Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASUNCION869
2006-08-25 18:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Asuncion
Cable title:
PARAGUAY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UPDATE, AUGUST 19
how-toVZCZCXYZ0013 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHAC #0869/01 2371823 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 251823Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY ASUNCION TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4702 INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL//SCJ5// RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
UNCLAS ASUNCION 000869
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/BSC AND EB/IFD/OIA
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/AA
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR LYANG
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN
TREASURY FOR OSIA MAUREEN WAFER
TREASURY FOR OTA WARFIELD, VAN KOCH, MILLAR
COMMERCE FOR ITA SARAH COOK
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM MASS PY
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UPDATE, AUGUST 19
- 25
UNCLAS ASUNCION 000869
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/BSC AND EB/IFD/OIA
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/AA
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR LYANG
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN
TREASURY FOR OSIA MAUREEN WAFER
TREASURY FOR OTA WARFIELD, VAN KOCH, MILLAR
COMMERCE FOR ITA SARAH COOK
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM MASS PY
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UPDATE, AUGUST 19
- 25
1. (U) Summary
-- AMISRAEL March for Peace
-- ODC Sponsors Boston Trip
-- DCM Visits Yacyreta Dam and Military
--------------
AMISRAEL March for Peace
--------------
2. (U) AMISRAEL Paraguay, an NGO that supports Israel and
peace in the Middle East, held a march for peace in Asuncion
on August 23. According to Dr. William Paras Osorio of Bnai
Birth, only 13 individuals participated; 12 were members of
AMISRAEL and 1 was a Syrian Muslim. However, the march
received a lot of media exposure. It was covered in all of
the major news publications as well as radio and television.
Paras told PolOff, on 8/25, that the main purpose of the
march was to condemn terrorism and promote dialog that will
produce a lasting peace in the region.
--------------
ODC Sponsors Boston Trip
--------------
3. (U) As a part of US SOUTHCOM's State Partnership Program
(SPP) with the Massachusetts National Guard, 9 Paraguayans (4
military and 5 civilians) visited Boston, MA from 8/16 to
8/20 to meet with members of the Massachusetts National Guard
(MANG) and MA State Legislators and officials. The purpose
of the SPP is to help build military to military and civilian
to civilian exchanges on issues of mutual interest and
benefit. The main subjects covered included: domestic
emergency management (civilian control with military
support); police reform (anti-corruption and anti-auto
theft); economic development; and youth programs and job
creation. The Paraguayan delegation members told PolOff that
the meetings were very rewarding and that they hoped to apply
much of what they had learned to their work in Paraguay.
Specifically, Merardo Salas, Director of Operations at the
National Emergency Secretariat, stated that he especially
enjoyed viewing the MA Emergency Management Agency facility
as Paraguay is in the process of developing its own systems.
His experience in Boston had given him some new ideas about
how best to set up Parauay's own office including the
structure and computer systems. (NOTE: In September, several
MANG and MA officials are planning to visit Paraguay to
conduct the Paraguayan portion of the program. END NOTE.)
--------------
DCM Visits Yacyreta Dam and Military
--------------
4. (U) Angel Recalde, Director of the Binational Yacyreta Dam
Entity, escorted the DCM during his August 24 visit to the
Yacyreta Dam, located in the Misiones Department, on the
Argentine-Paraguay border. Recalde informed the DCM that the
Dam is owned by the Binational Entity which is equally
divided between Argentina and Paraguay. However, Paraguay
sells 47 percent of its unused hydroelectric power to
Argentina giving Argentina Mega-watt usage of 97 percent of
the dam's output. The dam satisfies as much as 20 percent of
Argentina's electricity needs but only 3 percent of
Paraguay's (Note: Two other hydroelectic dams provide the
rest of Paraguay's needs. End Note). The dam is operated by
300 personnel (half from each country),all of whom, receive
family housing (along with their salaries) for as long as
they work for the Dam.
5. (U) The DCM also visited the Chaco Aviators Airbase
located in the Itapua Department. This base consists
entirely of one lone airstrip and a few scattered shacks.
Fifteen soldiers are assigned to on 6-month rotations. The
base has no vehicles and no aircraft. The soldiers farm the
land for their food. Separately, the Air Force leases the
majority of the land to local farmers for wheat and soy crops.
6. (U) Accompany DCM were POL, DAO (ASU) and DAO (BA) reps
using the BA based C-12. Following hard on two separate AMB
C-12 trips in country, this trip served another example of
the utility to post of this regional resource. Post thanks
BA for support on this trip.
CASON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/BSC AND EB/IFD/OIA
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/AA
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR LYANG
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN
TREASURY FOR OSIA MAUREEN WAFER
TREASURY FOR OTA WARFIELD, VAN KOCH, MILLAR
COMMERCE FOR ITA SARAH COOK
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM MASS PY
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UPDATE, AUGUST 19
- 25
1. (U) Summary
-- AMISRAEL March for Peace
-- ODC Sponsors Boston Trip
-- DCM Visits Yacyreta Dam and Military
--------------
AMISRAEL March for Peace
--------------
2. (U) AMISRAEL Paraguay, an NGO that supports Israel and
peace in the Middle East, held a march for peace in Asuncion
on August 23. According to Dr. William Paras Osorio of Bnai
Birth, only 13 individuals participated; 12 were members of
AMISRAEL and 1 was a Syrian Muslim. However, the march
received a lot of media exposure. It was covered in all of
the major news publications as well as radio and television.
Paras told PolOff, on 8/25, that the main purpose of the
march was to condemn terrorism and promote dialog that will
produce a lasting peace in the region.
--------------
ODC Sponsors Boston Trip
--------------
3. (U) As a part of US SOUTHCOM's State Partnership Program
(SPP) with the Massachusetts National Guard, 9 Paraguayans (4
military and 5 civilians) visited Boston, MA from 8/16 to
8/20 to meet with members of the Massachusetts National Guard
(MANG) and MA State Legislators and officials. The purpose
of the SPP is to help build military to military and civilian
to civilian exchanges on issues of mutual interest and
benefit. The main subjects covered included: domestic
emergency management (civilian control with military
support); police reform (anti-corruption and anti-auto
theft); economic development; and youth programs and job
creation. The Paraguayan delegation members told PolOff that
the meetings were very rewarding and that they hoped to apply
much of what they had learned to their work in Paraguay.
Specifically, Merardo Salas, Director of Operations at the
National Emergency Secretariat, stated that he especially
enjoyed viewing the MA Emergency Management Agency facility
as Paraguay is in the process of developing its own systems.
His experience in Boston had given him some new ideas about
how best to set up Parauay's own office including the
structure and computer systems. (NOTE: In September, several
MANG and MA officials are planning to visit Paraguay to
conduct the Paraguayan portion of the program. END NOTE.)
--------------
DCM Visits Yacyreta Dam and Military
--------------
4. (U) Angel Recalde, Director of the Binational Yacyreta Dam
Entity, escorted the DCM during his August 24 visit to the
Yacyreta Dam, located in the Misiones Department, on the
Argentine-Paraguay border. Recalde informed the DCM that the
Dam is owned by the Binational Entity which is equally
divided between Argentina and Paraguay. However, Paraguay
sells 47 percent of its unused hydroelectric power to
Argentina giving Argentina Mega-watt usage of 97 percent of
the dam's output. The dam satisfies as much as 20 percent of
Argentina's electricity needs but only 3 percent of
Paraguay's (Note: Two other hydroelectic dams provide the
rest of Paraguay's needs. End Note). The dam is operated by
300 personnel (half from each country),all of whom, receive
family housing (along with their salaries) for as long as
they work for the Dam.
5. (U) The DCM also visited the Chaco Aviators Airbase
located in the Itapua Department. This base consists
entirely of one lone airstrip and a few scattered shacks.
Fifteen soldiers are assigned to on 6-month rotations. The
base has no vehicles and no aircraft. The soldiers farm the
land for their food. Separately, the Air Force leases the
majority of the land to local farmers for wheat and soy crops.
6. (U) Accompany DCM were POL, DAO (ASU) and DAO (BA) reps
using the BA based C-12. Following hard on two separate AMB
C-12 trips in country, this trip served another example of
the utility to post of this regional resource. Post thanks
BA for support on this trip.
CASON