Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LAPAZ2587
2007-09-21 17:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
BOLIVIANS MUTE ON IAEA PLAN
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHLP #2587 2641742 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 211742Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5054 INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 7084 RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 4454 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 8349 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 5578 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 2804 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 2993 RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 4856 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 5438 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 0048 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0035 RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0056 RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0543 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 002587
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2027
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON KNNP IR IAEA MNUC PARM EUN BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIANS MUTE ON IAEA PLAN
REF: A. SECSTATE 129914
B. LA PAZ 2526
C. LA PAZ 2510
D. LA PAZ 2456
Classified By: EcoPol Chief Mike Hammer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 002587
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2027
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON KNNP IR IAEA MNUC PARM EUN BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIANS MUTE ON IAEA PLAN
REF: A. SECSTATE 129914
B. LA PAZ 2526
C. LA PAZ 2510
D. LA PAZ 2456
Classified By: EcoPol Chief Mike Hammer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to the Ruben
Vidaurre, Director of Multilateral Affairs, September 20.
Despite prior assurances that Bolivia would act to hold Iran
to it's "international commitments" and UN resolutions (ref
b),Vidaurre explained Bolivia's Vienna delegation was called
during the meeting by "high levels" in the Foreign Minister
and ordered to abstain from commenting on the IAEA-Iran
Action Plan. He claimed the delegation "fully understood"
and "did not disagree" with our arguments presented during
our September 11 demarche (ref b),which he forwarded to the
delegation. Vidaurre said he "no idea" where the delegation
will stand at the next IAEA meeting, but claimed it was more
likely the delegation would push back from a similar
abstention order. He claimed the delegation had a greater
sense of urgency since they understood it might be their last
chance to voice concerns about the plan and is "actively
discussing" the topic with leadership in La Paz. When asked
if he understood silence on the issue of Iran's nuclear
program could be interpreted as tacit support, Vidaurre
meekly muttered, "Yes it could be interpreted that way, but
it is out of our hands."
2. (C) Comment: Given the recent Bolivian government embrace
of Iranian relations (refs c and d) and propensity to stand
up U.S. policy for domestic (and Venezuelan) political
consumption, Post finds it likely the Bolivian delegation
will once again sit on its hands at the next IAEA meeting.
Despite his assurances that the Bolivian position might be
different the second time around, Vidaurre and the career
diplomatic corps in general is increasingly cut off from
decision making and information. Vidaurre claimed he only
found out about the IAEA gag order after the meeting was
over. When asked about President Morales' trip to the UN, a
clearly despondent Vidaurre could only repeat publicly
released information because "all those decisions are made in
the President's palace these days." End Comment.
GOLDBERG
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/21/2027
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON KNNP IR IAEA MNUC PARM EUN BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIANS MUTE ON IAEA PLAN
REF: A. SECSTATE 129914
B. LA PAZ 2526
C. LA PAZ 2510
D. LA PAZ 2456
Classified By: EcoPol Chief Mike Hammer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche to the Ruben
Vidaurre, Director of Multilateral Affairs, September 20.
Despite prior assurances that Bolivia would act to hold Iran
to it's "international commitments" and UN resolutions (ref
b),Vidaurre explained Bolivia's Vienna delegation was called
during the meeting by "high levels" in the Foreign Minister
and ordered to abstain from commenting on the IAEA-Iran
Action Plan. He claimed the delegation "fully understood"
and "did not disagree" with our arguments presented during
our September 11 demarche (ref b),which he forwarded to the
delegation. Vidaurre said he "no idea" where the delegation
will stand at the next IAEA meeting, but claimed it was more
likely the delegation would push back from a similar
abstention order. He claimed the delegation had a greater
sense of urgency since they understood it might be their last
chance to voice concerns about the plan and is "actively
discussing" the topic with leadership in La Paz. When asked
if he understood silence on the issue of Iran's nuclear
program could be interpreted as tacit support, Vidaurre
meekly muttered, "Yes it could be interpreted that way, but
it is out of our hands."
2. (C) Comment: Given the recent Bolivian government embrace
of Iranian relations (refs c and d) and propensity to stand
up U.S. policy for domestic (and Venezuelan) political
consumption, Post finds it likely the Bolivian delegation
will once again sit on its hands at the next IAEA meeting.
Despite his assurances that the Bolivian position might be
different the second time around, Vidaurre and the career
diplomatic corps in general is increasingly cut off from
decision making and information. Vidaurre claimed he only
found out about the IAEA gag order after the meeting was
over. When asked about President Morales' trip to the UN, a
clearly despondent Vidaurre could only repeat publicly
released information because "all those decisions are made in
the President's palace these days." End Comment.
GOLDBERG