RIO GROUP SUMMIT RSVPS SLOW IN COMING

C O N F I D E N T I A L GEORGETOWN 000207 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/21/2017 TAGS: PREL ECIN XM GY SUBJECT: RIO GROUP SUMMIT RSVPS SLOW IN COMING REF: GEORGETOWN 109 Classified By: AMBASSADOR DAVID M. ROBINSON FOR REASON 1.4(D) ¶1. (C) Summary: With the 19th Rio Group Summit less than a week away, Guyana has only received one definite confirmation of attendance from a head of state. Although President Jagdeo and the local press have touted the Summit as a prestigious event in its own right and an important "dry run" for the upcoming Cricket World Cup (CWC),logistical concerns and apparent low interest among Rio Group members are likely to hamper the Summit's success. End Summary. ¶2. (C) Attendance: Minister of Foreign Affairs Rudy Insanally told the Ambassador that Guyana had received only one definite confirmation--from the President of the Dominican Republic, who has to attend because he is taking over the rotating chairmanship. Insanally was not "sanguine" about further participation by heads of state, but did anticipate that Chile's President Bachelet, Brazil's President Lula, and Venezuela's President Chavez were probable attendees. Head of the Pro Tempore Rio Group Secretariat Ambassador Rudy Collins was more optimistic about turnout, telling EmbOff that "several" countries were already sending advance teams. Collins said that he would consider it a success if Guyana could get half of the 19 invitees to participate at the head of state level. ¶3. (C) Agenda: Noting that the Rio Group had outgrown its original advisory mandate, Insanally said that GOG had two main aims for the Summit--to bring CARICOM and South America closer together, and to introduce discussion on social themes such as health, education, and poverty reduction. According to the recently released draft agenda, delegates will also discuss asymmetric relationships within the region, as well as an EU-Rio Group Ministerial meeting planned for April in the Dominican Republic, where Haiti is expected to be a major topic. (Note: Post will send draft agenda to WHA/CAR. End Note). ¶4. (C) Logistics: The majority of meetings are slated for the Chinese-built International Conference Center, which has suffered a host of technical problems. The majority of delegates will be accommodated at a hotel which is still under construction, and which is still plagued with structural, plumbing, and telephone problems. ¶5. (C) Comment: Guyana sees the Summit as a chance to boost its international status generally and within CARICOM specifically. A low turnout or a meeting marred by technical defects will not serve that purpose. Insanally seemed beleaguered rather than buoyed by the large events the GOG is trying to pull off in quick succession. End Comment. Robinson