Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SANSALVADOR1258
2007-06-29 22:21:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy San Salvador
Cable title:  

YOUR VISIT TO EL SALVADOR

Tags:  PGOV PREL MARR OVIP ES 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHSN #1258/01 1802221
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 292221Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR
TO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6805
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO PRIORITY 0190
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA PRIORITY 2497
RUEAFVS/OSD FOREIGN VISITS SYSTEM WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCAACC/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 001258 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

TO SECRETARY GATES FROM THE AMBASSADOR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR OVIP ES
SUBJECT: YOUR VISIT TO EL SALVADOR


Classified By: Ambassador Charles L. Glazer, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 001258

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

TO SECRETARY GATES FROM THE AMBASSADOR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR OVIP ES
SUBJECT: YOUR VISIT TO EL SALVADOR


Classified By: Ambassador Charles L. Glazer, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (SBU) I,m delighted that you,ll be visiting El
Salvador. Your presence here will underline the importance
of El Salvador,s contribution to coalition efforts in Iraq,
and offer a boost to our efforts to address the nation,s
most pressing problem: a public security crisis that has
spiraled out of control. The Salvadorans will press you for
concrete signs of US appreciation for their presence in Iraq;
urge you to help address funding shortfalls; and raise again
their hope for Major Non-NATO-Ally status. We should
consider GOES requests that reinforce our shared
counter-drug, counter-trafficking and public security goals,
while offering an important symbolic gesture, such as MNNA
status and/or annual staff talks, to our Salvadoran allies.


Political/Economic Overview and Migration Issues
-------------- ---


2. (C) President Elias Antonio "Tony" Saca of the
governing ARENA party assumed office June 1, 2004 after
winning a strongly-contested presidential race with 57.7
percent of votes cast. President Saca's center-right ARENA
party holds 34 of 84 seats in the Legislative Assembly, but
aligns with smaller parties to form a working majority on
important issues. The leftist FMLN holds 32 seats.
President Saca has made the reinvigoration of El Salvador's
economy, the creation of jobs, and improvements in the
nation's infrastructure his highest priorities; however,
staggering rates of violent crime deflect attention from his
economic priorities. The public security crisis could have a
major, negative impact on 2009 presidential and legislative
elections. We are working closely with the GOES to address
this crisis, both by providing resources where we can and by
advising the Government on police, legal and criminal
procedure reforms.


3. (SBU) The economy has been growing slowly at only about
two percent per year since 1999, despite its excellent
fundamentals. However, last year El Salvador achieved its

largest GDP growth rate in a decade, 4.2 percent. El
Salvador was the first nation to sign and implement CAFTA-DR;
early results are encouraging. In 2007, the positive trend
continues with an estimated economic growth rate of 4.5
percent. Some twenty-five percent of Salvadorans live in the
United States, many illegally. Since the 2001 earthquakes,
between 250,000 and 280,000 Salvadorans have benefited from
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and have been able to live
and work legally in the United States. Remittances from
Salvadorans living abroad provide an important source of
income for their families in El Salvador. Public opinion
polls also show that 7 out of 10 Salvadorans would immigrate
to the United States if given the chance. The U.S. debate
over immigration reform is followed very closely here.

Civilian-Military Relations
--------------


4. (C) The Salvadoran Armed Forces (ESAF) are capable,
professional, and subordinate to civilian authority. The
military consistently receives high approval ratings in
public opinion polls, due largely to its response to national
emergencies, including earthquakes, hurricanes, and outbreaks
of infectious diseases such as Dengue. Salvadoran soldiers
also support police in counternarcotics efforts, anti-gang
patrols, rural patrols, customs inspections, and
reform-school training for juvenile convicts.


5. (C) The ESAF continues to focus on force modernization in
a constrained budget environment. The ESAF currently has
approximately 12,000 total service members and 2,500
administrative personnel. The ESAF's funding level of USD
111 million has changed very little for several years,
representing a slightly declining percentage of the national
budget. The USD 5 million increase for the ESAF in the
latest budget is obligated to a pay raise, so there is no net
increase in funds available for operations, training,
maintenance, and modernization. Projected FMF levels are
disappointing MoD officials preparing to send their ninth
rotation to Iraq. The focus of our expenditures is on
developing host nation capabilities in disaster relief,
peacekeeping, counterterrorism, and illicit trafficking.

OIF Service
--------------


6. (U) Since August 2003, the GOES has dispatched eight
Battalion Cuscatlan contingents of approximately 380 troops
each to Iraq. The GOES has pledged to remain as long as
needed; Salvadorian counterparts insist that the US stood by
them during their difficult times, and that they will stand
with us. President Saca recently announced that a ninth
contingent would deploy. Salvadoran troops have performed
admirably for almost four years in humanitarian and
reconstruction efforts. They have also coordinated the
reconstruction of local police stations, hospitals, and
schools, as well as public works projects such as road
improvement and electrical services.


7. (C) Salvadoran soldiers were intimately involved in the
training and equipping of the Iraqi Civil Defense Forces in
Najaf, Al Hillah, and now Al Kut. The national press has
positively portrayed the real impact of ESAF efforts and the
gratitude of Iraqi provincial leaders. In December 2006 the
Legislative Assembly passed a one year extension to President
Saca,s authority to maintain troops in Iraq through December

2007. Opposition to Salvadoran involvement in Iraq runs as
high as 70 percent, but Saca portrays himself as a faithful
friend of the US, and we believe he will work very hard to
renew that authorization later this year.

Peacekeeping and International Agreements
--------------


8. (SBU) The GOES is interested in peacekeeping
opportunities, although the commitment in Iraq and current
ESAF budget constraints make such new deployments of troops
unlikely for the time being. The UN has certified ESAF as
competent for full participaion in UN Peacekeeping
Operations. The USG has recently released new funding and
supplies for training the ESAF to take part in the Global
Peacekeeping Operations Initiative (GPOI) in support of a
long-term desire of the Conference of Central American Armed
Forces (CFAC) to deploy a combined peacekeeping unit from El
Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua. El Salvador is
not a signatory to the International Criminal Court, but
signed and ratified Article 98 provisions to the Rome Statue
with the U.S. in 2004. In late 2006 the legislature approved
a 505 Agreement for U.S.-provided assistance; the Assembly
has also approved an agreement for the protection of
classified military information and the DoD/DoS preferred
global format Status of Forces Agreement.

Counternarcotics and Counterterrorism Issues
--------------


9. (C) The Salvadoran government is a valuable partner in
the war on drugs . El Salvador is a transit country for
narcotics, mainly cocaine and heroin. El Salvador is host to
Central America,s only Cooperative Security Location (CSL),
as well as to Latin America,s International Law Enforcement
Academy (ILEA),which provides law enforcement training to
personnel from El Salvador and the region. U.S.-funded
training and equipment have contributed significantly to
improvements in the PNC's Counternarcotics Division. El
Salvador's geographic position makes it vulnerable to those
trafficking drugs, people, and guns to or from the United
States. JIATF-South, with its ability to provide Salvadoran
authorities with real-time intelligence, is a great asset;
however, the ESAF need additional resources to help us take
full advantage of JIATF,s capabilities.
Glazer