STARTING OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT WITH THE LUGO GOVERNMENT

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000507 SECSTATE FOR ECA/PE/V/R/W METIENNE; WHA/PDA CPETERSON, DUMANA; WHA/BSC KBEAMER AMEMBASSIES FOR PAO AND CAO SIPDIS, SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: FAGR SENV PREL OEXC OIIP SCUL PA SUBJECT: STARTING OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT WITH THE LUGO GOVERNMENT ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: To jump start a cordial relationship with the newly elected Paraguayan government, the Embassy arranged a one-week, abridged version of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) to Washington the week of June 16 for five senior officials of the incoming Lugo administration. Minister-Designate of Industry and Commerce and delegation leader, Martin Heisecke, was delighted with the program, and said that he learned a great deal about the U.S. Raul Meza, one of Lugo's political advisors, enjoyed the meeting with A/S Shannon and found him to be very knowledgeable about Paraguay. Amanda Nunez, recently elected to the Mercosur Parliament, reported that the program was very instructive. She met a variety of people and appreciated the opportunity to have a solid education on the U.S. system. Post was unable to meet with Miguel Rojas, Lugo's then-security advisor, following the trip, who Lugo recently named as his private secretary. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) To jump start a cordial relationship with the newly elected Paraguayan government, the Embassy arranged a one-week, abridged version of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) to Washington the week of June 16 for five senior officials of the incoming Lugo administration. General feedback indicated that the trip was an overall success. The IVLP completed its mission: it provided a first-hand education on the United States to several key Lugo advisors, and in doing so, positively altered stereotypes several members of the delegation held regarding the United States. ¶3. (SBU) Minister-Designate of Industry and Commerce and delegation leader, Martin Heisecke, was delighted with the program, and said that he learned a great deal about the U.S. He said that he wished the program lasted the full three weeks and that more of his colleagues could have participated in the program. (NOTE: Post originally planned for seven participants to visit the U.S for two weeks; this would have included full programs in New York and Miami in addition to Washington. However, President-elect Lugo insisted that his closest advisors could not be away from him for such a long time during this key transition period. Retired General Luis Bareiro, Minister-Designate of Defense, and Walter Rojas, who was until recently Lugo's private secretary, backed out at the last minute. END NOTE.) ¶4. (SBU) Ricardo Canese, Lugo's energy advisor, was highly effusive and positive about the trip. He was particularly pleased with the variety of organizations that met with the group as well as meetings with senior Department of State officials. He was impressed by the depth of interest and knowledge that senior USG representatives demonstrated during the meetings, indicating it was eye-opening for the group to see that Washington was not simply a "monotheistic, neo-liberal capital." He mentioned that the meeting with A/S Shannon was particularly useful and was pleased to see that the USG was interested in the region. ¶5. (SBU) Raul Meza, one of Lugo's political advisors, enjoyed the meeting with A/S Shannon and found him to be very knowledgeable about Paraguay. Meza also commented favorably on his lunch with former Assistant Secretaries Noriega and Reich. Meza was pleased with the delegation's visits to international organizations like the World Bank. Overall, Meza, who had very limited previous exposure to the United States, enjoyed the trip and returned to Paraguay with very positive notions of the United States. ¶6. (SBU) Amanda Nunez, recently elected to the Mercosur Parliament, reported that the program was very instructive. She met a variety of people, and appreciated the opportunity to have a solid education on the U.S. system. Nunez said that before she traveled on the IVLP trip, she thought the program was designed to inform visitors of U.S. interests. During her visit, she realized Americans were interested in the needs of Paraguayans and were willing to listen and even offer ideas. Nunez praised the organizers, guides, and interpreters, and commented that not one minute went to waste during the program. (NOTE: Post is still trying figure out the exact role of Nunez in the Lugo administration. Nunez describes herself as a "traditional" liberal, not a contemporary one who favors government intervention. She also said that most of the "liberals" who supported Lugo think like her. END NOTE.) ¶7. (SBU) Post was unable to meet with Miguel Rojas, Lugo's then security advisor, who Lugo named last week as his new private secretary. However, Rojas' fellow travelers told Embassy officials that Rojas also enjoyed the trip, particularly the DOD and DEA briefings. ¶8. (U) Post wishes to thank the IVLP office, the Phelps-Stokes Fund, WHA/PDA, and WHA/BSC for its patience and hard work to make this program come together in such a successful fashion.