GOA URGES GREATER SENIOR-LEVEL ENGAGEMENT ON HAITI

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 000186 SIPDIS SIPDIS P-STAFF FOR HEIDI BRONKE WHA/CAR FOR TIMOTHY RYAN WHA/BSC FOR BLAKENEY, RADETSKY, AND MOSS E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2017 TAGS: OVIP PREL EAID PGOV EFIN UNAUS HA EUN SUBJECT: GOA URGES GREATER SENIOR-LEVEL ENGAGEMENT ON HAITI Classified By: AMBASSADOR E. ANTHONY WAYNE FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. This is an action request. See para 3. ¶2. (C) Argentine Vice Foreign Minister Roberto Garcia Moritan called for increased senior-level dialogue on Haiti during a January 30 meeting with Ambassador. He extended a dinner invitation to Under Secretary for Political Affairs Burns with Argentine, Brazilian and Chilean (ABC) counterparts on Thursday, February 8 to discuss Haiti, if it fits in U/S Burns's schedule. He noted recent ABC efforts to keep Haiti on the frontburner, including FM Taiana's meeting with UN SYG Ban Ki-moon on the issue. Garcia Moritan asserted that Argentina and other countries with troops in Haiti remain committed to Haiti's stability and democratic transition. However, Haiti's main challenge now is providing internal security, and Argentine law prohibits its military from acting as a police (reftel). -------------- An Invitation to Dinner -------------- ¶3. (C) Garcia Moritan asked if U/S Burns,s schedule permitted a dinner in Buenos Aires with the VFMs of Argentina, Brazil, and Chile on Thursday, February 8, to discuss Haiti. Ambassador stated that he would inform Washington of the invitation. (Comment: Given the lack of coordination among the three countries, however, post believes the meeting is just as likely not to happen as it is to happen. Post requests Department guidance on whether to pursue such a meeting.) -------------- ABC Efforts to Keep Haiti on the Frontburner -------------- ¶4. (C) Garcia Moritan observed that GOA dialogue with the U.S. on Haiti has been infrequent and asserted that the UN should pay greater attention to the country. He asserted that the conference call on Haiti among Foreign Ministers (which was taking place during the meeting) and the February 1 meeting with the Haiti Key Players in Washington were very positive steps. He suggested that there be a face-to-face meeting between senior-level people who are able to make decisions to take the discussion further. To address this, he noted that FM Taiana has met with UN SYG Ban Ki-moon to highlight the importance of UN involvement in Haiti, and Brazil's Foreign Minister Amorim will soon meet with his Canadian counterpart. He added that Argentina is considering a further meeting with France and Canada. ¶5. (C) Garcia Moritan asserted that Argentina, Brazil and Chile share similar views and work closely on Haiti. In addition, he said, Argentina has organized a regular mechanism for dialogue called the "9 plus 2" which brings together Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense officials from the nine countries that have troops in Haiti (reftel). The group first met in Buenos Aires in August 2006 and is scheduled to meet again in Lima, Peru on February 15. UN SRSG to Haiti Mulet and OAS SYG Insulza will participate in the Lima meeting. Garcia Moritan asserted that all have the political will to work and contribute to Haiti's stability and democratic transition. -------------- -- Haiti's Attitude on Taiwan Complicates MINUSTAH Renewal -------------- -- ¶6. (C) Garcia Moritan noted that Haiti's position on Taiwan has made it more difficult to convince China to agree to a 12-month mandate renewal for MINUSTAH. He stated that he intends to urge his Brazilian and Chilean counterparts to travel with him to Haiti to meet with President Preval and Prime Minister Alexis to discuss the "GOH,s attitude" towards China. The GOA has raised the issue with Preval over the phone, but believes it would be best to deliver the message in person together with Brazil and Chile. -------------- -------------- MINUSTAH Needs to Focus on Internal Security; GOA Troops Unable to Help -------------- -------------- ¶7. (C) Garcia Moritan reiterated Argentina's concerns over the Haitian National Police's ability to maintain law and order and stated that the situation on the ground will require a greater emphasis on providing internal security. He underscored that Argentine law prohibits its troops from doing so because the military can not act as a police force (reftel). Ambassador stated that he would relay these concerns back to Washington, and noted that the February 1 Key Players Meeting in Washington and U/S Burns's February 8-9 visit to Argentina would be excellent opportunities to continue discussing these issues. WAYNE