Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAPAZ2295
2006-08-24 21:03:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
HYDROCARBONS MINISTER IS CENSURED
how-toVZCZCXYZ0020 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHLP #2295 2362103 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 242103Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0337 INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 6059 RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 3378 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 7228 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 4491 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1764 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 1787 RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 3976 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 4395 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 8963 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS LA PAZ 002295
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND
TREASURY FOR SGOOCH
ENERGY FOR CDAY AND SLADISLAW
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ENRG EPET PGOV BL
SUBJECT: HYDROCARBONS MINISTER IS CENSURED
REF: LA PAZ 2056
UNCLAS LA PAZ 002295
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND
TREASURY FOR SGOOCH
ENERGY FOR CDAY AND SLADISLAW
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ENRG EPET PGOV BL
SUBJECT: HYDROCARBONS MINISTER IS CENSURED
REF: LA PAZ 2056
1. (U) The opposition majority in the Senate -- 13 Podemos
and 1 National Unity (UN) senators -- censured Hydrocarbons
Minister Andres Soliz Rada on August 23 for the state oil
company YPFB's alleged violations of Bolivian laws and
regulations (reftel). MAS senators protested by not
participating in the vote. Soliz' resignation was rejected
by President Morales, who reaffirmed Soliz' position and
called the opposition "anti-patriotic" for undermining
Bolivia's position in natural gas price negotiations and
stalling the hydrocarbons nationalization process.
2. (U) In anticipation of the censure, executive branch
sources announced on August 22 that Vice President Alvaro
Garcia Linera, not Soliz, would negotiate new hydrocarbons
contracts with private investors and new gas export prices
with Brazil, in addition to his duties as GOB interlocutor
for Spain, Brazil, Argentina, and the U.S. Garcia Linera
traveled to Brazil on August 23 to discuss gas prices with
President Lula da Silva.
3. (SBU) Comment: Soliz claims that the GOB will sign new
contracts with private hydrocarbons companies by the November
1 deadline, but that seems to be wishful thinking. The GOB
only began company audits in early August, which will likely
not be completed until after the contact migration deadline,
according to sector representatives. The opposition's
success in censuring Soliz is not only a sign that the GOB's
hydrocarbons nationalization is encountering difficulties,
but also reveals Morales' lack of absolute control over
Congress. We will be watching closely to see if this
incident causes Morales to rely more heavily on the
Constituent Assembly to execute his agenda. End comment.
GREENLEE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND
TREASURY FOR SGOOCH
ENERGY FOR CDAY AND SLADISLAW
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ENRG EPET PGOV BL
SUBJECT: HYDROCARBONS MINISTER IS CENSURED
REF: LA PAZ 2056
1. (U) The opposition majority in the Senate -- 13 Podemos
and 1 National Unity (UN) senators -- censured Hydrocarbons
Minister Andres Soliz Rada on August 23 for the state oil
company YPFB's alleged violations of Bolivian laws and
regulations (reftel). MAS senators protested by not
participating in the vote. Soliz' resignation was rejected
by President Morales, who reaffirmed Soliz' position and
called the opposition "anti-patriotic" for undermining
Bolivia's position in natural gas price negotiations and
stalling the hydrocarbons nationalization process.
2. (U) In anticipation of the censure, executive branch
sources announced on August 22 that Vice President Alvaro
Garcia Linera, not Soliz, would negotiate new hydrocarbons
contracts with private investors and new gas export prices
with Brazil, in addition to his duties as GOB interlocutor
for Spain, Brazil, Argentina, and the U.S. Garcia Linera
traveled to Brazil on August 23 to discuss gas prices with
President Lula da Silva.
3. (SBU) Comment: Soliz claims that the GOB will sign new
contracts with private hydrocarbons companies by the November
1 deadline, but that seems to be wishful thinking. The GOB
only began company audits in early August, which will likely
not be completed until after the contact migration deadline,
according to sector representatives. The opposition's
success in censuring Soliz is not only a sign that the GOB's
hydrocarbons nationalization is encountering difficulties,
but also reveals Morales' lack of absolute control over
Congress. We will be watching closely to see if this
incident causes Morales to rely more heavily on the
Constituent Assembly to execute his agenda. End comment.
GREENLEE