FIRST MEETING ON NEW SOFA AGREEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LA PAZ 002756 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/12/2016 TAGS: PARM PGOV MARR MASS MCAP PREL KTIA MOPS BL SUBJECT: FIRST MEETING ON NEW SOFA AGREEMENT REF: A. LA PAZ 1744 ¶B. LA PAZ 2008 ¶C. SECSTATE 169017 Classified By: Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d ). ¶1. (C) Summary: Embassy officials met with Bolivian Minister of Defense Walker San Miguel October 10 regarding the Embassy's pending request for return of the F-10 counterterrorism equipment and the need for an updated SOFA agreement (reftels). San Miguel expressed concern about the continuing MANPADS imbroglio and his own potential liability should the GOB return the counterterrorism equipment. He appeared willing, however, to return the equipment to U.S. custody as long as it remained in Bolivia and offered to draft an agreement to that end. Milgroup Commander Colonel James Campbell explained that if we put the F-10 issue behind us, Bolivia may be able to access newly-approved IMET funding. Colonel Campbell also provided San Miguel with the draft language for a new SOFA, noting that its signing would enable milgroup to move forward with its New Horizons exercise planned for June-September 2007. While San Miguel promised progress on mil-mil issues, we are cautiously optimistic that he will deliver. End summary. -------------- MOD'S WARM TONE, WILLING TO START ANEW -------------- ¶2. (C) Milgroup Commander Colonel Jim Campbell, DATT Colonel Richard Jackson, Milgroup Major Mike Price and poloff (notetaker) met with Bolivian Minister of Defense Walker San Miguel October 10 regarding the Embassy's pending request for return of the F-10 counterterrorism equipment (reftels A and B) and the need for an updated SOFA agreement (reftel C). San Miguel opened the meeting with a warm tone, saying he "always has time" for U.S. military officials, despite the recent Bolivian crises. He welcomed Colonels Campbell and Jackson, both relatively new Embassy officials, saying that he looks forward to turning the page on mil-mil issues. San Miguel mentioned that he was pleased about his interaction with the U.S. delegation at the Defense Ministerial in Nicaragua. He also said he would be delighted to visit Southcom in late November if his schedule permits. -------------- MANPADS IMPACT ON CT EQUIPMENT -------------- ¶3. (C) San Miguel expressed concern about the pending MANPADS crisis and his own potential liability if he leads efforts to return the counterterrorism equipment. He blamed the Embassy for keeping the MANPADS transfer "secret" and complained that the GOB had not authorized the missiles' removal from the country. The defense minister said he does not want to repeat the missiles transfer with the F-10 equipment, but told Embassy officials that he had promised senior U.S. military officials that he would resolve the problem. ¶4. (C) San Miguel appeared willing to return the counterterrorism equipment to U.S. custody in Bolivia, and offered to draft an agreement to that end. Campbell told San Miguel the equipment can remain in Bolivia if stored under U.S. custody at a Bolivian military base. San Miguel admitted that he would have to consult with President Morales, and again asked for a written agreement to document the transfer. He complained that "everything is politicized" in Bolivia and that the Bolivian military feels pressured by the United States given the decertification of the CT unit and the missiles transfer without the corresponding payment. San Miguel said because the GOB wants to resolve the F-10 issue, his office will draft an agreement for the equipment's return, to be discussed in a follow-up meeting October 17. San Miguel said he does not want the United States to imply LA PAZ 00002756 002 OF 002 that Bolivia is not cooperating on counterterrorism issues. He also asked if the arms could be returned to a Bolivian military unit in which the United States has confidence in the future. Campbell replied that the matter was political, and that once we get the arms back we could reevaluate that question. -------------- A NEW SOFA AGREEMENT AND IMET FUNDING -------------- ¶5. (C) Milgroup commander Campbell explained to San Miguel that if we put the F-10 equipment issue behind us, Bolivia may be eligible for newly-approved IMET funding. San Miguel asked a number of questions about IMET money, commenting that such training programs would be "valuable" for the Bolivian military. ¶6. (C) Colonel Campbell also provided San Miguel with a copy of the draft language for a new SOFA, noting that its signing would enable milgroup to move forward with the New Horizons exercise planned for June-September 2007 in the department of Cobija. Campbell used the talking points provided in reftel C to explain that the existing SOFA is based on a 1997 agreement that the parties have renewed annually via diplomatic note, but which is now obsolete. San Miguel, who is an attorney, seemed receptive to the draft. San Miguel promised to review it promptly and be prepared to discuss October 17. Campbell also explained that New Horizons would entail two major construction projects-- a community center and a health center-- involving 120 to 200 U.S. military troops and three helicopters, plus three MEDRETE exercises. San Miguel said he would ask the Foreign Ministry to give the SOFA "top priority." -------------- COMMENT: ACTION SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS -------------- ¶7. (C) While San Miguel promised progress on these mil-mil issues, the GOB (both Morales and the MOD) had previously assured us that it would return the equipment but never delivered. In light of recent history, we are cautiously optimistic that San Miguel will deliver this time. It seems likely that President Morales will have to personally approve the return of the CT equipment, as well as the SOFA agreement. We will report septel on the October 17 meeting and will soon approach the ministry of foreign affairs regarding the SOFA. End comment. GOLDBERG