AMBASSADOR AND SENATE PRESIDENT DISCUSS BILATERAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 003107 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/AND TREASURY FOR SGOOCH E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/16/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON MASS MCAP KTIA MOPS BL SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND SENATE PRESIDENT DISCUSS BILATERAL RELATIONS REF: A. LA PAZ 3040 ¶B. LA PAZ 2756 Classified By: Ambassador Philip Goldberg for reason 1.4 (b). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) In a meeting with the Ambassador on November 15, Senate President Santos Ramirez stated his support for the passage of money laundering legislation, but made it clear that his focus is on the rapid passage of an anti-corruption bill. The Ambassador explained the humanitarian goals of the "New Horizons" exercise that the U.S. military hoped to conduct in Bolivia in 2007 and requested Ramirez' support for the program. The Ambassador explained that the U.S. executive supports extension of ATPDEA (Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act) benefits for Bolivia, but that the issue is now in the hands of the U.S. congress. The Ambassador and Ramirez agreed that they did not want the MANPADS missile issue to affect bilateral relations. End summary. -------------- Money Laundering -------------- ¶2. (C) The Ambassador thanked Senate President Santos Ramirez on November 15 for his stated support for the passage of effective money laundering legislation. The Ambassador noted that the Embassy has been working with Presidential Legal Adviser Eusebio Gironda to improve Bolivia's draft legislation on corruption and money laundering, but that there are some differences in our approaches, particularly regarding the inclusion of terrorism finance and the need to enact either a broader law than what the GOB has proposed or two separate laws (ref A). Ramirez responded that the anti-corruption law was of vital importance, and implied that he would support two laws -- one on corruption and a second law on money laundering -- so as to not "complicate" passage of the anti-corruption law. Ramirez also noted that Bolivia needs to update its penal code and penal procedures code. Upon the Ambassador's suggestion for increased coordination between the executive and congress, Ramirez responded that the executive should convene a meeting including legal advisers, consultants, the finance ministry, and the bank superintendency to report to him on the progress of the draft law. -------------- New Horizons -------------- ¶3. (C) The Ambassador explained to Ramirez that the "New Horizons" exercise that the U.S. military hoped to conduct in 2007 was a humanitarian program under which approximately 200 soldiers would engage in civil construction projects in Bolivia in order to strengthen links between the two militaries and promote development (ref B). He added that press reports on the topic were exaggerated and did not explain the program's true goals. Ramirez replied that one must be cautious with the press, which thrived on conflict and speculation. -------------- ATPDEA Extension -------------- ¶4. (C) The Ambassador told Ramirez that the U.S. executive branch sent a letter to the U.S. congress on November 14 requesting extension of ATPDEA trade preferences for the four Andean countries currently receiving those benefits. He explained that the matter was now in the hands of the U.S. congress. -------------- MANPAD Missiles -------------- ¶5. (C) The Ambassador noted that he wanted to put the missile issue (ref B) behind us and not have it affect our bilateral relationship. Ramirez explained that the public ministry had requested congressional approval to bring a case against former President Rodriguez to the supreme court. He said that both houses of congress must approve the case by two-thirds vote in order for it to move forward. The Ambassador replied that President Rodriguez had not done anything outside of his capacity as president, nor had he compromised Bolivia's security. In fact, he had improved it. Ramirez said that statements by high-level military officials had raised questions regarding who authorized the missile transfer, why it was not done in a transparent manner, and why the Bolivian constitution was violated. He said that the process must run its course through the Bolivian justice system, but agreed with the Ambassador that the process was an internal one which should not affect our bilateral relationship. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) The Embassy will continue its dialogue with Ramirez, one of President Morales' principal advisers, in order to promote GOB cooperation on topics of mutual interest, including money laundering and military cooperation. End comment. GOLDBERG