HOUSE OF DEPUTIES DECLARES SUPPORT FOR U.S. COOPERATION

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000615 SIPDIS WHA/FO CMCMULLEN, WHA/BSC MDRUCKER, BFRIEDMAN, MDASCHBACH E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL MASS PGOV PA SUBJECT: HOUSE OF DEPUTIES DECLARES SUPPORT FOR U.S. COOPERATION REF: ASUNCION 569; ASUNCION 579; ASUNCION 595 ¶1. Paraguay's House of Deputies approved September 22 a declaration lamenting the September 15 decision of the Lugo administration to reject the New Horizons humanitarian exercise scheduled for 2010. ¶2. Unofficial translation of the declaration follows: DECLARATION NO. 54 THAT LAMENTS THE DECISION OF THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH TO REJECT THE SOCIAL-MILITARY PROGRAM OF COOPERATION WITH THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (NEW HORIZONS 2010) IN PARAGUAY THE HONORABLE HOUSE OF DEPUTIES OF THE NATION DECLARES: Article 1: That it laments the decision of the President of the Republic Fernando Armindo Lugo Mendez to not accept the Agreement on Humanitarian Assistance named "New Horizons 2010 Social-Military Cooperation of the United States of America." Article 2: Urges the President of the Republic of Paraguay Fernando Armindo Lugo Mendez to create new cooperation programs with the Government of the United States of America. Article 3: Communicates to those concerned and to archive. GIVEN IN THE CHAMBER OF THE HONORABLE HOUSE OF DEPUTIES OF THE NATION ON THE TWENTY-SECOND DAY OF THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER IN TWO THOUSAND NINE. /s/ Oscar Luis Tuma Bogado, Parliamentary Secretary /s/ Enrique Salyn Buzarquis Caceres, President, House of Deputies ¶3. Comment: Many members of Paraguay's Congress continue to inquire about the New Horizons exercise and express disappointment that the exercise will not go forward. Political actors from across the spectrum urge us to look for additional ways to cooperate with Paraguay's military. Post continues to actively engage GOP on mil to mil projects and believes that cooperation will continue. End Comment. AYALDE