Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08ASUNCION508
2008-07-23 20:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Asuncion
Cable title:  

STARTING OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT WITH THE LUGO GOVERNMENT

Tags:  FAGR SENV PREL OEXC OIIP SCUL PA 
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VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAC #0508/01 2052034
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 232034Z JUL 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASUNCION
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7103
INFO RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 3131
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 4053
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 3050
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 4070
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ JUL LIMA 0440
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 0602
UNCLAS ASUNCION 000508 

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

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000508

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.