Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LIMA276
2007-01-31 17:24:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Lima
Cable title:
NEW GOP POINT MAN ON PTPA GOES TO WASHINGTON
how-toVZCZCXYZ0007 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHPE #0276 0311724 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 311724Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY LIMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3792 RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASH DC PRIORITY RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 4319 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 7199 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 2769 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0123 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ JAN PANAMA 0810 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 0979 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 1090 RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS LIMA 000276
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR E, EB, EB/TPP, WHA/AND
PASS TO USTR FOR VERONEAU, EISSENSTAT, HARMON
COMMERCE FOR MCAMERON
TREASURY FOR JEWELL, SHWARZMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON EAGR PGOV USTR PE
SUBJECT: NEW GOP POINT MAN ON PTPA GOES TO WASHINGTON
REF: LIMA 0129
UNCLAS LIMA 000276
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR E, EB, EB/TPP, WHA/AND
PASS TO USTR FOR VERONEAU, EISSENSTAT, HARMON
COMMERCE FOR MCAMERON
TREASURY FOR JEWELL, SHWARZMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON EAGR PGOV USTR PE
SUBJECT: NEW GOP POINT MAN ON PTPA GOES TO WASHINGTON
REF: LIMA 0129
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: David Lemor, the GOP's de facto point man
on the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA) told us
January 19 that the GOP would now take a more internally
coordinated and energetic approach in pushing for U.S.
Congressional approval of the agreement. He travels to
Washington February 1 to take up his new duties as the Trade
Ministry's representative at the Peruvian Embassy, and told
us he had President Garcia's support. He said he expected
Hernando de Soto, President Garcia's "special envoy" named in
August 2006, to now focus on the domestic implementation of
the PTPA. The GOP has just retained veteran Washington
attorney Thomas Boggs to help with the Congressional effort,
and Lemor will also bring up additional support staff for the
effort from Lima. Charge urged him to work closely with
Washington agencies and to coordinate closely on key issues
such as labor. END SUMMARY.
TRADE MINISTRY IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT
--------------
2. (SBU) Lemor (bio reported reftel) told Charge that while
Peru's Ambassador to the U.S. Felipe Ortiz de Zevallos would
be heading the mission, he himself would be coordinating the
GOP's day to day campaign in Washington. He confirmed that
lobbying firm Patton Boggs had been hired by the GOP at some
considerable expense, and that veteran lobbyist Thomas Boggs
would be personally involved. Lemor said he would be
bringing three outside academics to assist him in Washington.
3. (SBU) Lemor said that Presidential envoy Hernando de
Soto, who had openly complained about how frustrating the
task of lobbying for the PTPA had been, would focus his
efforts on domestic implementation of the PTPA. Lemor opined
that de Soto had had some difficulty working effectively with
the various ministries, especially the trade ministry. He
also said that the locus of control on this current effort
would be in the Trade Ministry.
4. (SBU) Lemor said that President Garcia told him he would
be willing to make a call to Washington if necessary. Lemor
said he thought he could count on the pro-FTA ministers in
the cabinet to support him with the President if necessary.
That list includes Transport and Telecoms Minister Veronica
Zavala, Production Minister Rafael Rey and Housing Minister
Hernan Garrido-Lecca.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (SBU) Lemor's presence in Washington clearly puts the
Trade Ministry in the driver's seat for the GOP's efforts on
the PTPA. Lemor said he would likely spend at least six
months in Washington, to be extended to a year. Charge urged
Lemor to be in touch with the broad range of Washington
agencies as he made his rounds in Washington, such as
Treasury, Commerce and State, in addition to USTR. She also
told Lemor that it was important to keep his eye on the kinds
of political developments that could arise in Peru that would
bring the PTPA negative publicity on the Hill.
POWERS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR E, EB, EB/TPP, WHA/AND
PASS TO USTR FOR VERONEAU, EISSENSTAT, HARMON
COMMERCE FOR MCAMERON
TREASURY FOR JEWELL, SHWARZMAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD ECON EAGR PGOV USTR PE
SUBJECT: NEW GOP POINT MAN ON PTPA GOES TO WASHINGTON
REF: LIMA 0129
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: David Lemor, the GOP's de facto point man
on the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA) told us
January 19 that the GOP would now take a more internally
coordinated and energetic approach in pushing for U.S.
Congressional approval of the agreement. He travels to
Washington February 1 to take up his new duties as the Trade
Ministry's representative at the Peruvian Embassy, and told
us he had President Garcia's support. He said he expected
Hernando de Soto, President Garcia's "special envoy" named in
August 2006, to now focus on the domestic implementation of
the PTPA. The GOP has just retained veteran Washington
attorney Thomas Boggs to help with the Congressional effort,
and Lemor will also bring up additional support staff for the
effort from Lima. Charge urged him to work closely with
Washington agencies and to coordinate closely on key issues
such as labor. END SUMMARY.
TRADE MINISTRY IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT
--------------
2. (SBU) Lemor (bio reported reftel) told Charge that while
Peru's Ambassador to the U.S. Felipe Ortiz de Zevallos would
be heading the mission, he himself would be coordinating the
GOP's day to day campaign in Washington. He confirmed that
lobbying firm Patton Boggs had been hired by the GOP at some
considerable expense, and that veteran lobbyist Thomas Boggs
would be personally involved. Lemor said he would be
bringing three outside academics to assist him in Washington.
3. (SBU) Lemor said that Presidential envoy Hernando de
Soto, who had openly complained about how frustrating the
task of lobbying for the PTPA had been, would focus his
efforts on domestic implementation of the PTPA. Lemor opined
that de Soto had had some difficulty working effectively with
the various ministries, especially the trade ministry. He
also said that the locus of control on this current effort
would be in the Trade Ministry.
4. (SBU) Lemor said that President Garcia told him he would
be willing to make a call to Washington if necessary. Lemor
said he thought he could count on the pro-FTA ministers in
the cabinet to support him with the President if necessary.
That list includes Transport and Telecoms Minister Veronica
Zavala, Production Minister Rafael Rey and Housing Minister
Hernan Garrido-Lecca.
COMMENT
--------------
5. (SBU) Lemor's presence in Washington clearly puts the
Trade Ministry in the driver's seat for the GOP's efforts on
the PTPA. Lemor said he would likely spend at least six
months in Washington, to be extended to a year. Charge urged
Lemor to be in touch with the broad range of Washington
agencies as he made his rounds in Washington, such as
Treasury, Commerce and State, in addition to USTR. She also
told Lemor that it was important to keep his eye on the kinds
of political developments that could arise in Peru that would
bring the PTPA negative publicity on the Hill.
POWERS