Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASUNCION57
2007-01-26 17:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asuncion
Cable title:
PARAGUAY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UPDATE JANUARY 13
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHAC #0057/01 0261733 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 261733Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY ASUNCION TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5261 INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL//SCJ3/SCJ33/SCJ34/SOCSO LNO// RHEHNSC/WHITE HOUSE NSC WASHDC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 000057
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/BSC, INL/LP (JIM HIDES)
EB/IFD/OIA
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/AA
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR LYANG
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN
TREASURY FOR OSIA MAUREEN WAFER
TREASURY FOR OTA WARFIELD, VAN KOCH, MILLAR
COMMERCE FOR ITA SARAH COOK
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2027
TAGS: PGOV PREL SENV PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UPDATE JANUARY 13
- 26, 2007
Classified By: A/DCM James P. Merz; Reasons 1.4(b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 000057
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/BSC, INL/LP (JIM HIDES)
EB/IFD/OIA
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/AA
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR LYANG
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN
TREASURY FOR OSIA MAUREEN WAFER
TREASURY FOR OTA WARFIELD, VAN KOCH, MILLAR
COMMERCE FOR ITA SARAH COOK
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2027
TAGS: PGOV PREL SENV PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UPDATE JANUARY 13
- 26, 2007
Classified By: A/DCM James P. Merz; Reasons 1.4(b),(d)
1. (U) SUMMARY:
-- Dengue Outbreak; Politician Dead
-- Impeachment for two Elections Ministers?
-- USAID Helps Expand HealthCare
-- Environmental Ministry Seizes Rare Birds, Animal Skins
-- IDB Offers USD 1.2 Million for Chaco Region
DENGUE OUTBREAK; POLITICIAN DEAD
2. (U) Four people died with complications from dengue
hemorrhagic fever over the last 7 days, including Miguel
Angel Martinez Yaryes, former president of the Authentic
Radical Liberal Party (PLRA) and a well-known medical doctor.
The deaths touched young and old, and rich and poor alike,
forcing the Ministry of Health to issue an epidemiological
warning on January 22. The Health Ministry has reported more
than 760 confirmed cases of dengue infections with hundreds
of other cases yet to be confirmed. Health clinics are under
orders to conduct free or discounted analyses to any person
that believes they may be infected with the disease. The
government declared January 29 a "holiday" for government
employees instead of working in their offices. The
government will seek to organize its 25,000 public employees
and 66,000 teachers into teams that will go house to house in
Asuncion and the surrounding Central Department to eliminate
breeding grounds for mosquitos.
IMPEACHMENT FOR TWO ELECTIONS MINISTERS?
3. (C) PLRA Senator Juan Carlos Ramirez Montalbetti and UNACE
Senator Jose Manuel Bobeda, backed by all of the opposition
parties, issued articles of impeachment against Superior
Electoral Tribunal (TSJE) Ministers Juan Manuel Morales and
Rafael Dendia on January 23 for having succumbed to political
pressure brought to bear by powerful Colorado Senator Juan
Carlos Galaverna in deciding to fire Ricardo Lesme Dalles,
the former TSJE Director of Technical Information. Lesme
told PolOff on January 26 that he does not expect the
impeachment to come to fruition, describing the opposition's
motion as "political posturing." He noted that the internal
fight at the TSJE has escalated with TSJE Ministers Morales
and Dendia not speaking to Minister Alberto Ramirez Zambonini
(the sole minister opposed to Lesme's removal) and staffers
lining up behind the different ministers. (Septel to follow.)
USAID HELPS EXPAND HEALTHCARE
4. (U) USAID and the Center for Information and Resources for
Deevelopment (CIRD),a local NGO, signed an agreement on
January 24 with two municipalities in San Pedro Department
and the Governor of San Pedro to provide assistance for the
creation of social pharmacies and local health insurance
plans. The European Union (EU) also signed the agreement to
formalize its technical input for the project. The support
of the EU represents an important step in getting other
international donors to be more active in this sector and
this part of the world. San Pedro is one of the poorest
departments in Paraguay.
ENVIRONMENTAL MINISTRY SEIZES RARE BIRDS, ANIMAL SKINS
5. (U) The Environmental Ministry (SEAM),with the support
of airport authorities, confiscated over 200 rare bird
species (all dead) and skins of land animals on January 17.
The birds and animal skins have an estimated value of USD 200
thousand. This initiative served a welcome demonstration of
SEAM's commitment to countering the illegal trafficking in
native species.
IDB OFFERS USD 1.2 MILLION FOR CHACO REGION
6. (U) The InterAmerican Development Bank approved USD 1.2
million in grants to strengthen biodiversity and sustainable
development in the Chaco Region of Paraguay, Argentina and
Bolivia last week. The project, which will be implemented by
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Desdel Chaco Foundation
(a local NGO),will develop conservation, land use, and river
basin plans, to include strengthening local institutions.
(NOTE: The Desdel Chaco has been a regular recipient of USAID
support, along with TNC in Paraguay. End Note).
CASON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/BSC, INL/LP (JIM HIDES)
EB/IFD/OIA
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/AA
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR LYANG
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN
TREASURY FOR OSIA MAUREEN WAFER
TREASURY FOR OTA WARFIELD, VAN KOCH, MILLAR
COMMERCE FOR ITA SARAH COOK
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2027
TAGS: PGOV PREL SENV PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UPDATE JANUARY 13
- 26, 2007
Classified By: A/DCM James P. Merz; Reasons 1.4(b),(d)
1. (U) SUMMARY:
-- Dengue Outbreak; Politician Dead
-- Impeachment for two Elections Ministers?
-- USAID Helps Expand HealthCare
-- Environmental Ministry Seizes Rare Birds, Animal Skins
-- IDB Offers USD 1.2 Million for Chaco Region
DENGUE OUTBREAK; POLITICIAN DEAD
2. (U) Four people died with complications from dengue
hemorrhagic fever over the last 7 days, including Miguel
Angel Martinez Yaryes, former president of the Authentic
Radical Liberal Party (PLRA) and a well-known medical doctor.
The deaths touched young and old, and rich and poor alike,
forcing the Ministry of Health to issue an epidemiological
warning on January 22. The Health Ministry has reported more
than 760 confirmed cases of dengue infections with hundreds
of other cases yet to be confirmed. Health clinics are under
orders to conduct free or discounted analyses to any person
that believes they may be infected with the disease. The
government declared January 29 a "holiday" for government
employees instead of working in their offices. The
government will seek to organize its 25,000 public employees
and 66,000 teachers into teams that will go house to house in
Asuncion and the surrounding Central Department to eliminate
breeding grounds for mosquitos.
IMPEACHMENT FOR TWO ELECTIONS MINISTERS?
3. (C) PLRA Senator Juan Carlos Ramirez Montalbetti and UNACE
Senator Jose Manuel Bobeda, backed by all of the opposition
parties, issued articles of impeachment against Superior
Electoral Tribunal (TSJE) Ministers Juan Manuel Morales and
Rafael Dendia on January 23 for having succumbed to political
pressure brought to bear by powerful Colorado Senator Juan
Carlos Galaverna in deciding to fire Ricardo Lesme Dalles,
the former TSJE Director of Technical Information. Lesme
told PolOff on January 26 that he does not expect the
impeachment to come to fruition, describing the opposition's
motion as "political posturing." He noted that the internal
fight at the TSJE has escalated with TSJE Ministers Morales
and Dendia not speaking to Minister Alberto Ramirez Zambonini
(the sole minister opposed to Lesme's removal) and staffers
lining up behind the different ministers. (Septel to follow.)
USAID HELPS EXPAND HEALTHCARE
4. (U) USAID and the Center for Information and Resources for
Deevelopment (CIRD),a local NGO, signed an agreement on
January 24 with two municipalities in San Pedro Department
and the Governor of San Pedro to provide assistance for the
creation of social pharmacies and local health insurance
plans. The European Union (EU) also signed the agreement to
formalize its technical input for the project. The support
of the EU represents an important step in getting other
international donors to be more active in this sector and
this part of the world. San Pedro is one of the poorest
departments in Paraguay.
ENVIRONMENTAL MINISTRY SEIZES RARE BIRDS, ANIMAL SKINS
5. (U) The Environmental Ministry (SEAM),with the support
of airport authorities, confiscated over 200 rare bird
species (all dead) and skins of land animals on January 17.
The birds and animal skins have an estimated value of USD 200
thousand. This initiative served a welcome demonstration of
SEAM's commitment to countering the illegal trafficking in
native species.
IDB OFFERS USD 1.2 MILLION FOR CHACO REGION
6. (U) The InterAmerican Development Bank approved USD 1.2
million in grants to strengthen biodiversity and sustainable
development in the Chaco Region of Paraguay, Argentina and
Bolivia last week. The project, which will be implemented by
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and the Desdel Chaco Foundation
(a local NGO),will develop conservation, land use, and river
basin plans, to include strengthening local institutions.
(NOTE: The Desdel Chaco has been a regular recipient of USAID
support, along with TNC in Paraguay. End Note).
CASON