Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BUENOSAIRES1792
2006-08-09 21:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Buenos Aires
Cable title:  

CONTINUED ARGENTINE COMMITMENT TO HAITI AND

Tags:  PREL KPKO UNSC HA AR 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0013
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHBU #1792 2212109
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 092109Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5518
INFO RUEHDG/HAITI COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 0110
C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 001792 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2016
TAGS: PREL KPKO UNSC HA AR
SUBJECT: CONTINUED ARGENTINE COMMITMENT TO HAITI AND
MINUSTAH

REF: A. PAP 1407


B. BA 1734

C. BA 1733

Classified By: Charge d'affaires Michael Matera for
reasons 1.4(b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 001792

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2016
TAGS: PREL KPKO UNSC HA AR
SUBJECT: CONTINUED ARGENTINE COMMITMENT TO HAITI AND
MINUSTAH

REF: A. PAP 1407


B. BA 1734

C. BA 1733

Classified By: Charge d'affaires Michael Matera for
reasons 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (C) Vice-MOD and Secretary for Military Affairs Jose
Maria Vasquez Ocampo assured CDA August 4 of continued GOA
support for Haiti and MINUSTAH. CDA spoke with Vasquez
Ocampo following the Vice-MOD's participation that same day
in the meeting of MOD and MFA representatives of the Latin
American MINUSTAH troop-cotributing countries (ref. B). He
relayed that the meeting had been successful in underlining
the strong continuing support for MINUSTAH among the
participants (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Ecuador,
Guatemala, Peru). Vasquez Ocampo said that a key issue
discussed was the desire on the part of a number of countries
(he specifically mentioned Argentina and Brazil) to allow
MINUSTAH to provide development assistance in addition to the
security support role that the force currently plays. He
stated that it is very important that the force be able to
show that it is doing whatever it can to address the very
difficult development challenges that Haiti faces, at the
same time that it fulfills its peacekeeping role. Vasquez
Ocampo also noted that OAS SECGEN Insulza, who attended the
Aug. 4 meeting, agreed with the proposal and said he hoped to
be able to facilitate this expansion of MINUSTAH's role. As
he had in the CDA's meeting with him earlier in the week
(ref. C),Vasquez Ocampo reiterated the GOA's strong support
for the PKO mission in Haiti and for an expanded role beyond
Haiti for the GOA in this field.


2. (C) PolOff spoke August 7 with the MFA's Haiti Officer in
the Office of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs, Elisabeth
Wimpfheimer. Wimpfheimer stated that the GOA had submitted
its request for continued MINUSTAH
participation--maintainting the same troop levels and
composition--to the Argentine Legislature. She noted that
the Senate would begin debate on the request August 9,
followed by debate in the Chamber of Deputies. Wimpfheimer
said there would be some minority opposition but that she
fully expected the measure to pass.


3. (C) Wimpfheimer echoed the Vice-MOD's comments to CDA,
noting that the August 4 meeting had been very successful in
affirming the continued support of the countries for
MINUSTAH, and in coming to a deepening regional consensus
regarding the direction they would like to see the Haiti
mission take, i.e. a transition beyond security to long-term
development and democratic governance. This, she said, was
in response to President Preval's stated desire that the UN
mission move in this direction. Wimpfheimer said that the
countries of the region had much relevant experience to share
with Haiti in these areas. She noted that this proposal was
only in the discussion stage and that, of course, any
proposed change in MINUSTAH's mandate would require
negotiations with, and approval from, the UN, but that
Argentina, Brazil and others would be working in this
direction.
MATERA