ARGENTINA: DELIVERY OF BOLIVIA SECURITY CONCERNS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BUENOS AIRES 000841 SIPDIS FOR WHA/BSC DRUCKER, FRIEDMAN AND SHOWELL E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/19/2018 TAGS: ASEC BL KDEM PREL AR SUBJECT: ARGENTINA: DELIVERY OF BOLIVIA SECURITY CONCERNS POINTS REF: A. A. STATE 65088 ¶B. B. LA PAZ 1354 ¶C. C. LA PAZ 1302 ¶D. D. LA PAZ 1301 Classified By: E. Anthony Wayne for reasons 1.4(b)and(d) ¶1. (C) On June 18th, Ambassador delivered reftel demarche and talking points to Argentine MFA U/S for Bilateral Affairs, Vincente Espeche Gil. Ambassador explained that the USG was approaching a "group of friends" (Brazil, Argentina and Columbia) and U/S Shannon had spoken to Argentine Ambassador Timmerman in Washington DC regarding demarche. Espeche Gil said he understood our concerns about the security of Embassy La Paz and our request for assistance and that he would convey the information to his superiors and look for ways that the GOA could help. ¶2. (C) On June 19th, Ambassador met with Foreign Minister Taiana on unrelated matters but took the opportunity to raise the issue. Taiana noted he had spoken to the Bolivian Vice Foreign Minister, Hugo Fernandez Araujo, on three occasions as a follow up to Ambassador's initial demarche. Taiana said he had urged the GOB to calm the situation down and to provide the necessary security for Embassy La Paz. Taiana said he was told that the Bolivian MFA would issue a reassuring statement the evening of June 19. ¶3. (C) Taiana indicated that he took the USG concerns very seriously and hoped that his calls would be of help. WAYNE