63RD UNGA: BOLIVIA'S DELEGATION SPECULATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 001655

SIPDIS

IO/UNP FOR SUN
USUN
NSC FOR MCDONALD
P FOR REINEMEYER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/01/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL OTRA OVIP KESP UNGA BL
SUBJECT: 63RD UNGA: BOLIVIA'S DELEGATION SPECULATION

REF: STATE 72078

Classified By: A/EcoPol Chief Brian Quigley for reasons 1.4 (b)(d)


1. (U) Embassy contacts at the Bolivian Ministry of Foreign
Relations tell us there will be no official delegation list
for the UNGA General Debate September 23-October 1 until
after the August 10 recall referendum on the mandates of
President Evo Morales and department prefects (state
governors).


2. (C) Although the delegation's composition is a matter of
speculation that "could change until the last minute," our
MFA contacts claim this year's delegation will likely closely
resemble the same players as last year. A reliable MFA
contact told us in mid-July that the delegation would include
Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca, Vice Foreign Minister
Hugo Fernandez, and an entourage of senior palace advisors.
He said it is likely that President Morales will also attend,
assuming he survives the referendum, building on what Morales
considered a very successful appearance last year and giving
him an opportunity to characterize the August 10 results to
an international audience. If Morales attends, Presidency
Minister Juan Ramon Quintana will also likely attend.


3. (C) U.S. Desk Officer Yuri Arce told PolOff July 30 that
Morales does indeed plan to attend and that because by law
the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Presidency
could not be out of the country at the same time, only
Minister Quintana or Minister Choquehuanca would accompany
Morales. Arce said in that scenario, it was more likely
Quintana would accompany Morales, with Choquehuanca possibly
attending portions of the General Debate not attended by
Morales and Quintana. Arce indicated this was a question of
irritation to Choquehuanca, who feels Quintana is already a
"second foreign minister."


4. (C) Given the current state of relations and high-level
meetings July 21 with A/S Tom Shannon in La Paz, post
recommends no senior-level meetings with the Bolivian
delegation at the UNGA barring an unlikely and significant
improvement in relations. Unless a meeting includes new
messages on specific, contentious issues, another high-level
meeting at the UNGA is unlikely to facilitate any diplomatic
breakthrough and may be misconstrued by the Bolivians as an
sign that relations are better than facts dictate. Be
advised that Bolivia recently appointed a new UN Permanent
Representative: Efrain Hugo Siles Alvarado.
GOLDBERG