DEMARCHE DELIVERED: AMBASSADOR WILLIAM SWING'S IOM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN JOSE 000457 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/CEN AND IO/UNP E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2018 TAGS: PREF PREL SMIG AORC EUN XM XL CA CS SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: AMBASSADOR WILLIAM SWING'S IOM CANDIDACY REF: A. STATE 54616 ¶B. 07 STATE 93920 ¶C. 07 SAN JOSE 1350 Classified By: CDA Peter M. Brennan for reason 1.4 (d). ¶1. (C) On May 28, we delivered Ref A demarche to Alejandro Solano, the MFA's Deputy Director of Foreign Policy. Solano told us the GOCR had had its own troubles with Brunson McKinley. The GOCR did not favor McKinley's candidacy due to McKinley's on-again, off-again organization of a regional IOM office in Costa Rica. Solano said once the GOCR had everything ready to go, McKinley changed his mind because of his "enchantment with Panama's Ciudad Saber" project (a complex of international governmental offices) and he moved the site to Panama. Solano also mentioned that McKinley's leadership has been sliding over the last couple of years. Solano seemed pleased by the news that McKinley did not enjoy support from the USG. ¶2. (U) Solano also said that the MFA had communicated with the GOCR's Directorate of Immigration to solicit technical input for the MFA's decision criteria for the remaining candidates. ¶3. (C) CDA raised issue with MFA Chief of Staff Antonio Alarcon and highlighted Ambassador Swing's credentials and background. Alarcon indicated that Ambassador Swing would be a good choice but did not commit immediately to supporting him. We will monitor and follow up. CIANCHETTE