BOLIVIA AND THE MONTERREY CONSENSUS

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000836 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/15/2018 TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN ETRD ECIN EINV PGOV UN BL SUBJECT: BOLIVIA AND THE MONTERREY CONSENSUS REF: A. SECSTATE 15117 ¶B. LA PAZ 175 Classified By: EcoPol Chief Mike Hammer for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Post identified Graciela Toro, Minister of Planning and Development, and Javier Hurtado, Minister of Production and Micro Enterpise, as the two most important players in the Bolivian government regarding the Monterrey Consensus. Both were named to their ministerial positions in January 2008 and both served as Bolivian coordinators for the Millennium Challenge Account (Ref b). As such, they are more aware of the logic behind the Monterrey Consensus than the rest of the current administration. Moreover, both Toro and Hurtado are more open to working with the United States than their predecessors and provide a greater chance of supporting the United States position regarding the Monterrey Consensus. Additionally, both ministers are taking a prominent role in addressing foreign assistance and national productive development. Minister Hurtado is setting up a new organization within the Ministry of Production that will be responsible for coordinating foreign aid. It will also ultimately coordinate with a unit within Toro's Ministry of Planning to disperse foreign aid. ¶2. (C) Despite their openness to cooperate with the United States, both ministers will be restricted by the anti-imperialist, anti-capitalist rhetoric and outlook of the Morales Administration. Additionally, Hurtado seems to hold statist, Marxist ideals personally and clearly feels that the Bolivian state should play a more prominent role in the domestic economy. Additionally, in an April 2 meeting with EconOff where the Monterrey Consensus was discussed, Hurtado lashed out against the MCC pause in place for Compact development with Bolivia. Hurtado felt that it was unjust that a technical program was being paused for what he felt were political motives. Graciela Toro appears less dogmatic and was briefed on the Monterrey Consensus and the upcoming international review on February 27. Overall, Post considers Bolivian support for the U.S. position to be extremely unlikely. GOLDBERG