PARAGUAY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UPDATE, JANUARY

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000095 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 DAN JOHNSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR PA SUBJECT: PARAGUAY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UPDATE, JANUARY 21-27, 2006 REF: A. ASUNCION 0079 AND PRECEDING ¶B. ASUNCION 0001 AND PRECEDING ¶1. (U) Summary -------------- -- GOP and Morocco Sign Agreement to Facilitate Bilateral Investment and Relations -- Preparations for Election Not Easy -- Child Pornography Bill Becomes Law -------------- -------------- GOP and Morocco Sign Agreement to Facilitate Bilateral Investment and Relations -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) On January 19, FM Rachid and visiting Moroccan Foreign Minister Mohamed Benaissa signed a document calling for a strengthening of economic relations between the two countries. Rachid and Benaissa also agreed to implement a bilateral commission, to meet during the first half of 2006, which will establish cooperation guidelines and specific actions. The commission will seek to enhance relations in the economic, political, technical and scientific, and cultural fields. The representatives of the two countries also announced the opening of Embassies to facilitate cooperation. During Benaissa,s trip to Paraguay, he also met with Vice President Castiglioni to discuss further expansion of Mercosur,s relations with the Arab world. -------------- Preparations for Election Not Easy -------------- ¶3. (SBU) On 1/26, PolOff discussed preparations for the February 19 Colorado elections with Liliana Benitez, Director of Public Relations at the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSJE). Benitez says the TSJE has acquired more than 11,000 electronic voting machines, of which, more than 20 percent are not operational. Some require a simple battery change, while others have more serious problems and will need to be replaced. The original request was for 17,000 machines. The voting machines were to be delivered by TSJE vehicles, but it was later learned that the vehicles were not fit to make the trips to the more than 400 voting stations because of lack of maintenance and old age. Other government agencies will provide TSJE with vehicles to transport machines and personnel to the locations. Septel to follow. -------------- Child Pornography Bill Becomes Law -------------- ¶4. (U) On 1/27, the Child Pornography legislation formally became law when it was published in the Official Bulletin (Gaceta Oficial). The bill previously passed the Senate on 11/24/05 and the Chamber of Deputies on 12/15/05. The new law calls for sentences of 5 to 10 years in jail for those convicted of child pornography. CASON