PARAGUAY: PEACEKEEPING FORCE MAY GET BRAZILIAN

S E C R E T ASUNCION 000757 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/24/2016 TAGS: PGOV PINR MCAP MOPS MARR PA BR SUBJECT: PARAGUAY: PEACEKEEPING FORCE MAY GET BRAZILIAN SUPPORT Classified By: A/POL Sterling Tilley. Reason: 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On 6/28, Pol Couns learned of the possibility that Brazil would be supporting a team of Paraguayan Peacekeepers for Peacekeeping Operations (PKO) in Haiti. Post has confirmed that Brazil approved USD 1.7 million for the Paraguayan Military forces. The funds are designated to be used to repair 40 armored vehicles, provide support equipment, uniforms and training for one Paraguayan Peacekeeping platoon, which will deploy with the Brazilian contingent. ¶2. (S) A Paraguayan Army Officer, name protected, told DAO that USD 1 million is designated to repair 40 armored vehicles which will remain in Paraguay and the remaining USD 700,000 will be used for support equipment and training for the Paraguayan Peacekeeping Platoon for Haiti. The platoon will consist of 5 officers and 25 noncommissioned officers/enlisted personnel. The contact also indicated the Brazilians initially wanted the Paraguayan platoon to be trained at the Brazilian Peacekeeping School, located in Campo Grande, Brazil, but agreed to allow the training to continue in Paraguay. However, the contact said that a Brazilian military team was scheduled to arrive on 7/17 to oversee the training but has been delayed. (NOTE: DAO has learned that the Brazilian military team is expected to arrive within the next two weeks. End Note.) ¶3. (S) The contact also told DAO that the Brazilians recently decided to support them because Paraguay politicians have stepped up its complaints regarding MERCOSUR and the Itaipu Dam. (NOTE: Whenever Paraguay complains and/or threatens to pull out of agreements such as MERCOSUR and the Itaipu Dam, the Brazilians routinely offer the Paraguayans some funding for other programs to make the Paraguayans happy. End Note.) ¶4. (C) COMMENT: The Paraguayans have sought PKO support from Spain as well as Chile, after the Brazilians initially rejected the Paraguayan request. Spain has offered equipment and support for up to 230 personnel. That equipment remains in Spain and has yet to be released. The Chilean effort has been suspended temporarily, pending the outcome of the Brazilian offer of support. According to the contact, although he has received word verbally, there are no documents that he has seen that guarantee Brazilian support. End Comment. CASON