FMLN PUSHES PRAGMATISM

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 000915 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL ES SUBJECT: FMLN PUSHES PRAGMATISM Classified By: Charge Robert Blau, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: On July 29 three high ranking members of the (left-wing) FMLN told us that they accepted U.S. assistance to counter crime and drug trafficking and were supportive of International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA). They reiterated the FMLN,s intention to withdraw Salvadoran troops from Iraq if they win the 2009 elections and indicated that the FMLN might seek to modify CAFTA but recognize the difficulties of doing so. They said that the FMLN wants a strong relationship with the U.S. They declined when asked to identify where on the Latin American left spectrum they would place themselves. They said they would open diplomatic relations with Cuba. End Summary. ¶2. (C) On July 29, Charge and Poloffs met with FMLN General Coordinator Medardo Gonzalez, Legislative Assembly Deputy and FMLN Campaign Manager Roberto Lorenzana, and Legislative Assembly Deputy Hugo Martinez to discuss the presidential, legislative, and municipal elections to be held in 2009 and other related issues. Each took turns explaining that the FMLN had a more pragmatic approach than in past years and took a &longer view8 than some of their left-leaning counterparts in the hemisphere. They pointed out their partnership with the National Conciliation Party (PCN),as well as occasional agreements with (conservative, pro-U.S.) ARENA on legislation that coincided with the FMLN's political program, as examples of their pragmatism and willingness to reach out to other political parties. -------------- SEEKING ADJUSTMENTS TO CAFTA? -------------- ¶3. (C) Lorenzana stated the FMLN's current line on CAFTA, which the FMLN strongly opposed during negotiations and even after its passage. He suggested that the FMLN might seek to make "adjustments" to CAFTA in order to improve the agreement, but backed away when the Charge suggested how difficult that would be. They asserted the FMLN,s support for maintaining the dollarization of the Salvadoran economy, something they previously opposed. (Note: FMLN candidate Mauricio Funes and his economic advisor have also stated publicly their support for maintaining dollarization. End note.) -------------- FMLN ACCEPTS U.S. ASSISTANCE TO COMBAT CRIME -------------- ¶4. (C) All said they recognized the need for U.S. assistance to fight narco-trafficking and agreed that the U.S. and El Salvador must work together to combat crime. Lorenzana said that the FMLN has no intention of following the same path as Guatemala, where criminal elements have co-opted political and security structures. Gonzalez mentioned the 2007 killings of the Salvadoran PARLACEN deputies as an example of the crime problem. ¶5. (C) Martinez, echoed by Gonzalez, expressed the FMLN,s support for International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA). He said that much of the FMLN,s early opposition stemmed from a lack of information about the nature of ILEA training, but that a recent visit organized by the Embassy for FMLN members fully addressed these concerns. Martinez added that the FMLN was already on record favoring the continued presence of the counter-narcotics cooperative security location at the military side of Comalapa International Airport. -------------- FMLN WOULD LEAVE IRAQ -------------- ¶6. (C) Martinez asserted that if the FMLN wins the 2009 elections, they would pull Salvadoran troops out of Iraq. He said there were many reasons, including that the war was unpopular in the U.S. and thus hard to defend here. (Note: Public opinion polling has consistently shown Salvadorans opposed to having troops in Iraq. The latest poll shows 82 percent of Salvadorans oppose President Saca's plan to continue the Iraq deployment.) -------------- SEEKS TO MAINTAIN GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH U.S. -------------- ¶7. (C) As the conversation turned to the broader relationship between the U.S. and El Salvador, each FMLN representative said that a GOES under their leadership would want to maintain a good relationship with the U.S. Gonzalez cited the long historical relationship between the U.S. and El Salvador, and said that they would like that to continue, particularly with so many Salvadorans living in the U.S. Responding to Gonzalez's comment regarding a FMLN government broadening its diplomatic relations to include Cuba, Charge highlighted Cuba,s failed economy which would be a disaster for El Salvador to emulate. Gonzalez replied that El Salvador is very different from Cuba, and that the FMLN would work with the business community and even enjoyed support from small and medium businesses. Martinez said the FMLN wants good relationships with entire region, including trade relationships. ¶8. (C) Gonzalez reported that the FMLN,s governing platform was almost finished. He said that the FMLN had been working on it for nearly a year, had consulted with all sectors and regions, and was on track to adopt it in August. ¶9. (C) Comment: The FMLN representatives tried to emphasize pragmatism repeatedly throughout the meeting as if to distinguish themselves from the FMLN of years past. Their message was consistent with the public message they have cultivated for the past several months ) moderate and reasonable. Their whole campaign strategy aims to convince voters of this, but they are running into obstacles. This week business leaders publicly challenged Mauricio Funes' claim to be pro-business, noting that the FMLN is everything but. We take note of the FMLN's relatively benign statements, but do not accept their claims of pragmatism and willingness to cooperate with the U.S. at face value. Salvadoran municipal and legislative elections will be held January 18; presidential elections will be held March 15. BLAU =======================CABLE ENDS============================