VP TO "INFORM" U.S. CONGRESS OF "USAID CONSPIRACY"

UNCLAS LA PAZ 002407 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS FOR H - HAGEN, FOR DOL PASS TO ANA ASLAN, FOR MCC PASS TO AMY KIRSCHENBAUM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON BL SUBJECT: VP TO "INFORM" U.S. CONGRESS OF "USAID CONSPIRACY" REF: A. LA PAZ 2357 ¶B. LA PAZ 2387 ¶C. LA PAZ 2400 - - - - Summary - - - - ¶1. (SBU) Summary. Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera announced on August 30 that he will use his September 4-6 visit to the United States to inform the U.S. Congress and the American people about how U.S. assistance is "used to manipulate Bolivia's domestic politics and conspire against the Morales government," arguing that he is certain that both are simply unaware of the problem. Garcia Linera's comments follow Government Minister Juan Ramon Quintana's inflammatory press briefing on August 28 where he provided the government's "evidence" that "substantiated" the President and Vice President's recent series of false accusations against USAID (refs A and B). ¶2. (SBU) Reeling from a backlash of criticism for the government's outrageous attacks on USAID (ref C),the Vice President has tried to assuage Bolivian business interests that there will be no consequence from the government's recent attacks on USAID and that it will not adversely affect ATPDEA's extension prospects. Furthermore, as people have questioned the substance of the attack on USAID, the government has dug-in and tried to appear resolute and confident in confronting the "empire." Garcia Linera is clearly hoping that he can get someone on the Hill to say that they will look into assistance to Bolivia so that he can substantiate his claim that Washington does not know what Embassy La Paz is doing in country. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The Vice President's Statements - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶3. (SBU) The Vice President explained that he did not think that the Bolivian government's recent string of accusations against the USG would have any negative consequence in terms of U.S. assistance or trade benefits. Arguing that the U.S. Congress is simply unaware of U.S. assistance programs Garcia Linera stated, "I consider that when they (Congress and the American people) have the documents, they will rethink and revise their attitude about some (Embassy) intermediary employees." The Vice President proceeded to argue that he was "confident that the Congress and the American people will understand our reasons." Referring to ATPDEA, the Vice President stated, "ATPDEA does not have any reason to be at risk, nor our commercial relations." - - - - Comment - - - - ¶4. (SBU) The Vice President's latest public comments regarding informing the U.S. Congress are meant for domestic consumption. Many in the press and opposition have publicly blasted the government for using the accusations against USAID as a means of distracting the public from the government's own problems. To suppress the criticism, Garcia Linera had little choice but to state publicly that he will make the government's case to the U.S. Congress. The Bolivian government may be seeking to exploit differences between our legislative and executive branches for its own political gain. Garcia Linera will undoubtedly try to elicit any comment he can from a member of Congress to substantiate his government's patently false allegations. End Comment. URS