PARAGUAY: THE CHANGING RELATIONS WITH BOLIVIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 000992

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/26/2026
TAGS: PINS MARR PREL PGOV PA BO VE
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY: THE CHANGING RELATIONS WITH BOLIVIA

REF: ASUNCION 0986

Classified By: DCM Michael J. Fitzpatrick; Reasons: 1.4(b),(d).


1. SUMMARY: (U) Paraguayan media September 27 trumpet charges
by Bolivian Interior Vice Minister Puente that Paraguayan
President Duarte is "a liar" FM Ramirez publicly told a
midmorning radio call-in show that unless Bolivia withdraws
such baseless accusations Paraguay will "withdraw the
ambassadors." In addition, there have been reports of senior
Bolivian military officers crossing the border without notice
and inquiring about activities of U.S. military officials in
the Chaco border region. No matter what public statements
come out in the wake of the ongoing visit by the Bolivian
Defense Minister, Paraguayan officials are increasingly hot
under the collar towards both the Bolivian and Venezuelan
regimes. END SUMMARY.

BOLIVIAN OFFICIAL BLASTS PARAGUAYAN PREZ
========================================

2. (C) Bolivian Interior Vice-Minister Rafael Puente is
reported in Paraguayan media September 27 as calling
Paraguayan President Duarte "a liar," charging that Paraguay
submitted forged documentation regarding Paraguayan nationals
(Angel Acosta and Blas Franco Aquino) who sought and received
political asylum in Bolivia. (NOTE: Paraguay is seeking
their extradition to stand trial for the 2004-5 kidnapping
and murder of Cecilia Cubas, daughter of former Paraguayan
President Cubas. Bolivia subsequently had withdrawn asylum
protections from the two, although their current whereabouts
are unknown. The ongoing trial of a dozen fellow Partido
Patria Libre conspirators, and allegations of FARC
involvement, in the case remain in the daily headlines here.
END NOTE.)


3. (C) Ceferino Valdez, the MFA's Undersecretary for
Bilateral Affairs, told PolCouns September 27 that the
Bolivian Foreign Ministry called in the Paraguayan Ambassador
in La Paz to formally apologize for the statements made by
Vice Minister Puente. Valdez also said that when the
Paraguayan Foreign Ministry called in the Bolivian
Ambassador, Marco Antonio Vidaurre, to ask for an
explanation, he was accompanied by the visiting Bolivian
Defense Minister, Walker San Miguel. Valdez said San Miguel
again apologized for the statements made by Puente. Valdez
indicated that the Foreign Ministry is in the process of
preparing an official statement that is expected to say that
Paraguay accepts the apologies.


4. (C) Juan Emilio Oviedo Cabanas, Director of International
Affairs in the Attorney General's Office, told PolOff
September 27 that the Bolivians are not questioning the case
itself, just the documents submitted by the Attorney
General's Office. He stated that he believed, but was
awaiting confirmation that, they are questioning the names
and dates of birth. Oviedo said the GOP has requested the GOB
to show them what information they believe is falsified.

SENIOR BOLIVIAN MILITARY OFFICERS CROSS BORDER?
============================================= ==

5. (C) As reported reftel, at least six Bolivian military
officers entered Paraguay on or about September 20, near the
city of General Eugenio Garay. Embassy sources said that the
Bolivians were inquiring about the presence and activities of
U.S. military personnel. (NOTE: The military personnel the
Bolivians were referring to were an Office of Defense
Cooperation (ODC) team who were visiting the area to conduct
end-use equipment monitoring and to survey possible locations
for future humanitarian assistance exercises). DAO spoke to
General Jose Kanazawa regarding this issue and Kanazawa said
that the Bolivians did not follow the Security Agreement
between the two nations, which requires 48-hour advance
notice for senior level visits. Kanazawa also said that he
has contacted the MFA to have them address the issue
diplomatically. There have since been public media reports
that as many as three dozen Bolivian military have crossed
the border into Paraguayan territory, possibly more recently,
and possibly in connection with this earlier event.


6. (C) DAO COMMENT: DAO gets the sense from his discussions
with senior military officials that the GOP military
perpetuate the rumor that the USG is building a base in the
Chaco by merely remaining silent on the issue unless
specifically asked or pressed about the issue. Two General
Officer's indicated to the DAO that it is to their advantage
that the Bolivians think there is U.S. presence in the Chaco,
as this will make them think twice before considering taking
any action against Paraguay. Other officers have shown
interest and would welcome a U.S. base and want to know what
it would take to set one up in Paraguay. END DAO COMMENT.

GOP OFFICIALS SHOW CONCERN
==========================

7. (C) Visiting Massachusetts National Guard Commanding
General Oliver Mason (Paraguay's counterpart State National
Guard) met separately with both VP Castiglioni and Armed
Forces Commanding General Jose Kanazawa on September 27.
Castiglioni stressed the desire for close and ongoing
military and civilian ties. He never mentioned Bolivia
specifically - except in context of discussing Paraguay's
victory in THE 1930's Chaco War. Kanazawa was remarkably
unrestrained in private, repeatedly congratulating the US
military for not responding to insults hurled at President
George Bush and the US by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in
NY. He also was quite animated (and evidently angry) towards
the latest Bolivian activities and statements. When he left
General Mason, General Kanazawa excused himself saying he
then had to go hear an explanation "straight from the horse's
mouth" (referring to the Bolivian MOD Walker San Miguel). A
press gaggle after the meeting with VP Castiglioni repeatedly
asked General Mason provocative questions about Chavez,
Bolivia and possibilities of war with (or within) Bolivia.
Mason refused to take the bait. But we can expect press play
here to speculate as to the coincidental nature of the timing
of visits by both a U.S. General and the Bolivian Defense
Minister.


8. (C) Various Senators at Ambassador's September 26 dinner
for General Mason stated that they are concerned that
Venezuela and Bolivia are intent on "pushing us around."
Colonel Juan Davison Rojas, the Chief of Public Affairs in
the Army Logistics Command, told PolOff that senior officers
are also very concerned about Bolivia rearming and planning
to develop several new military facilities with the
assistance of Venezuela. He stated that much of the anguish
is over the border disputes the two countries have over the
Chaco region. Davison said that the military needs new
weapons and technology to offset this "possible threat."
But, when queried whether the military has addressed their
concerns with Congress, he indicated that they had not
received support (mainly budgetary) from the Congress as of
yet.

COMMENT
=======

9. (C) COMMENT: Senior Paraguayan government officials,
civilian and military alike, are increasingly troubled by the
recent developments along their border with Bolivia.
Anti-Evo and Anti-Hugo suspicions are running high, though
not feverish. The Paraguayan military, which has not received
much support in the past from the Congress, are on edge and
desire much more support from the USG, in terms of weaponry
and training. Post will continue to press for continued
military cooperation (including exercises) and "A&T" status
for our troops. Such continued cooperation should also be
high on the agenda for the possible meetings of FM Ramirez
with Department officials in Washington in the first week of
October. END COMMENT.
FITZPATRICK