DENMARK TROUBLED BY BOLIVIAN SUSPENSION OF DEA

C O N F I D E N T I A L COPENHAGEN 000598 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/13/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM SNAR BL DA SUBJECT: DENMARK TROUBLED BY BOLIVIAN SUSPENSION OF DEA REF: STATE 118934 Classified By: A/DCM Bill Mozdzierz, reasons 1.4b,d ¶1. (C) Danish MFA Head of Office for South America Maj Hessel November 12 underscored Denmark's deep concern about the Bolivian government's actions against DEA (reftel) and reported that the Danish government is pressing for a coordinated EU approach on the issue in La Paz. Characterizing U.S. assistance as "critical" in countering upward trends in cocaine use in Europe, Hessel noted particular Danish interest in Bolivia as one of Denmark's priority countries for development assistance in Latin America. Already in September, Hessel related, the Danes used bilateral talks to register their concerns about the impact of deteriorating U.S.-Bolivian relations on counter-narcotics programs. ¶2. (C) Hessel indicated that the EU heads of mission in La Paz are following the DEA issue closely, and reported that Danish Ambassador Slente has been advocating within that group for a joint approach to the Bolivian government. Hessel noted the reluctance of some members to take a strong position on bilateral political matters (e.g., regarding the expulsion of Ambassador Goldberg),but maintained that the actions against DEA have far-reaching practical consequences for both drug trafficking and development work. We encouraged the Danish government to continue to support efforts to urge the Bolivians to reconsider their recent decisions. CAIN