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. Please visit us at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/asuncion CASON