First-Ever Cabinet Level Visit to Suriname:

C O N F I D E N T I A L PARAMARIBO 000543 SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D - C O P Y OF PARAMARIBO 540 (CHANGES IN PARA 5 AND ADDEE ADDED) SIPDIS From Ambassador Lisa Bobbie Schreiber Hughes DEPT FOR WHA/CAR AND WHA/PPC DEPT FOR INR BOB CARHART DEPT FOR ISN/FO FOR JOAN CORBETT E.O. 12958; DECLASSIFY 10/13/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV OVIP NS SUBJECT: First-Ever Cabinet Level Visit to Suriname: Secretary Gates meets President Venetiaan SIPDIS REF: (A) Paramaribo 501 (Scenesetter and Read-Ahead) (B) Paramaribo 509 (Briefer Gates/Fernald) (C) Paramaribo 510 (Briefer Gates/Venetiaan) (D) SOUTHCOME FOR LEWIS AMSELEM AND COL PAT RICHARDSON ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. In this unprecedented half-hour meeting in Paramaribo between Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Surinamese President Ronald Venetiaan, participants discussed the overwhelmingly positive week-long visit of the hospital ship, USNS Comfort, as well as the importance to Suriname of this first-ever U.S. Cabinet level visit. Venetiaan also mentioned the historically friendly bilateral relationship dating from WWII, and current difficulties associated with "changing times": the global war on terror, economic issues associated with accession to the WTO, and global environmental concerns. Both Venetiaan and SecDef Gates expressed satisfaction with the positive state of USG/GOS military-to-military relations, with Secretary Gates noting the planned New Horizons SIPDIS infrastructure support mission in 2008. Gates also pledged continued support through IMET and FMF. Secretary Gates expressed hope that the GOS would sign an article 98 agreement with the USG if, as Venetiaan stated in his October 1 annual speech to Parliament, Suriname would become a signatory to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2008. Although acknowledging his desire to sign a "bilateral agreement" (Article 98) with the USG prior to becoming an ICC signatory, Venetiaan emphasized that this would be politically sensitive, and entreated Gates for "flexibility". Gates also raised the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Grounds proposal to establish a tropical test center in Suriname. The discussion closed with both Gates and Venetiaan acknowledging Suriname's "dark days" of 1980s military dictatorship, the importance of democracy and respect for the rule of law, and the further professionalization of Suriname's military. End Summary. -------------- -------------- First-Ever U.S. Cabinet Level Visit to Suriname -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Conducted in the Presidential Palace in Paramaribo, Suriname, the half-hour October 6, 2007 meeting between Secretary Gates and Surinamese President Venetiaan was the fortunate consequence of USNS Comfort being present in Suriname for the final leg of its 4-month, 12-country deployment. As the Defense Secretary had traveled to Suriname to express appreciation to the staff, crew and medical personnel aboard the Comfort, the Republic of Suriname reaped the unprecedented benefit of a U.S. Cabinet level visit to this tiny South American nation. U.S. participants: Secretary of Defense Robert Gates SIPDIS LTG Peter Chiarelli (USA) Senior Military Assistant Paul McHale, ASD, Homeland Defense & American Security Affairs Lisa Bobbie Schreiber Hughes, U.S. Ambassador to Suriname (notetaker). Surinamese participants: President Runaldo Ronald Venetiaan Defense Minister Ivan Fernald MinDef Permanent Secretary Dennis Kamperveen Central Intelligence and Security Agency (CIVD) Chief Colonel Johan Ceder -------------- -------------- That was then; this is now: Surinamese President describes the bilateral relationship -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) President Venetiaan joined Defense Minister Fernald in praising the visit of the hospital ship USNS Comfort, noting that many Surinamers had benefited "in a good, positive way." Venetiaan further acknowledged the honor of such a high-level U.S. delegation visiting Suriname, noting that the MOD was very pleased with the SecDef visit, and that Suriname's military looks to continue good cooperation, particularly through the U.S. Southern Command. (Note: indicative of the importance he placed on the Gates visit, Venetiaan had elevated security arrangements by assigning responsibility to the Chief of Surinamese Defense Forces Colonel Ernst Mercuur, an unprecedented step.) ¶4. (SBU) Reaching back through history, President Venetiaan highlighted Suriname's strategic importance to the United States starting from WWII and continuing through the Korean War, when U.S. aircraft landed at the (U.S.- built) international airfield at Zanderij, 48 kilometers south of Paramaribo. Economically, Suriname's rich bauxite deposits allowed partnership with the U.S. through ALCOA subsidiary SURALCO (Surinamese aluminum had been critical to the war effort). ¶5. (C) Turning to the present, Venetiaan let his political biases show, noting that "times have changed": global strategies and the war against terror bring expensive requirements for airport and harbor security. Economically, Suriname struggles to cope with WTO rules and requirements, and encounters difficulty with "subsidies" on commodities (e.g., rice) imposed by richer economies. Also of concern for Suriname is maintenance of the global environment. In this context the GOS is pleased that the U.S. is "now" joining the global environmental struggle; more industrialized countries still have to come forward to do their part. As for Suriname, 15% of the forest interior is being preserved for biodiversity and oxygen production. -------------- -------------- The U.S. is here to help, but also needs Surinamese cooperation: Secretary Gates describes the relationship, future opportunities -------------- -------------- ¶6. (SBU) In response, Secretary Gates noted that the crew of USNS Comfort had been proud to partner with the Ministries of Health and Defense to provide health care to the community. It was "fitting" that Suriname was the last stop on the Comfort's 4-month, 12-nation deployment, during which over 100,000 people were helped. Of course, programs such as FMF and IMET continue to help; the SecDef assured Venetiaan and Fernald that he wants to continue these programs. The New Horizons infrastructure support program will be the next big humanitarian mission to Suriname, scheduled for 2008. Partnership with Suriname also included collaboration in the fight against narcotics and arms trafficking, and terrorism. Also proposed for President Venetiaan's approval is a tropical test facility in Suriname, where the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Grounds would be able to study how army equipment and vehicles are able to function in a jungle environment. This would be a limited facility, but could provide additional opportunities to strengthen the relationship. Secretary Gates went on to note that one obstacle to further mil-to- mil collaboration comes from the U.S. Congress and its requirement that the USG sign Article 98 agreements with all countries that are signatories to the International Criminal Court (ICC). He acknowledged the USG understands such agreements can be politically delicate, stated that the USG is prepared to be patient, and assured Venetiaan that DoD humanitarian support programs would continue, even in the absence of an Article 98 agreement. -------------- -------------- President Venetiaan: Suriname needs the U.S., and wants to cooperate on Article 98, but the issue is politically difficult -------------- -------------- ¶7. (SBU) Venetiaan confirmed that Suriname is, in fact, in the process of joining the International Criminal Court (ICC): "Members of Parliament are pushing for it; given our recent history (a reference to the military dictatorship of the 1980's),we also think we must join." The Surinamese President confirmed that he and others (likely Minister of Defense Fernald) advocated signing an Article 98 agreement before acceding to the ICC, but cautioned that any such decision would first require Parliamentary approval. Venetiaan noted that the GOS will look to the USG for assistance to help Suriname through this process, and Secretary Gates meets President Venetiaan SIPDIS relayed his understanding that some countries had received a "waiver" from the U.S. in their discussions on possible constructs for the agreement; what factors could be included, and what could perhaps be excluded. ¶8. (C) By way of explanation for his willingness to accede to an Article 98 agreement (something which otherwise would appear to run counter to his natural predispositions), Venetiaan admitted that Suriname needs the United States if the country encounters "heavy weather." This was probably a reference to the flooding emergency that Suriname encountered in 2006, and for which the USG provided assistance. From experience with its traditional donor, the Dutch, the GOS knows that lengthy GON parliamentary procedures impede quick action. Consequently, Suriname needs to keep the United States as a partner. The Surinamese President went on to note that his annual October 1 statement to Parliament recognized the good initiatives from the U.S. military in the area of health care. Venetiaan coyly maintained that his reference to U.S. support balanced his public recognition in that same speech of "other support" (i.e., Cuban-provided, Venezuelan-funded eye care through "Operacion Milagro"). -------------- -------------- Gates and Venetiaan: Partnership to further strengthen democracy in Suriname is good; both recall 1980s military dictatorship -------------- -------------- ¶9. (SBU) The SecDef observed that it was "interesting" to be in Suriname, reminiscing that he had been Deputy Director of the CIA when Suriname was not a democracy, prior to 1992. Gates congratulated Venetiaan on the progress made in establishing a democracy, and acknowledged that the military is working hard to become ever more professional. Venetiaan agreed that his country had gone through "dark times", noting that Suriname must still take care of some aspects left unresolved from that period (referring to the upcoming "December 1982" murder trial, now scheduled to begin November 30). The Surinamese President said that the accused would (finally) be brought before the court, and taken to task for their part in those dark moments. "But," he added, "we are still pleased that our country has an army serving a democracy. So far, since 1988-1992, we've kept things (democracy) on track. We place great importance on democratic rule and the rule of law. We think your visit also will be seen in that context" Venetiaan was likely alluding to the Gates visit as possibly useful to the GOS in sending a message to Desi Bouterse, infamous ex-military dictator, current Parliamentarian, and prime suspect in the December 1982 murders, that there is international support for the long- delayed trial to go forward). -------------- Ambassador's Comment -------------- ¶10. (C) The importance for Suriname of Defense Secretary Gates' meeting with President Venetiaan, although admittedly not the primary reason for the visit, cannot be overstated. In this tiny nation which hasn't received high level USG policy attention since the "dark days" of the 1980's and Desi Bouterse's military dictatorship, Suriname's democratically-elected government has consistently maintained a standoffish, subtly disapproving attitude towards the U.S. Significantly, President Venetiaan reached back to the 1940's and 50's for examples of close, collaborative relations between our two countries. Today, he is more likely to highlight positive relations with Cuba, Venezuela, and China. ¶11. (C) It is precisely for this reason that the goodwill visits of Secretary Gates and the USNS Comfort are so important for Suriname, and the region. Although tiny, Suriname is a participating member of the UN, OAS, CARICOM, NAM, and the Islamic Conference. The attitude of the Surinamese President is likely replicated in many other tiny, similarly-situated nations. Although biases such as Venetiaan's will not change in the short term, our longer term strategy is to demonstrate our goodwill through deeds. Our ultimate objective is to transform our bilateral relationship into an overall positive partnership. The visits of Secretary Gates and the USNS Comfort provide important bricks in the foundation for this long-term strategy. End comment. ¶12. (U) ASD HD & ASA Paul McHale has reviewed this cable. SCHREIBER HUGHES