OAS AMBASSADOR MAISTO VISITS GUYANA: TALKS

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 GEORGETOWN 001135 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/23/2016 TAGS: PREL KDEM OAS GY SUBJECT: OAS AMBASSADOR MAISTO VISITS GUYANA: TALKS DEMOCRACY AND UNSC REF: A. GEORGETOWN 1065 ¶B. GEORGETOWN 1070 Classified By: POLITICAL OFFICER JOHN E. ZAK FOR REASON 1.4(D) ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Ambassador John Maisto, U.S. Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), visited Georgetown October 18-20, meeting government and opposition leaders, addressing local media, and encouraging the pursuit of democracy and development. He also used his trip to address the UNSC vote, urging the GoG to re-think its commitment to Venezuela. -------------- -------------- AMBASSADOR MAISTO DELIVERS MESSAGE OF DEMOCRACY AND DEVELOPMENT TO NATIONAL MEDIA -------------- -------------- ¶2. (U) Ambassador Maisto attended a breakfast meeting with editors of the major Guyana news outlets. Questions focused on U.S. policy towards Cuba, the UNSC vote, CARICOM voting in the OAS, and perceptions that the U.S. is no longer actively involved in the Western Hemisphere's affairs. Ambassador Maisto informed the media that U.S. policy toward Cuba is enshrined in law and that change would only come when Cuba demonstrated a willingness to embrace democratic ideals as enshrined in the Inter-American Democratic Charter. He refuted the notion that the U.S. was not actively involved in the Western Hemisphere, citing the tripling of development aid to the area since 1996, not counting MCA. While congratulating Guyana for its recent successful elections, Ambassador Maisto also cautioned that voting is only the beginning; the true test comes in ensuring democratic governance. -------------- -------------- OPPOSITION PARTIES MUST NOT RELY ON OTHERS TO ENSURE GOVERNMENTAL REFORM -------------- -------------- ¶3. (U) Ambassador Maisto met with opposition party leaders at a luncheon. They discussed the role of the OAS mission in Guyana, both before and after the August 28 national election, and their own participation in the new government. In particular, opposition leaders voiced concerns about the GoG's lack of will for meaningful reform, the problematic composition of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM),and questions regarding the validity of the electoral registry. The leaders requested that OAS and USG aid be linked to meaningful constitutional, media, and parliamentary reform in order to ensure more inclusive governance. Ambassador Maisto explained that US policy is focused on democracy and development; he cautioned, however, that the opposition should not rely on the US, or any other outside forces, to ensure that meaningful reform takes place - we (and IFIs) are prepared to help, but reform is a Guyanese responsibility. The Ambassador suggested that the parties look to the Inter-American Democratic Charter for ways in which to challenge the government if it strays from its professed democratic governance. -------------- -------------- PRESIDENT JAGDEO DISCUSSES STRENGTHENING DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS IN GUYANA, UNSC VOTE -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Ambassador Maisto, Ambassador Robinson, and PolOff attended a 90-minute private meeting with President Bharrat Jagdeo. Ambassador Maisto first congratulated the President for his August 28 re-election and his professed commitment to democratic governance in Guyana. The President acknowledged that Guyana needed much reform; he said that his government would focus on strengthening democratic institutions, electoral reform, security issues and problems with the judiciary. Ambassador Maisto and the President discussed the UNSC vote at length. In explaining why Guyana was voting for Venezuela, he stated that "it's not ideological, it's practical," and he added that at some point Guyana may need Venezuelan oil. According to President Jagdeo, Guatemala doesn't interact with CARICOM, has an on-going dispute with Belize, and is known best for its anti-CARICOM stance on the banana issue. Venezuela, on the other hand, is a more practical choice because it offers oil and has not, so far, pushed it's own border dispute with Guyana (Comment: Jagdeo GEORGETOWN 00001135 002 OF 002 is an ostrich on this issue and refuses to discuss economic damage caused by Venezuela's claim. End Comment). Jagdeo also mentioned that he had asked the US to support Guyana's position in 1997 -- according to him, the US never responded. Ambassador Maisto offered the President numerous reasons why Guatemala was the better candidate and noted that long standing UN practice calls for Venezuela's withdrawal from the race after trailing significantly in the vote. Ambassador Maisto also noted progress in the Belize issue and that Venezuela has the same policy on bananas as Guatemala. -------------- -------------- FORIEGN MINISTER THANKS OAS FOR ELECTION ASSISTANCE -------------- -------------- ¶5. (C) Minister of Foreign Affairs Rudy Insanally told Ambassador Maisto that the OAS observation team was "most helpful" in bringing about an orderly and peaceful election. The Minister said that President Jagdeo wants democratic development and that it would be helpful "if you could get some of our friends off our backs" -- an allusion to Venezuela and the unresolved border dispute. Ambassador Maisto asked what active measures anyone was taking to resolve the border issue -- no answer. He also brought up the UNSC vote, arguing in favor of Guatemala's candidacy and calling into question the so-called CARICOM consensus. After Ambassador Maisto cited progress on the Belize-Guatemala border issue, Insanally said he would check it out, but reiterated the President's position. Ambassador Maisto finished the meeting by encouraging the Guyana government to pursue "democracy and development" and utilize the Inter-American Democratic Charter as a guide. -------------- -------------- ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT DISCUSSES GOVERNANCE ISSUES -------------- -------------- ¶6. (C) Ambassador Maisto also met with Gail Teixiera, former Minister of Home Affairs and now Guyana's Advisor to the President on governance. Teixiera assured the Ambassador that President Jagdeo, and his People's Progressive Party, were committed to the democratic idea of inclusive governance and that they would be meeting with the opposition parties in the near future to discuss it. The Ambassador encouraged Guyana to develop a package to entice foreign investors and businesses -- he argued that small to medium enterprises were the key to economic growth/change in Guyana. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶7. (C) Ambassador Maisto's meetings with the President and Foreign Minister received wide press coverage -- both in print and on television -- and he was able to deliver our message of "democracy and development" to the government, the opposition, and the media. The visit was useful -- maintaining post-election momentum toward electoral reform and in demonstrating continued interest in Guyana's future. We look forward to similar visits in the future. ¶8. (U) Ambassador Maisto cleared this cable. ROBINSON