CODEL REID: PRESIDENT DUARTE CALLS FOR US ENGAGEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 000989 SIPDIS SIPDIS WHA DAS CMCMULLEN, WHA/BSC MDRUCKER, BFRIEDMAN, KREAD, CCROFT E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/03/2027 TAGS: PREL SNAR ECON PGOV OVIP PA SUBJECT: CODEL REID: PRESIDENT DUARTE CALLS FOR US ENGAGEMENT Classified By: Ambassador James C. Cason; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. At turns charming and caustic, Paraguayan President Duarte held forth before CODEL Reid November 26. In an hour-plus meeting, Duarte expounded on free trade, anti-American sentiment, Chavez,s check-book populism, and the threats to democratic governance if elected leaders do not deliver economic growth with social peace. Duarte, with a voice tinged of anger and resentment, appealed to the bipartisan delegation for greater U.S. engagement -- starting with scholarships, anti-narcotics assistance and trade exceptions for Paraguay. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) Paraguayan President Nicanor Duarte Frutos received CODEL Reid at his Mburivicha Roga residence in Asuncion early the morning of November 26. President was accompanied by Vice President Francisco Oviedo Britez, Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez Lezcano, Economics Advisor (and MCC Threshold Program coordinator) Carlos Walde, Ambassador to the U.S. James Spaulding, and Military Forces Commander General Soto. Senators Reid, Cochran, Bingaman, Conrad, Dorgan, Crapo and Menendez were accompanied by Dr. (ADM) John Eisold, Marcel Lettre, Serena Hoy, Mike Castellano, Federico de Jesus, and Col. Mike Barbero. Ambassador and DCM (notetaker) also sat in on the 65-minute meeting. -------------- -------------- "FAIRER" TRADE BEGETS SOCIAL PEACE, BEGETS DEVELOPMENT... -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) In a clearly expansive mood, President Duarte opened the meeting with a warning. Social peace, he posited, was a precondition for progress in Latin America. And without it, he warned, there would be no growth, no development, no investment, not even those investments needed by those marginalized social groups. He called for greater international solidarity, especially in terms of free trade. Without social peace, he predicted democracy,s fate in the region was doomed, with the new century issuing in yet another cycle of chauvinism and military rule. Paraguay,s responsible fiscal and budgetary policies, he argued, were insufficient; they need to be paired with sustained economic growth that fostered social equity and fair development in order to maintain social peace. He credited his government from bringing Paraguay back from the brink of broad social conflict. ¶4. (C) Duarte challenged the United States to do more for South America. But "if we cannot even talk, we cannot do anything for our societies." As wonderful as the end of the Cold War was, he marked it as "the beginning of the isolation of the United States from Latin America," when the United States turned its gaze elsewhere, "to war and oil, not the concerns of the people of Latin America." Noting that politics "is not always pleasant" he said there is an undeniable "anti-American phobia" in the schools, with some seeing the United States as "the enemy." He called for "love and empathy" between the United States and the region, building a new alliance on the basis of a new international order and "fairer trade." ¶5. (C) Senator Reid thanked the President for seeing the delegation, which came to build on President Hayes, legacy of positive relations with Paraguay. He noted that his only two foreign trips since assuming his position were to Latin America, since "we need you as much as you need us." He also congratulated Paraguay,s current lead in the South American playoffs for the 2010 World Cup, noting his own son had played on 3 U.S. championship soccer teams. After introducing the bipartisan delegation, Reid thanked Ambassador Spaulding for his efforts in Washington and praised Ambassador Cason as "one of our prizes." -------------- "YOU ARE THE LEADERS. FOR NOW." -------------- ¶6. (C) Asked by Senator Cochran what specific policy changes he would urge on the United States, President Duarte highlighted reducing barriers to trade. He asserted that "if the United States lowers the flag, all others will follow." "If the United States really wants democracy and freedom to grow," it would support efforts for the Third World to grow economically, and have fair trade access. But instead, "Doha is just a game." The United States talks of open markets, liberalized trade and flexible labor, but closes its markets. It talks of the free flow of capital and goods, but when it comes to people, the U.S. only accepts those already educated by poor countries at great expense. Forty million Latin and African cotton farmers suffer because of USD 4 billion in U.S. subsidies. Asserting "it is better to be a cow in the United States than a person in the Third World," Duarte criticized USD 17/day subsidies to U.S. cattle and asked for a quota of more than one "first come first served" boatload of sugar from landlocked Paraguay. "The Washington Consensus? We laugh at it" as being without reciprocity. ¶7. (C) Alluding to ATPDEA, Duarte asserted the U.S. would give Paraguay a better trade deal if it produced cocaine. Although Paraguay produces the region,s best marijuana and is increasingly a major transit route for Andean cocaine, since it does not "buy missiles or finance subversion" the Andean nations get trade exceptions, not Paraguay. He claimed great successes for Paraguay in capturing "big fish" narcos, while its anti-drug agents police swim "through blood and fire" and operate with only three helicopters donated from Taiwan. "What does U.S. certification do for us? Bah!" He challenged the U.S. to provide greater anti-narcotics assistance and the same preferences the Andean nations get "and watch what we will do." Striking a philosophical pose, Duarte concluded, "You are the leaders of the world. For now. For now." All empires only last for a set period of time. Nietzsche spoke of the willingness to use power to preserve oneself. Duarte challenged the U.S. to use its power to extend its reach and maintain its dominance. -------------- "CHAVEZ IS NOT THE PROBLEM. IT IS YOU." -------------- ¶8. (C) Senator Bingaman asked for his views on the role, constructive or not, of Chavez on U.S. relations with Latin America. Citing a recent book he read, Duarte suggested the United States could not pass the buck, like a business owner passing the blame all the way down to the doorman. "Chavez is not the problem. It is you. For the U.S. forgot Latin America, no?" Ten or fifteen years ago, Latin Presidents clamored to see who was closer to the United States. Not now. Claiming not to defend Chavez, he said Chavez only follows the rules of power politics: "He who can maintain and expand his power, rules. One who cannot conquer or maintain power, fails..." As long as the United States distances itself from Latin America, Duarte asserted, Chavez will consolidate. "If I don,t want my wife, I can,t blame her lover. Chavez does what he has to -- just like Bush. Period." ¶9. (C) Senator Conrad asked Duarte what factors - trade? immigration? -- he thought contributed to his view that some saw the U.S. as "the enemy". Duarte asserted there was a general Latin, not just Paraguayan, sense of resentment. Because there is no solidarity or cooperation; the US had "lost its bearings" with Latin America. Saying he was not asking for handouts of milk and wheat, he cited (his boyhood memories of) JFK,s Alliance for Progress as the last sustained American effort in the Americas. Mexico provides 200 annual scholarships for Paraguayans, and 600 are currently studying medicine in Cuba. "And the United States cannot even give us 5 scholarships." Decrying US aid conditionality, he claimed the United States does not trust Latin governments yet will give money to "shameless NGOs" with no accountability. He stressed that Latin resentment was not towards the U.S. people, but towards the U.S administration, commerce and trade policies. Citing his own daughter,s schoolmates, he said the anti-U.S. reaction was "we,re not ignorant natives here in the Third World." In another philosophical tangent, Duarte cited Hegel as claiming that Latin America had no spirit. "But look at the Europeans, with their wars, the Nazi holocaust, Kosovo. And yet we here live in peace." This scientific and ideological domination by northern nations is felt and resented. Still, he claimed, "this is not gospel or dogma, just my opinion." ¶10. (C) Senator Dorgan asserted that, while the President identified some exceptions, it would be hard to find any nation with more open markets than the United States -- and the U.S. trade deficit rose by USD 2 billion every day as proof. Dorgan asked how prevalent that anti-U.S. "phobia" was. Duarte parried that "sure, I can buy caviar (sic) -- but I don,t want to. . . The United States, perspective is not OUR perspective. And you need to see it from ours." He noted that he is one of seven brothers, one of whom only finished sixth grade. "And he will never understand, or even eat, as I do." He again criticized U.S. subsidies: cotton, cattle, and oilseed. "You have far greater fiscal irresponsibility than us -- we read the internet news -- and yet you ask us to tighten our belts." Duarte stated Latins do not just want open international trade but a United States "that is not just a conquering military hegemon. You are more than that. Americans are hard-working people with good values. We don,t have a phobia of your people; we just don,t want you to be an omnipresent, all-knowing power with arrogant leadership." -------------- "DEAL OR NO DEAL?" -------------- ¶11. (C) Senator Crapo stated the U.S. shares the hope that Doha succeeds and that U.S. relations with Latin America and Paraguay improve. But does Paraguay have any intent to pursue a Free Trade Agreement with the United States while we pursue Doha, or do Paraguay,s MERCOSUR relationships prevent that? Duarte stated that Paraguay is part of MERCOSUR because no nation can advance alone in the globalized economy. But he shared the general view that FTAA is dead. And a bilateral FTA could be important only if it were "less asymmetrical". But he predicted one "would do nothing to consolidate Paraguay" because its industries were small and just consolidating. Paraguay still has to do as the US did: industrialization and the accumulation of capital first. Free trade in pharmaceuticals would wipe out Paraguay,s sector overnight. Saying it,s unreasonable to ask a street-corner kiosk owner to enter into a free trade agreement with the nation,s top shopping center, Duarte stated Paraguay needs "exceptions." -------------- DEMOCRACY UNDER THREAT -------------- ¶12. (C) Senator Menendez thanked the President for his candor, noting that he had read extensively of his views and underscored the desire for positive relations with Paraguay,s efforts to fight corruption and formalize the economy. He hoped the MCC helps Paraguay take advantage of the opportunity presented. He also hoped that the Paraguayan Congress approves the (Senate version) of the new Penal Code, including strong Intellectual Property Rights and anti-money laundering provisions. Noting he was proposing legislation for an Economic Fund for Latin America, he asked if market access would help improve health and education levels. Duarte agreed. Saying he feared democracy would not long endure without sustained growth, he lamented a recent opinion poll that showed that strongmen Stroessner, Pinochet, Franco, Getulio Vargas and Peron are still seen positively in their respective countries -- but not more recent democratic leaders. ¶13. (C) Warming to his theme, Duarte rattled off an impressive list of economic achievements during his tenure. Paraguay is no longer the country he inherited -- one "under siege" by the landless and homeless, with minimal reserves, 48 percent poverty, salaries being paid by external sources and ready to explode. In four years, he said, Paraguay paid off USD 300 million in debt, tripled revenues to USD 140 million per month, increased exports 113 percent and now pays all its accounts. And yet "a stupid NGO" (Transparency International/ Paraguay branch) whines about corruption indicators. Corporate tax rates have dropped from 30 to 10 percent, even as Paraguay,s VAT is the region,s lowest (at 10 percent); extreme poverty reduced to 28 percent, interest rates have dropped from as high as 60 percent to 37 percent, with some new 20-year loans as low as 12 percent. He had quadrupled governmental social investment, to USD 1.5 billion. His government, he concluded, achieved both growth and social peace, despite weak -- especially legislative and judicial -- institutions. Duarte underscored that the Threshold program was an excellent effort to strengthen Paraguay,s institutions, and that he shared his opinions "with respect." -------------- EDUCATION, ENGLISH AND SCHOLARSHIPS -------------- ¶14. (C) Senator Reid noted the President had painted a clear picture. He agreed that the U.S. must increase its involvement in the region. Rather than being afraid of Chavez, he said, the U.S. should see that competition as a challenge, one that we can respond to and overcome. Ambassador Cason agreed with Duarte that the US needs to continue to inform Paraguayans of our efforts. But we also need to educate and prepare Paraguayans to learn English in order to take advantage of the many U.S. scholarships available. He noted the Embassy had already provided 500 scholarships so that underprivileged yet accomplished students could learn English and that Kansas provides tuition breaks for Paraguayans. DUARTE lightened, and noted that relations with the U.S. had markedly improved under Ambassador Cason -- "whom I use as a crutch" when campaigning against former Vice President Castiglioni for being so close to the Americans. -------------- ALL OVER THE MAP -------------- ¶15. (C) Duarte concluded by claiming to be a moderate and a friend. He cautioned that Latin populism without a checkbook might be "interesting." But Latin populism WITH a checkbook is "fascinating -- and Chavez has a checkbook." He then veered into a riff on the Spanish-Chavez tiff ("Por que no te calles?") at the recent Ibero-American Summit. He haughtily declared rhetorically, "What is a King doing at a meeting of democratic presidents? He should go hang out with his European peers. We,ve been elected by our people -- not by our DNA." Shifting yet again, he noted a nation,s foreign policy responds to domestic interests. Latins will support Chavez, he claimed, because he buys for them things people want; we can all question the quality of medical training in Cuba, but at least Cuba is providing it. After all, it was the "ideological (political) gesture" that counted, and who doesn,t have such instincts -- including Chicagoans. Reiterating his hope that the U.S. would provide more scholarships, he told the delegation that President Bush once called and asked him to vote against Cuba at the UN; he said he told the President he would not do that "unless Bush sends me a plane for 600 to study in Michigan." -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶16. (C) Duarte was in classic form: at turns bombastic, haughty, and sometimes reflective, even if grating. He was also in campaign mode (he left straight from this meeting to political rallies on behalf of his candidate in December,s Colorado primaries) and used a number of stump phrases and anecdotes post has heard before, although never all at once and with such force. But underneath the style and special pleadings was at least one hard truth; to paraphrase the Maryland Lottery: "You Gotta Play to Win." And the United States in Latin America today risks being stuck on the sidelines, not even in the game as it should be. The CODEL asked for a frank discussion of the President,s views -- and they got it. ¶17. (U) CODEL Reid cleared this message following their departure from post. Please visit us at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/asuncion CASON