SAO PAOLO FORUM: ANTI-AMERICAN ASSEMBLY AT IT AGAIN

C O N F I D E N T I A L MONTEVIDEO 000313 SIPDIS DEPT ALSO FOR WHA/BSC NSC FOR DFISK AND GTOMASULO SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2018 TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR UY SUBJECT: SAO PAOLO FORUM: ANTI-AMERICAN ASSEMBLY AT IT AGAIN Classified By: Ambassador Frank E. Baxter for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D) ¶1. (C) Summary: 844 participants from 35 countries gathered on May 22-25 for the Fourteenth Meeting of the Forum of Sao Paulo (FSP) in Montevideo. The Government of Uruguay (GOU) tried to distance itself. Paraguayan president elect Fernando Lugo was in town but did not attend. The final declaration contains strong anti-American statements and contends that the U.S. and its allies promote regional instability. Embassy Montevideo believes it is worthwhile to track the FSP; it resonates in Uruguay and it is an established clearinghouse for anti-U.S. groups throughout Latin America. End Summary. Background -------------- ¶2. (U) The FSP consists of leftist parties and organizations in Latin America and meets annually in alternating Latin American capitals. Thirteen heads of state in Latin America come from parties that are members of the FSP. The FSP was created by the Workers, Party of Brazil in 1990, and 2008 is the second time that the group has met in Montevideo. The participants cover a wide range of the political left, ranging from the terrorist group FARC to the moderate Frente Amplio (FA) of the GOU. The FSP presents itself as a community of like-minded organizations working together to improve Latin America. Ortega stands alone -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Despite early press that heralded the attendance of several heads of state, Daniel Ortega is the only president who attended the forum. Vazquez and the GOU studiously avoided the event, but did host a dinner for Ortega, per protocol. Legislators were the highest level present from the Uruguayan government, but former GOU Ministers were present. As in the past, several countries outside of Latin America sent delegations of observers, including a 6-10 person delegation from China and delegates from Puerto Rico, Spain, France, and Vietnam. Forum Declarations -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The FSP Final Declaration celebrates the success of leftist politics in Latin America and states that &We are not in an era of changes, rather we are experiencing a change of eras.8 However, according to the declaration, the U.S. and its allies, conservative political parties in Latin America, transnational corporations, and international financial organizations are all undermining development and promoting instability in the region. ¶5. (SBU) The main topics in the final declaration consider: the effects of globalization, Colombia/USG policy on the Global War On Terrorism, the environment, and the world financial situation including potential food shortages. In all instances, the declaration places blame on the U.S. or another existing international body. A primary objective of the FSP is to create or grow regional organizations that are parallel to existing international organizations, but that promote leftist ideas. The final declaration on Colombia calls for peace and states that U.S. military aid to Colombia has heightened violence. The FARC is an official member of the Forum, but has not participated in the meetings since being designated as a Foreign Terrorist organization. Media reaction -------------- ¶6. (U) The local press followed the forum for its duration, but placed relatively low emphasis on the outcome; only the left-leaning press featured a front-page mention. One local publication sarcastically reported that the forum &blamed the U.S. for all of the plagues threatening humanity.8 Much of the press focused on Ortega, who used his time in the limelight to condemn capitalism and pay homage to the recently deceased FARC leader Manuel Marulanda. Other press reports quoted former Venezuelan presidential candidate Alejandro Pena Esclusa criticizing Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and the inclusion of the FARC in the forum. A related article quoted a recent study that found widespread support for the FARC in Latin America including 400 legal and illegal organizations. Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) Despite the harsh anti-American language in the declaration, keynote speaker Belela Herrera, former vice Foreign Minister of the GOU and political advisor to the FA, met with PolOff and downplayed the importance of the event. Leading up to the forum, local journalist Fabian Werner noted that &the debate promises certain discomforts for the Uruguayan left.8 This proved to be true as the FSP condemns unilateral trade agreements while the FA develops the TIFA with the U.S. ¶8. (C) Although the event could be considered a failure because of the low turnout of high-profile figures, it drew considerable attention from the whole of Latin America. The FSP is a political body with considerable "soft power", and the number of Latin American presidents associated continues to grow. The Forum tends to provide unconditional support to its members: one local paper points out that along with Chavez, the FSP is a significant international body that still supports the FARC. End Comment. Baxter