Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAPAZ3128
2006-11-20 19:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR GOLDBERG NOVEMBER 9 COCHABAMBA VISIT

Tags:  ECON PGOV PREL BL 
pdf how-to read a cable
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INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 6306
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 3630
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 7493
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 4750
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RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 4641
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 9224
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 0881
RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 2044
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 003128 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR GOLDBERG NOVEMBER 9 COCHABAMBA VISIT

Classified By: Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).

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SUMMARY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LA PAZ 003128

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2016
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL BL
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR GOLDBERG NOVEMBER 9 COCHABAMBA VISIT

Classified By: Ambassador Philip S. Goldberg for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d
).

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------

1. (SBU) Ambassador Goldberg traveled November 9 to
Cochabamba to meet with the mayor, social sector leaders,
business leaders, the local American population, and local
media and political analysts. The trip received extensive
press coverage and provided an opportunity to publicly
highlight our engagement with prominent social organizations.

--------------
Mayor Gonzalo Terceros
--------------

2. (SBU) The Ambassador's meeting with the mayor focused on
a broad range of topics, including Tercero's relationship
with the central and prefectural governments, the GOB's
policy on coca, and the Constituent Assembly (CA). Tercero
highlighted the difficulty of providing constituent services
due to the division of responsibility and resources allocated
among the central, prefectural, and local governments.
According to Terceros, governance - and specifically autonomy
(the division of responsibility and resources among all
levels of government) - will be the most important issues the
CA decides.

--------------
Union Leaders
--------------

3. (SBU) The Ambassador also called on union leaders,
including Oscar Oliveras, a leftwing firebrand and the
protagonist behind the 2000 "Water Wars" in Cochabamba.
Oliveras, who is now the Coordinator for Water in Cochabamba,
leads a social sector group whose primary goal is to
extradite ex-President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada. Responding
to his concerns over trade, jobs, and the expedited delivery
of letters rogatory to Sanchez de Lozada, the Ambassador
explained to Oliveras that Sanchez de Lozada is currently
legally in the United States. He also emphasized the letters
rogatory are being reviewed by the appropriate officials in
Washington. Noting the Oliveras, concerns, the Ambassador
expressed his willingness to continue USG dialogue with
Bolivia's social sector organizations.

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Outreach to American Citizens
--------------

4. (U) The Ambassador met with U.S. citizens living in
Cochabamaba to discuss their issues of concern. Unofficial
Americans were concerned with the GOB's proposed education
reform and rising levels of crime. The Ambassador assured
them that the Embassy is working via diplomatic channels to
protect private education. He also addressed consular issues
and explained the warden system. The Ambassador also
presided over a Peace Corps swearing-in ceremony.

--------------
Lunch with Media Contacts
--------------

5. (SBU) During the Ambassador's lunch with media contacts
and political analysts, the discussion centered on the GOB's
coca policy and the political direction of the Morales
administration. Noting USG concerns with the rapid growth of
illicit coca and narcotrafficking in Bolivia, the Ambassador
commented that the drug trade is a shared problem among
Bolivia's neighbors, especially Brazil.

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Cochabamba Civic Committee
--------------

LA PAZ 00003128 002 OF 002



6. (U) The Ambassador attended a private meeting with Civic
Committee President Oscar Zurita to improve the Embassy's
dialogue with social sector organizations. In a meeting of
the entire committee, Zurita publicly expressed the
committee's interest in U.S. assistance to improve the
department's infrastructure and economy. Highlighting their
efforts to strengthen democracy, Zurita noted the committee's
efforts to organize a march to promote consensus among all
Bolivians.

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COMMENT
--------------

7. (SBU) The trip received extensive press coverage and
provided an opportunity to highlight our engagement with
prominent social sector organizations.
GOLDBERG