DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE'S JUNE 2 MEETING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L BOGOTA 002057 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2018 TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL ECON CI EC VE PE CO SUBJECT: DEPUTY SECRETARY NEGROPONTE'S JUNE 2 MEETING WITH PERUVIAN FOREIGN MINISTER Classified By: Ambassador William R. Brownfield Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Deputy Secretary Negroponte met with Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Garcia Belaunde on June 2. Belaunde said the GOP is in the process of implementing the Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA),and requested a bilateral meeting for President Garcia with President Bush at the upcoming APEC summit in November. Belaunde thinks once the "egos" are put aside, Colombia and Ecuador will resolve their conflict. Peru would like to help, but acknowledges their relationship with Ecuador is "not solid" enough to play an active role. He sees Chavez at a disadvantage in the region due to: 1) the Reyes computers, 2) high inflation, and 3) his December referendum loss. Belaunde requested the USG consider reinstating the Movimiento Revolucionario Tupac Amaru (MRTA) to the foreign terrorist organization list. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) Participants: U.S.: Deputy Secretary John D. Negroponte Ambassador William R. Brownfield Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Craig A. Kelly Mary Sue Conaway, D Staff Kelly Hapka Carrillo, note taker Peruvian: Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde Peruvian Ambassador to Colombia Jose Antonio Meier Espinosa Peruvian Ambassador to the OAS Maria Zavala Valladares ¶3. (C) Deputy Secretary Negroponte met with Peruvian FM Jose Garcia Belaunde June 2 on the margins of the Organization of American States (OAS) General Assembly. Belaunde said the GOP is working to implement the Peruvian Trade Promotion Agreement (TPA),including environmental legislation. He requested a bilateral meeting for President Garcia with President Bush at the upcoming APEC summit in November to discuss progress. The Deputy suggested the event could be used as a "target" for the implementation of the PTPA criteria. ¶4. (C) Belaunde thinks once the "egos" are put aside, Colombia and Ecuador will resolve their conflict. He noted Ecuador is still sensitive to the March 1 border incursion, and too focused on receiving reparations from the GOC. He said Peru would like to help ease the tensions, but acknowledged that their relationship with Ecuador is "not solid." He said Chile used to play a more regional mediator role, but noted that President Michelle Bachelet does not have the regional influence to be an effective facilitator. ¶5. (C) Belaunde sees the region divided between "backward utopians" and "modern Monroeists." Peru agrees it would be worthwhile to find ways to highlight support for economic integration, security cooperation, and support for democracy among like-minded countries. He views Chavez at a disadvantage in the competition for regional influence due to: 1) the Reyes computers, 2) high inflation, and 3) his December referendum loss. ¶6. (C) Belaunde requested that the USG consider reinstating the MRTA to the list of designated foreign terrorist organizations; Ambassador Brownfield suggested the GOP consider carefully the political implications of this decision -- it could be interpreted as signifying a return en force of the MFTA. ¶7. (U) Cleared by D staff. BROWNFIELD