MFA ASSURES UNSCR COMPLIANCE DESPITE WARM IRANIAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000935 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE ISN/RA RISA MONGIELLO AND RICHARD NEPHEW E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL KNNP PARM NSG IR MNUC BL SUBJECT: MFA ASSURES UNSCR COMPLIANCE DESPITE WARM IRANIAN RELATIONS REF: A. STATE 34974 ¶B. LA PAZ 707 Classified By: Acting EcoPol Chief Brian Quigley for reasons 1.4 (b) (d ) ¶1. (C) POLOFF delivered reftel points to MFA's Director of Bilateral Affairs Jean Paul Guevara April 22, emphasizing Bolivia's Security Council Resolution obligations for travel restrictions, financial institution monitoring, and trade restrictions regarding Iran. POLOFF also left Spanish-language copies of reftel SCRs and inquired about Bolivia measures to ensure compliance. ¶2. (C) Guevara assured POLOFF Bolivia's new diplomatic relationship with Iran would not change Bolivia's commitment to honor its international commitments. He thanked POLOFF for the resolutions and said he would pass it to the relevant officials in any event. Guevara added he did not know the technical details of the Bolivia's compliance efforts, but that "if we need any help, we will let you know." Guevara added "you know our position with Iran," referring to the last UNSCR 1803 demarche (ref b),when he defended Iran's right to develop nuclear power and criticized the UN decision-making process, but vehemently asserted Bolivia would never support a weapons program and would support all UNSCRs. Comment -------------- ¶3. (C) Due to the sensitive nature of the government's new relationship with Iran and the potential for multiple demarches on UNSCR compliance to be counterproductive, Post is selective on the number and nature of demarches it delivers on the subject. Post did not expect a different reply from Guevara the second time around on 1803-related issues, but felt officially reminding Bolivia of the full range of UNSCR obligations was prudent to ensure ignorance is not an excuse for non-compliance. Beyond any deliberate attempts to sidestep their obligations, we find it highly conceivable that obligations made in New York do not find there way to the Foreign Ministry given the proclivity of new officials in all levels of government to misplace files, misunderstand directions, and to not communicate particularly well with each other. End Comment. GOLDBERG