PARAGUAY WILL ACCEPT CUBAN MIGRANT

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000394 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR PRM RGEHRING, PRM RMACKLER, AND WHA/BSC KBEAMER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PREF PGOV SMIG CU PA SUBJECT: PARAGUAY WILL ACCEPT CUBAN MIGRANT REF: STATE 56379 ¶1. (SBU) PolOff delivered reftel demarche June 9 to the Foreign Ministry's Director General of Consular Affairs Felipe Robertti and Passports and Consular Services Director Raul Montiel Gasto. Robertti, who also serves as president of the National Commission for Refugees, affirmed that the Paraguayan government would accept Cuban migrant Osmar Lopez Gonzalo and provide him with migrant documentation. Robertti affirmed Lopez would not be returned to Cuba. Montiel stated that the tourist visa issued to Lopez in 2004 would not be valid for immigration purposes but that the Foreign Ministry would issue Lopez the proper visa to immigrate to Paraguay. ¶2. (SBU) Robertti noted that Cuban immigrants in Paraguay often experience difficulties finding gainful employment and adjusting to life. He noted that Lopez would have a better chance at successfully resettling in Paraguay with the support of his family (reftel). (NOTE: Three of seven Cubans who immigrated in November 2006 remain in Paraguay. International Organization for Migration (IOM) Paraguay Office Director Guillermo Sosa told PolOff in November 2007 that the remainder relocated to the United States. Michael Ledesma Perez -- one of the seven Cuban emigrees still living in Paraguay -- told PolOff in April that neither the Paraguayan government nor the IOM had properly assisted him with resettlement. END NOTE.) ¶3. (SBU) Robertti requested a copy of Lopez' personal information provided by PRM to assist the Paraguayan government in issuing him a new visa. Please provide to Embassy POC for this request: Embassy Asuncion Human Rights Officer Michael Edwards, telephone: 011-595-21-213-715, e-mail: edwardsmg@state.gov. Please visit us at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/asuncion Cason