DEMARCHE DELIVERED: PREEMPTING MORALES' MESSAGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L GEORGETOWN 000030

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/10/2016
TAGS: PGOV PREL BO GY
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: PREEMPTING MORALES' MESSAGE

REF: A. STATE 1353


B. 05 STATE 229282

Classified By: Ambassador Roland W. Bullen. Reason 1.4(d).


1. (C) Ambassador met with Foreign Minister Insanally January
9 and delivered talking points on U.S. concerns and
suggestions regarding the Morales government (Ref A).
Ambassador noted that Guyana will take over as chair of the
Rio Group later this month and asked Insanally to raise the
issue within that forum. Insanally said that he hopes "the
region will not go to extremes" and that "the reality of
government will attenuate" Morales' stridency. Insanally
referred to the challenging political environment in 2006,
when several Rio Group states will hold elections. But he
conceded that an exchange of views on Bolivia, even if highly
politicized, would be helpful as the Rio Group seeks to
achieve consensus.
BULLEN