Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SANTIAGO577
2008-06-19 19:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:
CHILE AND BOLIVIA SIGN DEFENSE AGREEMENT
how-toP 191905Z JUN 08 FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3405 INFO AMEMBASSY ASUNCION PRIORITY AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES PRIORITY AMEMBASSY LA PAZ PRIORITY AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO PRIORITY SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTIAGO 000577
STATE FOR WHA/BSC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2018
TAGS: MARR MASS PREL BL CI
SUBJECT: CHILE AND BOLIVIA SIGN DEFENSE AGREEMENT
Classified By: E/Pol Counselor Juan A. Alsace. Reasons: 1.4 (b and d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTIAGO 000577
STATE FOR WHA/BSC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2018
TAGS: MARR MASS PREL BL CI
SUBJECT: CHILE AND BOLIVIA SIGN DEFENSE AGREEMENT
Classified By: E/Pol Counselor Juan A. Alsace. Reasons: 1.4 (b and d).
1. (U) SUMMARY: The governments of Chile and Bolivia signed
a historic defense agreement on June 16th designed to
strengthen cooperation and trust between the two militaries.
The agreement calls for greater transparency, mutual
collaboration, and cooperation between police and military
forces. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Defense Ministers Jose Goni of Chile and Walker San
Miguel of Bolivia signed a defense agreement during Goni's
visit to La Paz on June 16th. According to press reports,
this was the first such accord since the two countries fought
the 1879 War of the Pacific. The agreement highlights the
exchange of defense intelligence, peacetime operations,
bilateral cooperation to further military interests, greater
transparency in defense expenditures, and measures to
deactivate landmines along the Chilean-Bolivian border. The
Defense Ministers signed the agreement one day before Chile
and Bolivia met to continue discussions on the 13-point plan.
3. (SBU) Foreign Ministry Special Policies Officer Pablo
Castro told Poloff June 17th that the agreement was general
enough to be "politically safe" in both countries, while
allowing the two defense ministries flexibility to pursue
confidence-building measures designed to strengthen trust.
Castro highlighted the de-mining cooperation and transparency
in defense spending as two specific areas that, over the long
run, could build additional confidence between Chilean and
Bolivian defense sectors. Poloff asked if Chile's Foreign
Ministry supported the agreement. Castro replied the MFA had
blessed it in advance, adding that its content was consistent
with the 13-point plan the two countries were discussing at
the Deputy Foreign Minister-level.
4. (C) COMMENT: The agreement, which was in the works for
some time, constitutes one of the most visible
confidence-building measures in the eyes of Chile's Defense
Ministry. Its contents remain largely unknown in Chile and
it has received little press play. Nevertheless, Defense
Ministry officials, interested in deepening relations with
Bolivia, hope it will provide a framework for more concrete
cooperation in the future.
SIMONS
STATE FOR WHA/BSC
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2018
TAGS: MARR MASS PREL BL CI
SUBJECT: CHILE AND BOLIVIA SIGN DEFENSE AGREEMENT
Classified By: E/Pol Counselor Juan A. Alsace. Reasons: 1.4 (b and d).
1. (U) SUMMARY: The governments of Chile and Bolivia signed
a historic defense agreement on June 16th designed to
strengthen cooperation and trust between the two militaries.
The agreement calls for greater transparency, mutual
collaboration, and cooperation between police and military
forces. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Defense Ministers Jose Goni of Chile and Walker San
Miguel of Bolivia signed a defense agreement during Goni's
visit to La Paz on June 16th. According to press reports,
this was the first such accord since the two countries fought
the 1879 War of the Pacific. The agreement highlights the
exchange of defense intelligence, peacetime operations,
bilateral cooperation to further military interests, greater
transparency in defense expenditures, and measures to
deactivate landmines along the Chilean-Bolivian border. The
Defense Ministers signed the agreement one day before Chile
and Bolivia met to continue discussions on the 13-point plan.
3. (SBU) Foreign Ministry Special Policies Officer Pablo
Castro told Poloff June 17th that the agreement was general
enough to be "politically safe" in both countries, while
allowing the two defense ministries flexibility to pursue
confidence-building measures designed to strengthen trust.
Castro highlighted the de-mining cooperation and transparency
in defense spending as two specific areas that, over the long
run, could build additional confidence between Chilean and
Bolivian defense sectors. Poloff asked if Chile's Foreign
Ministry supported the agreement. Castro replied the MFA had
blessed it in advance, adding that its content was consistent
with the 13-point plan the two countries were discussing at
the Deputy Foreign Minister-level.
4. (C) COMMENT: The agreement, which was in the works for
some time, constitutes one of the most visible
confidence-building measures in the eyes of Chile's Defense
Ministry. Its contents remain largely unknown in Chile and
it has received little press play. Nevertheless, Defense
Ministry officials, interested in deepening relations with
Bolivia, hope it will provide a framework for more concrete
cooperation in the future.
SIMONS