URUGUAY LIKELY TO BACK SWING FOR IOM

UNCLAS MONTEVIDEO 000169 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREF PHUM SMIG MARR MOPS UY SUBJECT: URUGUAY LIKELY TO BACK SWING FOR IOM REF: STATE 14788 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Ambassador Swing was well-received by the Foreign Minister, Gonzalo Fernandez, and other key GOU officials during his March 27-28 visit. Fernandez confirmed that Uruguay would give the utmost consideration to Ambassador Swing's candidacy. Other key MFA officials were very pleased with Ambassador Swing's visit and implied that Uruguay's support was almost certain. The Swing's visit was carried on leading radio stations in Montevideo, which highlighted his candidacy to head the IOM and the personal thanks he delivered to the GOU for Uruguay's contributions to UN peacekeeping operations. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) The Ambassador accompanied Ambassador Swing to meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Defense and hosted a reception in his honor with key officials from the MFA and Ministry of Interior in attendance. GOU officials were very pleased that Ambassador Swing took the time to visit Uruguay and implied that the GOU's support was almost certain. ¶3. (SBU) Ambassador Swing took the opportunity to convey his personal thanks to GOU officials, including Minister of Defense Jose Bayardi, for the contributions of Uruguayan peacekeeping troops in the Congo and Haiti. The MoD rolled out the red carpet to receive Ambassador Swing during a tour of their joint peacekeeping training center (ENOPU). Ambassador Swing discussed Uruguay's peacekeeping operations with the outgoing and incoming PKO commanders and met Uruguayan troops who were involved in the March 2007 rescue of the Spanish Ambassador to the Congo. Swing stressed the importance of human rights training for PKO troops, citing cases of sexual misconduct by peacekeeping troops, including Uruguayans, in the Congo. Generals Iduarte and de los Santos were responsive and explained how the UAF had reacted swiftly to each identified case and had implemented specific human rights training for all troops participating in PKO missions. The UAF took sexual misconduct by its troops seriously and would continue to proactively address the issue, they said. ¶4. (SBU) The generals cited USD 15 million in UN PKO arrears (for almost one year) to Uruguay that was seriously affecting Uruguay's ability to reequip its forces for future peacekeeping operations. Ambassador Swing offered to reach back to UN contacts on a personal basis to mention Uruguay's concerns about the delayed peacekeeping funds. ¶5. (SBU) In separate meetings with the Director General for Consular Affairs, Jose Luis Remedi and the Director General for International Cooperation, Bernardo Griever, Ambassador Swing was briefed that an estimated 500,000 Uruguayans live abroad (15% of the population) and that emigration patterns and brain drain have had a vital impact on Uruguayan society and its economy. The Ambassador's visit was carried on leading radio stations in Montevideo, which highlighted his candidacy to head the IOM and the personal thanks he delivered to the GOU for Uruguay's contributions to UN peacekeeping operations. ¶6. (U) PRM has cleared this message. Baxter