Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAPAZ2756
2006-10-13 21:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:  

FIRST MEETING ON NEW SOFA AGREEMENT

Tags:  PARM PGOV MARR MASS MCAP PREL KTIA MOPS BL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9296
PP RUEHLMC
DE RUEHLP #2756/01 2862156
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 132156Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0872
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 6183
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 3497
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 7358
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 4619
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1874
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 1917
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 4081
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 4510
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 9086
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
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
).

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