Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LAPAZ428
2006-02-17 20:10:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy La Paz
how-toVZCZCXYZ0019 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHLP #0428 0482010 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 172010Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8125 INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 5610 RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 2876 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 6747 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 3971 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 1319 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 1218 RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 3571 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 3956 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 8473 RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0026 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000428
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND
TREASURY FOR SGOOCH
ENERGY FOR CDAY AND SLADISLAW
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2016
TAGS: EAID PREL ECON BL
SUBJECT: BIZARRE CUBAN AID ENCOUNTER
Classified By: DCM David Robinson for reasons 1.4d and b.
C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000428
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND
TREASURY FOR SGOOCH
ENERGY FOR CDAY AND SLADISLAW
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2016
TAGS: EAID PREL ECON BL
SUBJECT: BIZARRE CUBAN AID ENCOUNTER
Classified By: DCM David Robinson for reasons 1.4d and b.
1. (C) Santa Cruz Business Chamber (CAINCO) President Gabriel
Dabdoub related to the Ambassador on February 15 a strange
encounter he witnessed between President Evo Morales, Santa
Cruz Prefect Ruben Costas and Cuban Ambassador to Bolivia
Luiz Felipe Vazquez. According to Dabdoub, the Cuban
Ambassador crashed a meeting at CAINCO that included Evo
Morales and Ruben Costas, said Bolivia could have more Cuban
doctors ("another 150, if you want"),and then dug a wad of
cash--$100,000--out of his pocket saying it was for Morales
to buy Bolivian products for flood relief.
2. (C) Morales, reportedly somewhat taken aback, declined the
cash. The Cuban Ambassador then offered it to Ruben Costas,
who also declined, saying it was not proper to accept
donations in this way. After an awkward moment, the parties
agreed that CAINCO would act as custodian for the money and
placed it in the Chamber's safe. Subsequently, CAINCO
received instructions from the GOB to transfer the funds to
one of the Santa Cruz departmental government accounts to be
used for food aid.
3. (C) Dabdoub also told the Ambassador that his Cuban
counterpart earlier had given $100,000 to the prefect of
Beni, a department in norther Bolivia. Although this is the
first we have heard about money changing hands, Dabdoub's
story tracks with anecdotal reports suggesting growing Cuban
presence and activity throughout Bolivia.
GREENLEE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND
TREASURY FOR SGOOCH
ENERGY FOR CDAY AND SLADISLAW
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/17/2016
TAGS: EAID PREL ECON BL
SUBJECT: BIZARRE CUBAN AID ENCOUNTER
Classified By: DCM David Robinson for reasons 1.4d and b.
1. (C) Santa Cruz Business Chamber (CAINCO) President Gabriel
Dabdoub related to the Ambassador on February 15 a strange
encounter he witnessed between President Evo Morales, Santa
Cruz Prefect Ruben Costas and Cuban Ambassador to Bolivia
Luiz Felipe Vazquez. According to Dabdoub, the Cuban
Ambassador crashed a meeting at CAINCO that included Evo
Morales and Ruben Costas, said Bolivia could have more Cuban
doctors ("another 150, if you want"),and then dug a wad of
cash--$100,000--out of his pocket saying it was for Morales
to buy Bolivian products for flood relief.
2. (C) Morales, reportedly somewhat taken aback, declined the
cash. The Cuban Ambassador then offered it to Ruben Costas,
who also declined, saying it was not proper to accept
donations in this way. After an awkward moment, the parties
agreed that CAINCO would act as custodian for the money and
placed it in the Chamber's safe. Subsequently, CAINCO
received instructions from the GOB to transfer the funds to
one of the Santa Cruz departmental government accounts to be
used for food aid.
3. (C) Dabdoub also told the Ambassador that his Cuban
counterpart earlier had given $100,000 to the prefect of
Beni, a department in norther Bolivia. Although this is the
first we have heard about money changing hands, Dabdoub's
story tracks with anecdotal reports suggesting growing Cuban
presence and activity throughout Bolivia.
GREENLEE