PERU'S VIEWS ON APEC 2006 AND HOSTING APEC 2008

UNCLAS LIMA 004248

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON APECO ETRD PTER PARM TSPL PE
SUBJECT: PERU'S VIEWS ON APEC 2006 AND HOSTING APEC 2008

REF: A. STATE 139460

B. LIMA 3489


1. (SBU) Summary: The GOP sees eye-to-eye with the USG on
priorities for the November APEC Leaders' and Ministers'
meetings. Having passed the U.S.-Peru Free Trade Agreement
(PTPA) in its Congress in June, Peru has already signed on to
many of the USG's trade priorities. It is likely that
President Alan Garcia will not attend the November meeting
because of Peru's regional and local elections on November
19, and because Garcia is trying to contrast himself to his
"extravagant" predecessor, Alejandro Toledo, by traveling and
spending less. The GOP has already begun planning for
hosting the APEC meetings in 2008, and has requested USG
assistance in training and equipping security personnel. End
Summary.

2006 PRIORITIES
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2. (U) On October 26, Econoff delivered Ref A demarche
sharing USG priorities for the November 15-19 APEC Leaders'
and Ministers' meetings to the GOP's lead on APEC issues,
Ambassador Juan Capunay of the MFA's Asia/Pacific
Subsecretariat. Capunay said the GOP supported all of the
USG's priorities, singling out Doha, anti-corruption (Peru
co-sponsored the anti-corruption / transparent government
initiative approved at the SOM III and plans to host a
regional conference in October 2007),and public-private
partnerships. He said Peru had no problems with the USG's
Proposed Draft Language for the Leaders' Statement on WMD
Trafficking and Financing. See Ref B for further details on
Peru's 2006 priorities.

PRESIDENT GARCIA MAY NOT ATTEND
--------------


3. (SBU) Ambassador Capunay said that officially President
Garcia would still be representing Peru at the Leaders'
Meeting. However, it is likely that Garcia will not make the
trip. The media reports that Garcia does not want to be in
Asia during Peru's hotly-contested local and regional
elections on November 19, where his APRA party is struggling
to win key races. Garcia, who took office in July, has
striven to build an austere image, traveling and spending
less than his unpopular predecessor, Alejandro Toledo. Trade
and Tourism Minister Mercedes Araoz and Foreign Minister Jose
Antonio Garcia Belaunde are planning on traveling to Vietnam.

AMB. CAPUNAY MOVING ON
--------------


4. (SBU) Capunay told Econoff that he would be named as
Ambassador to an Asian country in January. He introduced
Econoff to his most likely successor, Raul SALAZAR Cosio, who
was most recently Minister Counselor at Peru's Embassy in
Spain. Capunay's current deputy, Julio CARDENAS Velarde,
will stay on and will also play a key leadership role leading
up to APEC 2008.

PRIORITIES/THEMES FOR 2008
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5. (U) The GOP has already put much thought into its role as
host of the APEC meetings in 2008. Capunay said that an
overarching theme would be "A New Commitment for Asia-Pacific
Development," stressing public-private partnerships and
Corporate Social Responsibility. See Ref B for further
details on Peru's 2008 priorities.

SECURITY HELP FOR 2008
--------------


6. (SBU) Post received a diplomatic note from the MFA dated
October 16 requesting USG assistance in training and
equipping security personnel as part of preparations for Peru
hosting the APEC meetings in 2008. Specifically, the request
includes training in: security and protection for
dignitaries (for 42 officials and 210 sergeant majors);
building (e.g. hotels, airports, events) security (for 30
officials and 500 sergeant majors); operational planning and
security management (for 5 superior officials); canine
explosives detection; detecting ultrasonic waves, sound and
radial emissions around reserved areas (for equipment
operators); and basic and intermediate level English language
(for security escorts and bodyguards).
POWERS