EX-NICARAGUAN MOD BIDDING ON REGIONAL UNDP ARMS

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAGUA 001023 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CEN, WHA/PPC, PM, IO E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/08/2016 TAGS: PARM MARR PREL NU SUBJECT: EX-NICARAGUAN MOD BIDDING ON REGIONAL UNDP ARMS CONTROL POSITION REF: MANAGUA 0885 Classified By: Ambassador Paul Trivelli for reasons 1.4 (b and d) ¶1. (C) Poloff met with local UNDP official Felipe Molina on May 5 to discuss the UNDP's five-year, $5 million project to reduce small arms in Central America. Molina explained that the plan will cover "all types of weapons transportable by one person" -- including MANPADS. "Arms in poor countries are a handicap, and armies should be proportional to the economy of the country," he stated. Molina claimed that UNDP would like to see the complete elimination of MANPADS in Central America, but acknowledged that the GON is lobbying to address MANPADS only in the context of regional arms reduction. He noted that the inclusion of MANPADS in the UNDP plan could "de-politicize" the MANPADS debate to some extent and re-focus the discussion on technical issues. Molina said that most of the funds from the project are coming from the UNDP, though the European Union, United Kingdom, and Sweden are contributing money. Molina also mentioned that ex-Nicaraguan Minister of Defense Jose Adan Guerra has submitted his resume for consideration as the Director General of the project. ¶2. (SBU) Comment: Post welcomes Guerra's bid for the Director Generalship of the UNDP's Central American small arms reduction program. As Nicaraguan Minister of Defense, Guerra was highly supportive of USG policies, including MANPADS destruction. As Director General of this regional project, Guerra indicated in an April 19 meeting with the Ambassador that he would continue to be responsive to USG concerns (reftel). End Comment. ¶3. (C) Molina, after commenting that UNDP has received over 70 applications for three executive positions for the program, acknowledged that Guerra is a "strong contender." He noted that Guerra has strong relations with the Nicaraguan Army, the USG, and other Ministers of Defense in the region. May 18 is the deadline to receive applications, and a special committee will select candidates for the positions of Director General, Operations Coordinator, and Arms Specialist on May 22. The special committee is composed of the following individuals: - Marc Andre Franche, Director of Arms Control for Latin America (UN, New York) - Peter Bachelor, Director of the small arms unit (UN, Geneva) - Alfredo Missair, Director of UNDP in Nicaragua - Maria Carmen Sacasa, UNDP Nicaragua - Mauricio Gomez, Nicaraguan Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Eric Vilchez, SICA (El Salvador) TRIVELLI