DEMARCHE REQUEST IN PREPARATION OF THE UN HIGH

UNCLAS SAN SALVADOR 001972 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: EAID PREF SMIG ES SUBJECT: DEMARCHE REQUEST IN PREPARATION OF THE UN HIGH LEVEL DIALOGUE ON INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION AND DEVELOPMENT (EL SALVADOR) REF: SECSTATE 122513 ¶1. On July 28, Poloff spoke to MFA Office of Multilateral Affairs Officer Felix Ulloa regarding reftel demarche request. Due to the closure of the GOES from July 31 through August 4, Poloff arranged to speak with MFA Social Affairs Director Elizabeth Cubias on August 9. ¶2. Background: El Salvador has an unusual perspective on migration, as it is both a source and recipient of migrants. Although there has been no complete census conducted since 1992, estimates are that one in four Salvadorans now resides overseas, mostly in the United States. In addition, the GOES estimates that remittances from Salvadorans abroad are equivalent to 16.6 percent of GDP. At the same time, however, large numbers of Hondurans and Nicaraguans seeking work migrate into certain areas of the country. Last year, the GOES authorized 40,000 Hondurans and Nicaraguans to work during the sugar and coffee harvests. ¶3. Elizabeth Cubias noted that El Salvador has been the leader of the Regional Conference on Migration and that Vice Minister Margarita de Escobar would be wearing two hats at the conference. However, she noted that the GOES continues to respect the sovereignty of all nations and the differing perspectives that states have, based on their own circumstances. She noted that she had little hope for a final official document to be produced at the conference, and worried that informal documents were likely to garner attention in the proceedings. Cubias further indicated that de Escobar was studying the issue in detail and that she was the principal expert for El Salvador. ¶4. Current plans include Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco Lainez chairing the third table on Multidimension Perspectives on Immigration. Butler