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.

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Morales sees Obama as Kindred Spirit...
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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
will be a Latino, and it will not be a novelty."

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...But May Stress Friendship With Demands
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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."

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Senators Disagree With Morales
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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."

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But Hope Remains for ATPDEA
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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."


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Comment
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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