PARAGUAY FAVORABLY DISPOSED TO IOM CANDIDATE SWING

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000192

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/BSC KBEAMER, PRM/MCE FOR MRAMGOOLIE AND
MNICHOLSON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: AORC PREF PREL PGOV SMIG EUN PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY FAVORABLY DISPOSED TO IOM CANDIDATE SWING

REF: A. STATE 14788

B. 07 ASUNCION 691


1. (SBU) Ambassador William Swing met March 27 (ref A) with
Foreign Minister Ruben Ramirez Lezcano, Vice Minister Carlos
Antonio Rivas, and other members of the Foreign Ministry to
discuss his candidacy for Director General (DG) of the
International Organization for Migration (IOM). Although the
Paraguayan government has not announced who it will support
on June 18, several key decision makers in the Foreign
Ministry appeared favorably disposed to supporting Ambassador
Swing.


2. (SBU) Foreign Minister Ramirez expressed interest in
increasing IOM support for the 400,000 Brazilians living in
Paraguay without legal status and protecting the human rights
of over one million Paraguayans living abroad who face
significant challenges as migrants. He asked that the IOM
work with the OAS, Mercosur, and CARICOM and other regional
organizations to develop a regional response to migration
issues. Ramirez praised the September 2007 opening of an
IOM office in Paraguay after a 15-year hiatus, but expressed
concern that it lacks resources. (NOTE: Ambassador Swing
visited the IOM office and discussed with staff IOM's efforts
to address local migration issues, combat human trafficking
and alleviate resource constraints. END NOTE.) Ambassador
Swing responded that as DG he would work closely with the IOM
member states to address their needs and with governmental
organizations in a regional capacity.


3. (SBU) Post delivered demarche on Ambassador Swing's
candidacy to the Foreign Ministry in August 2007 (ref B) and
will forward any updates received regarding Paraguay's vote
on Swing's candidacy.

PRM Monique Ramgoolie cleared this message.

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