Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAPAZ2222
2006-08-17 20:19:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
UNCERTAINTY REGARDING ALLEGED DEAL WITH IRAN
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S E C R E T LA PAZ 002222
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL IR VE
SUBJECT: UNCERTAINTY REGARDING ALLEGED DEAL WITH IRAN
Classified By: Amb. David N. Greenlee for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
S E C R E T LA PAZ 002222
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL IR VE
SUBJECT: UNCERTAINTY REGARDING ALLEGED DEAL WITH IRAN
Classified By: Amb. David N. Greenlee for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C/NF) Press reports from Tehran state that Bolivian
Minister of Economic Development Celinda Sosa signed a
memorandum of understanding with the Government of Iran (GOI)
for the expansion of industrial and mineral cooperation, but
GOB officials could not confirm the signing for Embassy
officials. Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials strongly
denied that the GOB was entering into agreements with Iran;
Embassy contacts in the president's office said the GOB has
not signed any formal agreement with Iran while conceding
that GOB contacts with Iran are being kept "very secret."
Sosa's own Vice Minister of Industry, Commerce and Exports
Gustavo Barbery, told us he knew only that Sosa was traveling
somewhere in the Middle East.
2. (S/NF) Sensitive reporting indicates increasing contacts
between the GOB and the GOI in past months. President
Morales met with Iran's Ambassador to Venezuela, Ahmad
Sobhani, on the margins of the Mercosur meeting in Caracas on
July 4, followed by a second meeting in Bolivia in mid-July,
possibly related to a Venezuelan-Iranian donation of fifty
tractors to Bolivia. Separately, our contacts in the
president's office confirmed that Iran sent a Brazil-based
special envoy to Bolivia in July. We were offered no
read-out of this visit.
3. (S/NF) Comment: We have cautioned the GOB about pursuing
relations with Iran. Our inability to confirm Sosa's
reported MOU is unsurprising, given the level of secrecy
which is surrounding the GOB's flirtation with Iran. We would
not, however, be surprised if the MFA is out of the loop.
The evolution of this relationship is clearly something that
is being pursued at the highest level of this government.
While Vice President Garcia Linera has indicated to us that
he understands U.S. concerns, high level contacts persist,
probably on the direct initiative of President Morales and at
the instigation of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. The
broad nature of the agreement reported would seem to indicate
more a statement of intent to expand relations than a
confirmation of concrete action. Nonetheless, Iran has
expertise that could be useful to the GOB, particularly in
the hydrocarbons field, and the GOB seems intent on
continuing to explore expanding ties. End comment.
GREENLEE
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL IR VE
SUBJECT: UNCERTAINTY REGARDING ALLEGED DEAL WITH IRAN
Classified By: Amb. David N. Greenlee for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C/NF) Press reports from Tehran state that Bolivian
Minister of Economic Development Celinda Sosa signed a
memorandum of understanding with the Government of Iran (GOI)
for the expansion of industrial and mineral cooperation, but
GOB officials could not confirm the signing for Embassy
officials. Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials strongly
denied that the GOB was entering into agreements with Iran;
Embassy contacts in the president's office said the GOB has
not signed any formal agreement with Iran while conceding
that GOB contacts with Iran are being kept "very secret."
Sosa's own Vice Minister of Industry, Commerce and Exports
Gustavo Barbery, told us he knew only that Sosa was traveling
somewhere in the Middle East.
2. (S/NF) Sensitive reporting indicates increasing contacts
between the GOB and the GOI in past months. President
Morales met with Iran's Ambassador to Venezuela, Ahmad
Sobhani, on the margins of the Mercosur meeting in Caracas on
July 4, followed by a second meeting in Bolivia in mid-July,
possibly related to a Venezuelan-Iranian donation of fifty
tractors to Bolivia. Separately, our contacts in the
president's office confirmed that Iran sent a Brazil-based
special envoy to Bolivia in July. We were offered no
read-out of this visit.
3. (S/NF) Comment: We have cautioned the GOB about pursuing
relations with Iran. Our inability to confirm Sosa's
reported MOU is unsurprising, given the level of secrecy
which is surrounding the GOB's flirtation with Iran. We would
not, however, be surprised if the MFA is out of the loop.
The evolution of this relationship is clearly something that
is being pursued at the highest level of this government.
While Vice President Garcia Linera has indicated to us that
he understands U.S. concerns, high level contacts persist,
probably on the direct initiative of President Morales and at
the instigation of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. The
broad nature of the agreement reported would seem to indicate
more a statement of intent to expand relations than a
confirmation of concrete action. Nonetheless, Iran has
expertise that could be useful to the GOB, particularly in
the hydrocarbons field, and the GOB seems intent on
continuing to explore expanding ties. End comment.
GREENLEE