DOMESTIC BACKLASH TO IRAN/VISA ISSUES BEGINS

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 002526

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/14/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON BL
SUBJECT: DOMESTIC BACKLASH TO IRAN/VISA ISSUES BEGINS

REF: LA PAZ 02511

Classified By: EcoPol Chief Mike Hammer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Although not as massive, immediate, or united as
Bolivian domestic defense of USAID after the Bolivian
Government attacked it in August, public opinion is beginning
to come out against the Bolivian Government's September 11
announcements on establishing diplomatic ties with Iran and
implementing new requirements for U.S. tourist visas that go
beyond reciprocity. Opposition civic leaders from Santa
Cruz, national opposition political leaders, and the tourism
industry are beginning to react to the surprise
announcements, which appear to have been made over the
objections of some senior members of the government,
including the Vice President (ref a).


2. (C) By coincidence the announcements were made shortly
before the Ambassador hosted a lunch for a group of Bolivian
senators. During that lunch, Senate Foreign Relations
Commission Chairman Tito Hoz de Vila (Podemos, Cochabamba)
said he would use the opposition's hold on the Senate to act
as a check against executive overreach. Two days later, on
September 13, the Commission called for the Foreign Minister
to provide an explanation of the decision to unilaterally
establish diplomatic relations with Iran and to require new
visa requirements for U.S. citizens. Although Hoz de Vila
publicly endorsed the idea of moving toward visa reciprocity,
he criticized the "barbaric" decision to place the U.S. in
the same visa category as Angola, Somalia, and Yemen, adding
it would only hurt the Bolivian tourist industry. He also
cautioned that Iran is in violation of UN Security Council
resolutions.


3. (C) President Evo Morales made public comments September
12 to calm fears about Iranian relations, explaining members
of his own government have expressed "fears" about
establishing diplomatic ties with Tehran. He said even
"pro-imperialistic" countries such as Colombia and Chile
maintain diplomatic relations with Iran "with no problems."
Cuban Ambassador Rafael Dausa also chimed in September 12,
maintaining that Cuba, Venezuela, and Bolivia are an "axis of
peace" that rejects the U.S. "imperial mandates," which is
why the U.S. stigmatizes them for decisions such as seeking
diplomatic relations with Iran. (Comment: This despite the
fact that there has been no such U.S. stigma directed at
Bolivia for the decision. To the contrary, the Ambassador
said that although we have well-known outstanding concerns
about Iran's nuclear ambitions and links to terrorism,
Bolivia is a sovereign country that can have diplomatic
relations with whatever country it wants and we hope the
decision won't adversely affect relations with the U.S. The
"axis of peace" is obviously trying to advance a Davids vs.
Goliath paradigm with no basis in reality. End Comment.)

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COMMENT
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4. (C) Comment: Evo appears to have underestimated the
importance Bolivians, even some within his own
administration, place on relations with the U.S. despite a
month-plus of constant "anti-imperialist" jabbing. The GOB
is already dancing on the visa issue, throwing out confusing
statements about being able to process the visa at the
airport or border, later explaining it would have to be
processed or at least started through Bolivian consulates in
the U.S. We continue to ask for clarification. End Comment.
GOLDBERG