Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ASUNCION95
2006-01-30 15:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Asuncion
Cable title:
PARAGUAY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UPDATE, JANUARY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0076 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHAC #0095 0301519 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 301519Z JAN 06 FM AMEMBASSY ASUNCION TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3679 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 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
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
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