Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06GEORGETOWN1135
2006-10-31 14:52:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Georgetown
Cable title:  

OAS AMBASSADOR MAISTO VISITS GUYANA: TALKS

Tags:  PREL KDEM OAS GY 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5276
RR RUEHLMC
DE RUEHGE #1135/01 3041452
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 311452Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4324
INFO RUCNCOM/EC CARICOM COLLECTIVE
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0430
RUEHGT/AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA 0021
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 2209
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0127
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM J2 MIAMI FL
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION WASHINGTON DC
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)

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