BOLIVIA: LATEST FLAP DEFUSED

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 002700

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA: LATEST FLAP DEFUSED


Classified By: ECOPOL Chief Mike Hammer for reasons 1.4 b and d.


1. (C) Following a series of continuing verbal attacks on
the United States over the past few weeks, including
President Morales's UNGA speech asking that the UN be taken
out of the United States, the Ambassador when asked what he
made of a campaign to move the U.N., said that after all
these attacks it would not surprise him if Bolivia next asked
that we move Disney World (full text provided para 5 below).
This prompted a fierce retort from Foreign Minister David
Choquehuanca. FM Choquehuanca said publicly on October 4
that: "Ambassador Goldberg's statements are not dignified.
It is an offense to the entire country, not just to the
entire country, it is an offense to the entire indigenous
campesino movement of the continent. It is a racist
attitude, the declarations of the ambassador. We want him to
retract his statement. Until he does, he will not be a valid
interlocutor between our countries."


2. (C) Choquehuanca's deputy, Hugo Fernandez, called the
Ambassador to voice displeasure but mainly urged the
Ambassador to communicate through diplomatic channels. He
also apologized for the Foreign Minister's verbal attacks.
The Ambassador made clear that there was no/no intention to
offend anyone but that the Morales administration's now
constant stream of anti-U.S. rhetoric and actions was
increasingly making it difficult to promote positive ties.
The Ambassador said he would welcome increased communication
through diplomatic channels and hoped that the government
would likewise show restraint when speaking publicly. The
Deputy FM said he could not promise such restraint.


3. (C) On October 5, at a meeting requested by the
Ambassador to discuss the imposition of visas on Amcits (an
appointment made after the Foreign Minister declared the
Ambassador "invalido"),the MFA provided a diplomatic note
asking the Ambassador to "retract" his statement publicly and
urging that the Ambassador use diplomatic channels when
addressing his government interlocutors. The Ambassador
again registered our concerns over the escalating
anti-American rhetoric and actions, stressed that we remain
interested in trying to foster a productive working
relationship and noted that he would publicly state that he
did not intend to offend anyone. Then, upon exiting the MFA
the Ambassador addressed the media to convey this message,
adding that our relationship needed to be conducted through
mutual respect.


4. (C) Comment. Despite our best efforts to try to develop
a positive relationship with Evo and his government, he seems
intent on using the United States as his punching bag to
score political points domestically. Even if he realizes
that imposing visas, establishing ties with Iran, attacking
USAID and going after us at the UN strains the relationship,
he seems intent on continuing down this path. This was no
doubt pushed by Morales advisers from Caracas and Havana.
End Comment.

Ambassador's public comments on October 3
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5. (U) Question from the La Razon newspaper: Ambassador,
have you received any formal complaint regarding the alleged
mistreatment that President Morales received upon arrival at
the UN?

Answer: "No. We have not received any complaints through
diplomatic channels. I am sorry and we are sorry that the
group of Bolivians who traveled with the government felt that
they were mistreated, because we take very seriously our
obligation as hosts of the UN. It has been an honor to be
the host of the UN for 60 years and we are going to continue
treating our guests at the UN very, very well. Really, if
there were a problem, I don't know anything about it, because
we haven't received anything diplomatically."

Question from UNITEL (TV): Mr. Ambassador, two questions,
please. President Morales has suggested that the
headquarters of the UN should be changed(.
Answer: Given the attacks of the last few weeks, it wouldn't
surprise me if they also wanted to change Disney's
headquarters. We are good hosts of the UN. We take our
obligations as host very seriously. I think that the entire
world loves New York and wants the UN headquarters to stay
there. But, really, this is something that, well, I see more
in the newspaper than in any other place.
GOLDBERG