Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08MONTEVIDEO303
2008-05-22 17:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Montevideo
Cable title:
URUGUAY RESERVED ON SOUTH AMERICAN SECURITY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHMN #0303 1431702 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 221702Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8226 INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 4946 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 1956 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUMIAAA/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L MONTEVIDEO 000303
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO FOR WHA/BSC
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2018
TAGS: MARR MOPS PGOV PREL UY
SUBJECT: URUGUAY RESERVED ON SOUTH AMERICAN SECURITY
COUNCIL INITIATIVE
REF: STATE 52599
Classified By: Ambassador Frank E. Baxter
for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L MONTEVIDEO 000303
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO FOR WHA/BSC
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2018
TAGS: MARR MOPS PGOV PREL UY
SUBJECT: URUGUAY RESERVED ON SOUTH AMERICAN SECURITY
COUNCIL INITIATIVE
REF: STATE 52599
Classified By: Ambassador Frank E. Baxter
for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (C) This telegram responds to reftel action request for
information on insights into the views of host government
officials on Brazil's proposed South American Defense Council
(CSD) initiative prior to the May 23 South American Union of
Nations (UNASUR) Summit in Brasilia.
2. (U) Local media reported mixed GOU reactions to Brazilian
Minister of Defense (MOD) Nelson Jobim's push for CSD
following his visit to Uruguay on May 15. Jobim met with
Uruguayan MOD Jose Bayardi, ForMin Gonzalo Fernandez and key
members of congress. National Party Senator (and former
Foreign Minister) Sergio Abreu reportedly chastised Brazil
for not supporting Uruguay in its pulp mill dispute with
Argentina. Abreu was quoted as saying to Jobim that the CSD
proposal could be dangerous for Uruguay, because "When small
countries make a mistake they border on an existential
crisis, but when the big ones make a mistake, they can simply
forget about their commitment or resort to the use of force."
2. (C) MOD Bayardi told the Ambassador on May 21 that
Uruguay was studying Jobim's proposal and he confirmed that
Uruguay would attend the UNASUR meeting in Brasilia. He also
indicated that if the CSD turned out to be no more than a
"consultative body", then the GOU would likely be open to
Uruguay's participation in it.
3. (C) Other military contacts we spoke with said they were
reluctant about embracing the proposal because of concerns
over sovereignty and Venezuelan participation. Some of the
same contacts implied that the uniformed officer's opinion
might not count for much in the decision of whether or not
Uruguay should join CSD.
Baxter
SIPDIS
DEPT ALSO FOR WHA/BSC
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/20/2018
TAGS: MARR MOPS PGOV PREL UY
SUBJECT: URUGUAY RESERVED ON SOUTH AMERICAN SECURITY
COUNCIL INITIATIVE
REF: STATE 52599
Classified By: Ambassador Frank E. Baxter
for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D)
1. (C) This telegram responds to reftel action request for
information on insights into the views of host government
officials on Brazil's proposed South American Defense Council
(CSD) initiative prior to the May 23 South American Union of
Nations (UNASUR) Summit in Brasilia.
2. (U) Local media reported mixed GOU reactions to Brazilian
Minister of Defense (MOD) Nelson Jobim's push for CSD
following his visit to Uruguay on May 15. Jobim met with
Uruguayan MOD Jose Bayardi, ForMin Gonzalo Fernandez and key
members of congress. National Party Senator (and former
Foreign Minister) Sergio Abreu reportedly chastised Brazil
for not supporting Uruguay in its pulp mill dispute with
Argentina. Abreu was quoted as saying to Jobim that the CSD
proposal could be dangerous for Uruguay, because "When small
countries make a mistake they border on an existential
crisis, but when the big ones make a mistake, they can simply
forget about their commitment or resort to the use of force."
2. (C) MOD Bayardi told the Ambassador on May 21 that
Uruguay was studying Jobim's proposal and he confirmed that
Uruguay would attend the UNASUR meeting in Brasilia. He also
indicated that if the CSD turned out to be no more than a
"consultative body", then the GOU would likely be open to
Uruguay's participation in it.
3. (C) Other military contacts we spoke with said they were
reluctant about embracing the proposal because of concerns
over sovereignty and Venezuelan participation. Some of the
same contacts implied that the uniformed officer's opinion
might not count for much in the decision of whether or not
Uruguay should join CSD.
Baxter