Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07QUITO158
2007-01-19 19:17:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Quito
Cable title:
GARCIA/USDEL BILAT: PERU'S QUIXOTIC MISSION
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C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000158
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: TEN YEARS
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR EC
SUBJECT: GARCIA/USDEL BILAT: PERU'S QUIXOTIC MISSION
Classified By: PolOff Erik Martini for reasons 1.4 (b&d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000158
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: TEN YEARS
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR EC
SUBJECT: GARCIA/USDEL BILAT: PERU'S QUIXOTIC MISSION
Classified By: PolOff Erik Martini for reasons 1.4 (b&d)
1. (C) Summary: Peruvian President Alan Garcia met with U.S.
Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez on the margins of
President Rafael Correa's inauguration ceremony. Garcia
raised ATPA, the U.S./Peru free trade agreement and Peru's
lonely opposition to Chavez in South America. End Summary.
Background
--------------
2. (SBU) On the margins of the Correa presidential swearing
in ceremony, President Garcia met for 20 minutes privately
with Secretary Gutierrez and Ambassador Jewell. Also present
at the meeting was Peru's Ambassador to Ecuador Vicente Rojas.
Garcia Leads With Trade
--------------
3. (C) President Garcia opened the meeting praising the
recent visit by CoDel Reid to Peru. Garcia said Senator Reid
had frankly told him that while not enthusiastic about free
trade agreements, he would "carefully consider" Peru's FTA.
Garcia said Senator Reid told him he thought ATPA should be
extended for three more years. Secretary Gutierrez responded
that the Administration was committed to working for passage
of the Peru FTA.
Garcia: Correa, South America Pulled Toward Chavez
-------------- --------------
4. (C) Asked for his views about President Correa, Garcia
said he thought Correa was being "pulled to the left but
wanted to find the center." Chavez and Castro are "very
clever opponents," he said. Garcia recommended that the USG
signal redlines with Correa but suggested we refrain from
"harping" on issues of concern. ALBA, the Venezuelan
alternative to U.S. FTAs, must be avoided at all costs, he
said. Garcia complained that Peru cannot be the "Don
Quixote" of South America tilting alone against Chavez; the
U.S. should signal its "good faith" by approving Peru's FTA.
Peru would send an ambassador back to Venezuela.
5. (C) President Garcia then reviewed quickly other South
American governments' attitudes toward Chavez. He dismissed
Bolivia as "bought out" and Argentina as a "leftist
government from the 1960s." Chile was "playing both sides of
the issue," he said, due to "Bachelet's internal situation"
and Colombia was mired in internal problems and human rights
problems with Europe.
6. (C) Garcia reserved his harshest criticism for Brazil and
President Lula da Silva. He characterized da Silva as
"completely complicit" in the anti-U.S. antics of Chavez. He
claimed Brazil had acted to undermine Peru's relations with
Mexico, Chile and Asia, and Brazilian FM Amorim has said the
Community of Andean Nations has no reason to exist. Garcia
said Lula was dominated by his adviser on foreign relations,
Marco Aurelio Garcia, who Garcia alleged "on the best
authority" is a Cuban agent.
Comment
--------------
7. (C) Garcia was eager for the meeting, held in a private
room within the confines of Congress literally minutes before
Correa's inaugural speech. Garcia's strong pitch was that
Peru is our only 'true' friend in South America. As a lonely
bulwark against Chavez' Bolivarian revolution, Peru is
willing to try to keep impressionable leaders like Correa
from falling for Chavez' snake oil. For all this, it
deserves an FTA.
8. (C) Secretary Gutierrez was unable to clear this message
before his departure.
JEWELL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: TEN YEARS
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR EC
SUBJECT: GARCIA/USDEL BILAT: PERU'S QUIXOTIC MISSION
Classified By: PolOff Erik Martini for reasons 1.4 (b&d)
1. (C) Summary: Peruvian President Alan Garcia met with U.S.
Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez on the margins of
President Rafael Correa's inauguration ceremony. Garcia
raised ATPA, the U.S./Peru free trade agreement and Peru's
lonely opposition to Chavez in South America. End Summary.
Background
--------------
2. (SBU) On the margins of the Correa presidential swearing
in ceremony, President Garcia met for 20 minutes privately
with Secretary Gutierrez and Ambassador Jewell. Also present
at the meeting was Peru's Ambassador to Ecuador Vicente Rojas.
Garcia Leads With Trade
--------------
3. (C) President Garcia opened the meeting praising the
recent visit by CoDel Reid to Peru. Garcia said Senator Reid
had frankly told him that while not enthusiastic about free
trade agreements, he would "carefully consider" Peru's FTA.
Garcia said Senator Reid told him he thought ATPA should be
extended for three more years. Secretary Gutierrez responded
that the Administration was committed to working for passage
of the Peru FTA.
Garcia: Correa, South America Pulled Toward Chavez
-------------- --------------
4. (C) Asked for his views about President Correa, Garcia
said he thought Correa was being "pulled to the left but
wanted to find the center." Chavez and Castro are "very
clever opponents," he said. Garcia recommended that the USG
signal redlines with Correa but suggested we refrain from
"harping" on issues of concern. ALBA, the Venezuelan
alternative to U.S. FTAs, must be avoided at all costs, he
said. Garcia complained that Peru cannot be the "Don
Quixote" of South America tilting alone against Chavez; the
U.S. should signal its "good faith" by approving Peru's FTA.
Peru would send an ambassador back to Venezuela.
5. (C) President Garcia then reviewed quickly other South
American governments' attitudes toward Chavez. He dismissed
Bolivia as "bought out" and Argentina as a "leftist
government from the 1960s." Chile was "playing both sides of
the issue," he said, due to "Bachelet's internal situation"
and Colombia was mired in internal problems and human rights
problems with Europe.
6. (C) Garcia reserved his harshest criticism for Brazil and
President Lula da Silva. He characterized da Silva as
"completely complicit" in the anti-U.S. antics of Chavez. He
claimed Brazil had acted to undermine Peru's relations with
Mexico, Chile and Asia, and Brazilian FM Amorim has said the
Community of Andean Nations has no reason to exist. Garcia
said Lula was dominated by his adviser on foreign relations,
Marco Aurelio Garcia, who Garcia alleged "on the best
authority" is a Cuban agent.
Comment
--------------
7. (C) Garcia was eager for the meeting, held in a private
room within the confines of Congress literally minutes before
Correa's inaugural speech. Garcia's strong pitch was that
Peru is our only 'true' friend in South America. As a lonely
bulwark against Chavez' Bolivarian revolution, Peru is
willing to try to keep impressionable leaders like Correa
from falling for Chavez' snake oil. For all this, it
deserves an FTA.
8. (C) Secretary Gutierrez was unable to clear this message
before his departure.
JEWELL