EVO TO VISIT LIBYA, IRAN ... AND ALASKA?

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 001824 SIPDIS IO/UNP FOR SUN USUN NSC FOR MCDONALD P FOR REINEMEYER E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER OTRA OVIP KESP UNGA IR LY BL SUBJECT: EVO TO VISIT LIBYA, IRAN ... AND ALASKA? REF: A. LA PAZ 1749 ¶B. LA PAZ 1655 ¶C. 07 LA PAZ 2626 Classified By: EcoPol Chief Mike Hammer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) Evo's Excellent Iranian/Libyan Adventure -------------- ¶1. (U) Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca announced August 26 that Bolivian President Evo Morales plans to visit Libya August 30 and 31 and Iran September 1 and 2 (anticipated in reftel a). "We have various (bilateral) projects (under consideration with both countries) and we want make our relations with Libya and Iran closer." ¶2. (U) Leading radio news network FIDES concluded that the trip is a sign the Bolivian Government is moving away from the United States and referred to the June 9 protest at the Embassy by pro-government groups to underscore the point. Bolivia entered into diplomatic relations with Iran September 11, 2007 (ref c) and with Libya August 13 (ref a). Bolivia has not exchanged Ambassadors with either country and the Bolivian Congress has not ratified the establishment of relations with Libya. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad paid a short visit to La Paz in September, 2007, signing agreements (not yet executed) worth $1.1. billion. Alaskan Pit Stop Before UNGA -------------- ¶3. (U) Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca also announced Morales would travel to Alaska in a separate trip September 22 to meet with indigenous and social groups. Choquehuanca said indigenous leaders in Alaska "consider him as their president," and that they wanted Morales to represent them as their "spokesman" at the opening session of the UN General Assembly. Choquehuanca said Morales would address UNGA September 23. ¶4. (C) When asked about Bolivia's UNGA delegation August 25, Bolivian Director of Bilateral Affairs, Jean Paul Guevara, said Bolivia still had not decided who would be on its UNGA delegation. Guevara said Morales would likely attend, but offered no comment beyond "we'll consider it" when asked whether Morales, if he attends, would seek meetings on the margins with U.S. officials, such as WHA A/S Tom Shannon. GOLDBERG