's sovereign right to decide
whether to conduct military exercises with the U.S. in
Paraguay. We remain committed to continued military
cooperation and are open to future discussions with the
Government of Paraguay to that end.


7. (C) COMMENT. Paraguay has made it clear it will no
longer extend immunities for participants in strictly
military exercises after the current agreement expires in
December 2006. We will meet next week to explore prospects
for Paraguay's continuing to extend protections to
participants in MEDRETES. Ramirez told us that Duarte had
made his decision in large part based on his concern about
the political repercussions in Paraguay but it would appear
more likely he is responding just as much if not more to
political pressure from his neighbors. A Vice-Presidential
advisor has told us that Argentina offered a significant
financial incentive. We have no way of verifying that but it
is evident Paraguay has come under significant external
pressure for maintaining extensive cooperation with the U.S.
We will need to consider carefully whether we can effectively
to provide military training and assistance in the future in
the absence of the experts we would like on hand to oversee
its proper use. END COMMENT.
CASON