Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LAPAZ1995
2008-09-16 23:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:
BOLIVIA: REACTION TO "DECERTIFICATION"
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LA PAZ 001995
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INL/LP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2018
TAGS: ASEC BL PGOV PHUM PINR PREL SNAR
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA: REACTION TO "DECERTIFICATION"
Classified By: CDA Krishna Urs for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
THE FOREIGN MINISTRY
--------------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LA PAZ 001995
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INL/LP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2018
TAGS: ASEC BL PGOV PHUM PINR PREL SNAR
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA: REACTION TO "DECERTIFICATION"
Classified By: CDA Krishna Urs for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
THE FOREIGN MINISTRY
--------------
1. (C) The Charge notifified VFM Hugo Fernandez (FM
Choquehuanca was not available) at 1600 that President Bush
had found that Bolivia had failed demonstrably to cooperate
in accordance with its bilateral and international
obligations. The Charge explained the reasons for the
decision: inadequate control of the legal and illegal coca
trades, an intention to increase legal coca cultivation from
12,000 to 20,000 hectares, the expulsion of USAID and DEA
from the Chapare, the practice of permitting a cato of coca
for farmers in the Chapare,etc. The Charge noted that the
President had also decided to provide for a national interest
waiver which waived sanctions associated with the
decertification decision.
2. (C) VFM Fernandez was not surprised by the decision. He
said that the waiver was helpful in that it would limit the
damage the announcement would cause. Referring to President
Morales, Fernandez said that we would have to wait for the
reaction, implying that Morales would almost certainly use
the news to unleash more verbal attacks on the U.S.
VICE MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEFENSE
--------------
3. (C) The Bolivia NAS Director informed the Vice Minister
of Social Defense Felipe Caceres (Bolivia's drug czar) of the
decision to decertify. Caceres did not appear surprised by
the decision and said he was preparing a Counter Narcotics
(CN) budget for the rest of 2008 at Minister of Government
Alfredo Rada's request. Caceres expects that the Bolivian
government will announce the "nationalization" of CN efforts
sometime this week in response to decertification. Caceres
made clear that the Bolivian government will continue to
accept USG CN assistance, under more national control.
SPECIAL FORCE FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING
-------------- --------------
4. (C) The Southern Cone Region DEA Director informed
Colonel Rene Sanabria, the Director General for the Special
Force for the Fight Against Narcotics Trafficking (FELCN) of
the decision to decertify with a waiver. Col. Sanabria was
surprised by the decision and questioned the difference from
last year's decision to certify. The DEA director explained
the reasons for the decertification noting that the
interdiction component that Sanabria is responsible for was
actually deemed adequate. Sanabria said he understood the
value in continued DEA cooperation and noted that cabinet
ministers and the VM for Social Defense does not completely
understand what DEA does. Sanabria agreed with the DEA
Director to forcefully make the case to the Bolivian
government for the continued presence of DEA in Boliva.
DEMONSTRATIONS?
--------------
5. (C) As of 1900 September 16 we have no information of
any demonstrations planned against USG interests in the
coming days. The Bolivian government has provided
appropriate police protection to USG facilities as needed to
address the demonstrations of September 15 and 16. Post
LA PAZ 00001995 002 OF 002
remains alert shoud the "decertification" decision prompt
further demonstrations. Post greatly appreciates
Washington's decision to delay the announcement so as to
avoid the possibility that demonstrators already on the
streets could have been redirected to the Embassy.
URS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR INL/LP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2018
TAGS: ASEC BL PGOV PHUM PINR PREL SNAR
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA: REACTION TO "DECERTIFICATION"
Classified By: CDA Krishna Urs for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
THE FOREIGN MINISTRY
--------------
1. (C) The Charge notifified VFM Hugo Fernandez (FM
Choquehuanca was not available) at 1600 that President Bush
had found that Bolivia had failed demonstrably to cooperate
in accordance with its bilateral and international
obligations. The Charge explained the reasons for the
decision: inadequate control of the legal and illegal coca
trades, an intention to increase legal coca cultivation from
12,000 to 20,000 hectares, the expulsion of USAID and DEA
from the Chapare, the practice of permitting a cato of coca
for farmers in the Chapare,etc. The Charge noted that the
President had also decided to provide for a national interest
waiver which waived sanctions associated with the
decertification decision.
2. (C) VFM Fernandez was not surprised by the decision. He
said that the waiver was helpful in that it would limit the
damage the announcement would cause. Referring to President
Morales, Fernandez said that we would have to wait for the
reaction, implying that Morales would almost certainly use
the news to unleash more verbal attacks on the U.S.
VICE MINISTER OF SOCIAL DEFENSE
--------------
3. (C) The Bolivia NAS Director informed the Vice Minister
of Social Defense Felipe Caceres (Bolivia's drug czar) of the
decision to decertify. Caceres did not appear surprised by
the decision and said he was preparing a Counter Narcotics
(CN) budget for the rest of 2008 at Minister of Government
Alfredo Rada's request. Caceres expects that the Bolivian
government will announce the "nationalization" of CN efforts
sometime this week in response to decertification. Caceres
made clear that the Bolivian government will continue to
accept USG CN assistance, under more national control.
SPECIAL FORCE FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST NARCOTICS TRAFFICKING
-------------- --------------
4. (C) The Southern Cone Region DEA Director informed
Colonel Rene Sanabria, the Director General for the Special
Force for the Fight Against Narcotics Trafficking (FELCN) of
the decision to decertify with a waiver. Col. Sanabria was
surprised by the decision and questioned the difference from
last year's decision to certify. The DEA director explained
the reasons for the decertification noting that the
interdiction component that Sanabria is responsible for was
actually deemed adequate. Sanabria said he understood the
value in continued DEA cooperation and noted that cabinet
ministers and the VM for Social Defense does not completely
understand what DEA does. Sanabria agreed with the DEA
Director to forcefully make the case to the Bolivian
government for the continued presence of DEA in Boliva.
DEMONSTRATIONS?
--------------
5. (C) As of 1900 September 16 we have no information of
any demonstrations planned against USG interests in the
coming days. The Bolivian government has provided
appropriate police protection to USG facilities as needed to
address the demonstrations of September 15 and 16. Post
LA PAZ 00001995 002 OF 002
remains alert shoud the "decertification" decision prompt
further demonstrations. Post greatly appreciates
Washington's decision to delay the announcement so as to
avoid the possibility that demonstrators already on the
streets could have been redirected to the Embassy.
URS