Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SANSALVADOR1953
2007-09-28 21:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy San Salvador
Cable title:  

YOUR VISIT TO EL SALVADOR

Tags:  PGOV PREL MARR OVIP ES 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSN #1953/01 2712103
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 282103Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR
TO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8004
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO PRIORITY 0195
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA PRIORITY 2509
RUEAFVS/OSD FOREIGN VISITS SYSTEM WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHMFISS/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 001953 

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 001953

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 and will urge you to help address funding
shortfalls. We should support GOES requests that reinforce our
shared counter-drug, counter-trafficking and public security goals,
while offering an important symbolic gesture, such as Major Non-NATO
Ally status (MNNA),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. In
2006, remittances amounted to $3.3 billion, approximately 18% of GDP.
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
consistetly receives high approval ratings in public opinio polls,
due largely to its response to national mergencies, including
earthquakes, hurricanes, ad outbreaks of infectious diseases such as
Dengu. Salvadoran soldiers also support police in counernarcotics
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. While El Salvador currently receives modest FMF
allocations, (2nd highest in this AOR),military officials have
expressed their desire for considerable increases. The focus of our
FMF 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 deployed over 3000 troops to
Iraq. The first contingent consisted of 360 troops while the 2nd
through 8th consisted of 380. The 9th contingent deployed in August
with 280 troops, a reduction of 100 troops based on a shift in
mission (primarily HA&R projects). To date, they have had 5 KIAs and
over 50 WIAs. One soldier, (CPL Platero) has been at BAMC in Texas
recovering from a severe leg injury since October 2006 and is
expected to remain there another year. 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. 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 participation 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 National Civilian Police (PNC) 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.

MNNA Status
--------------


10. (C) In 2006, a visiting DoD official raised with GOES
counterparts the possibility of El Salvador's entering into MNNA
Status. The GOES was delighted at the opportunity, and since then
has pressed us for a formal invitation to become a MNNA. MNNA status
would be appropriate recognition of El Salvador's contribution to our
joint efforts in Iraq and would solidify out military-to-military
relationship prior to and beyond the 2009 presidential and
legislative elections. Embassy San Salvador strongly supports
granting MNNA status to El Salvador.

Glazer