FOREIGN MINISTER CALDERA ASSURES DAS MADISON HE

S E C R E T MANAGUA 000943

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA K. MADISON, WHA/CEN, S/WCI, USAID/LAC M. MAGAN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2016
TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN KDEM NU PGOV PINR PREL MOPS
PTER, KAWC, PHUM, PREF
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER CALDERA ASSURES DAS MADISON HE
WILL CONTINUE HAMMERING CHAVEZ

REF: A. MANAGUA 0882


B. MANAGUA 0755

C. STATE 48524

Classified By: Ambassador Paul A. Trivelli. Reasons 1.4 (B,D).


1. (S) SUMMARY: Foreign Minister Norman Caldera recently
told DAS Madison, USAID's DAA Magan, and Ambassador that he
will continue hammering Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and
Sandinista (FSLN) leader Daniel Ortega on their false
accusations of U.S. intervention in Nicaragua's internal
affairs. He believes that Chavez' public endorsement of
Ortega has "cleared the air" over recent criticism of the
U.S. Ambassador's public statements. Caldera also thinks the
Venezuelan oil deal with members of Nicaragua's Mayors'
Association is designed to attract more voters to Ortega.
When he travels to Washington next week, Caldera will meet
with OAS officials to request assistance in preparing a draft
reform electoral law and impress upon them the need prevent
presidential candidate disqualifications. Caldera warned
that the FSLN is poised to commit grand fraud in the November
elections. He also suggested Nicaragua might be able to
accept two or three of the Uighur detainees in Guantanamo
(Reftels). END SUMMARY.

CALLING OFF THE "HOUNDS"
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2. (C) Foreign Minister Norman Caldera told DAS Madison,
USAID's DAA Magan, and Ambassador on April 26 of his plans to
continue hammering Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and FSLN
leader Daniel Ortega on their false accusations of U.S.
intervention in Nicaragua's internal affairs. In Caldera's
view, the Venezuelans, not the Americans are guilty of
intervention, as evidenced by Chavez' recent public
endorsement of Ortega. On the positive side, Chavez'
unabashed endorsement has "cleared the air" over recent
criticism of the U.S. Ambassador's public statements. Now
the U.S. has a "clean slate" to continue speaking out
frankly, opined Caldera. Chavez's notion that if an action
suits him (and Ortega) it is "solidarity," while if an action
counters his interests, it is "intervention," is nonsense.
The Foreign Minister shared that he will be doing some
straight talking of his own next week when he travels to
Washington to meet with the Heritage Foundation and a number
of U.S. lawmakers, including some who do not share his and
the Nicaraguan government's assessment of the Ortega threat.

APPROACHING THE OAS ON ELECTORAL REFORM AND NATIONAL IDS
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3. (C) During his time in Washington, Caldera will also
meet with OAS officials to request assistance in preparing a
draft reform electoral law. He explained that the
Inter-American Human Rights court in San Jose had ruled in
favor of Miskito party YATAMA that Nicaragua's current
electoral law violates human rights as there is currently no
recourse through the courts to contest a decision by the
Supreme Electoral Commission (CSE). Caldera explained that
he will use this decision as an excuse to seek broader
electoral reforms. Doing so, he believes, might also draw
YATAMA away from the FSLN (Note: A dissident YATAMA faction
opposes YATAMA leadership's alliance with Ortega. Post,
through IRI, is helping this dissident group arrange a
special assembly on May 14-15 to counter Ortega's proposed
accord with YATAMA. End Note.)


4. (C) In addition to discussing the electoral law, Caldera
will raise with the OAS a case involving the right of
overseas Nicaraguans to apply for, and receive, national ID
cards (cedulas). The CSE has not provided the cedula
application form to consulates abroad so that expats may
register for the document, he explained. (Note: Cedulas also
serve as voter ID cards. Either a cedula or a temporary
cedula is required to vote.) Caldera added that he will also
broach his concerns that the OAS must be prepared to counter
the CSE if it disqualifies presidential candidates
Montealegre or Lewites.

THE FSLN STAGED THE MARCH ELECTIONS TO LOOK GOOD
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5. (C) Continuing on the elections theme, Caldera warned that the FSLN is poised to commit major fraud on November 5 to give Ortega a chance to win the presidency and to ensure the FSLN continues to enjoy ample representation in the National Assembly. Caldera opined that the FSLN hoodwinked the country by refraining from fraud during the March Atlantic Coast elections to lull people into believing that they have nothing to worry about in the November national elections, when much more is at stake.

FORWARD MOVEMENT ON CAFTA, POSSIBLY MANPADS
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6. (C) The Ambassador remarked that despite the current
problems, some progress had been made, citing the fact that
Assembly President Eduardo Gomez had assured him that the
Legislature will soon place MANPADS destruction on its agenda
and that in a recent meeting with Assembly deputies,
including two Sandinistas, the group indicated that the
destruction of 651 MANPADS might be feasible. Sharing the
Ambassador's optimism, Caldera noted that CAFTA is already
making a positive impact. Thanks to CAFTA two new textile
factories, one U.S. and one Taiwanese, will expand their
operations in Nicaragua. He explained that during the
Sandinista era, Nicaragua was left behind in developing its
textile industry, but CAFTA will turn around the situation.

EU WOOS CENTAMS ON FREE TRADE ACCORD
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7. (C) Foreign Minister Caldera mentioned that he and other
Central American foreign ministers will travel to Vienna next
month to meet EU countries to discuss a free trade agreement.
The EU does not want to see Chevrolets replacing Mercedes,
quipped Caldera, and is offering up front to eliminate
tariffs on Central American bananas to sweeten the deal.
Ambassador remarked that the Europeans are tough negotiators.
Caldera concurred, expecting considerable "table banging"
before they will reach agreement, which will be complicated
by the EU's desire for one Central American negotiator, not
five. Achieving a unitary negotiating team, however, only
makes sense for those Centam countries covered by a customs
union and a common external tariff, explained Caldera, who
added that neither Panama nor Costa Rica currently adhere to
that joint regimen.

NICARAGUA MIGHT ACCEPT TWO OR THREE UIGHURS
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8. (S) Following up on the possible resettlement of Uighur
men who had been Guantanamo detainees (Reftels),Caldera
remarked that the Nicaraguan government is currently
reviewing the list of detainees and might be able to accept
two or three. "Friends must help another," he said.


9. (U) Participants:

Nicaragua:
Foreign Minister Norman Caldera

U.S.:
Deputy Assistant Secretary Kirsten Madison
Ambassador Paul Trivelli
USAID DAA Mike Magan
A/DCM Alex Dickie
Polcouns Victoria Alvarado (notetaker)
TRIVELLI