BOLIVIA: EVO'S WISH LIST FOR OBAMA

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 002391 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2018 TAGS: BL ECON ENVR KDEM PGOV PREL PHUM PINR SUBJECT: BOLIVIA: EVO'S WISH LIST FOR OBAMA Classified By: EcoPol Chief Mike Hammer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Bolivian President Evo Morales saluted the victory of President-elect Obama, offering support and expressing a sense of kinship with the President-elect, whom he characterized as coming from "the most discriminated sectors... from enslaved sectors." Raising hopes for a sea change in bilateral relations, Morales specified his desire for a lifting of the economic blockade on Cuba and the retiring of US troops from "some countries," including Iraq. While a few members of Morales' ruling Movimiento Al Socialismo (MAS) party followed their President's lead, MAS Senator and party bloc leader Felix Rojas sounded a pessimistic note about any change in policy toward Bolivia, instead agreeing with comments coming from opposition leaders that one should not anticipate major foreign policy changes toward Bolivia. Commercial sector representatives were quick to stress the need for discussions related to extending ATPDEA benefits. End summary. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Morales sees Obama as Kindred Spirit... - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶2. (SBU) In several interviews and press statements November 5, President Evo Morales saluted the victory of President-elect Obama, offering support and expressing a sense of kinship with the President-elect. Morales commented several times that he saw Obama's election as evidence that "the world is changing." Going on, he said: "President-elect Obama has made history with his triumph. In the name of the national government we offer congratulations, because he is a man who comes from the most discriminated sectors. He is a man who comes from enslaved sectors. I am sure relations between Bolivia and the United States will improve." ¶3. (SBU) In other television interviews, Morales further underlined the parallels between his and Obama's shared status as minorities. Later, at an event to declare La Paz district free of illiteracy, Morales reflected further: "I remain very surprised at what is happening in the world. Eight years ago, a worker's leader being elected president in Brazil was a novelty. Then (referring to himself) leaders of the rural people became presidents. So now tomorrow, another Aymara or Quechua brother becoming president will not be a novelty. In the U.S., now there is Obama, and tomorrow it �0A;will be a Latino, and it will not be a novelty." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ...But May Stress Friendship With Demands - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶4. (SBU) Morales did not stop after praising Obama's election, and went on to lay out a list of requests. "One hopes he will lift the economic blockade of Cuba. One hopes there will never again be military interventions in any country in the world. One hopes they will retire the military forces that are in some countries, that are in Iraq. That is our desire in defense of life." MAS Deputy Gustavo Torrico said Obama's election would "open new scenarios in foreign policy," and said he believed Obama would open a dialogue with Cuba "without conditions." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Senators Disagree With Morales - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶5. (SBU) However, Senators from both Morales' ruling Movimiento Al Socialismo (MAS) party and the opposition did not share Morales' optimism for a sea change in relations. In a press interview, MAS Senate bloc leader Felix Rojas commented that, "whether black or gringo," Obama will maintain the international policies of the U.S. Rojas then said, "There's no reason to be optimistic and think there will be grand changes in the United States with respect to Bolivia." Opposition Podemos party Senators Carlos Boerth and Luis Vasquez agreed with this analysis. Boerth said, "In Latin America they are not expecting much change, and toward Bolivia even less," while Vasquez opined that, "it's not prudent to be optimistic regarding the possibilities of grand changes... given that foreign policies were already defined by (Obama's) predecessors." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - But Hope Remains for ATPDEA - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶6. (SBU) In other press reports, Enrique Garcia, the president of the Federation of Private Enterprises of La Paz (FEPLP),was hopeful about the improvement of relations between Bolivia and the U.S. in order to improve commercial ties. He called for "fixing" tariff preferences under ATPDEA. Central Bolivian Workers Union (COB) Secretary Socimo Paniagua struck an even more optimistic note, saying: "With the triumph of Obama, there will be a change in the world's structure, above all with the new ambassador that will come to Bolivia. We hope the tariff structures will be improved so we can export more to the U.S." - - - - Comment - - - - ¶7. (C) Even as Morales calls for improved relations with the U.S. and welcomes the victory of President-elect Obama, he continues to relentlessly attack DEA's presence and confirm their expulsion. In his latest blast on November 5, Evo said he hoped to have the opportunity to travel to the U.S. to show Obama proof of DEA's past sponsorship of large narco-trafficking operations (in the 1980s, according to Morales),as well as proof of alleged efforts by DEA (in 2002-3) against the now-leadership of the MAS, including Morales, Foreign Minister Choquehuanca, and others. URS