ST. VINCENT CONTINUES IRAN COURTSHIP IN HOPES OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000689 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2019 TAGS: PREL MNUC PGOV PHUM PARM IR XL SUBJECT: ST. VINCENT CONTINUES IRAN COURTSHIP IN HOPES OF AIRPORT FUNDING REF: 08 BRIDGETOWN 564 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires D. Brent Hardt, reasons 1.4 (b,d) -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) In his attempt to garner financial support for his signature International Airport project, St. Vincent Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves (with encouragement from Venezuela's Hugo Chavez) has sought to forge closer relations with Iran. Although he has held two meetings with Iranian president Ahmadinijad to date, Gonsalves acknowledged that his efforts have not yet succeeded in garnering tangible support from Iran despite a much publicized $7 million Iranian pledge in September, 2008. Gonsalves shared with the Charge his impressions of the Iranian leader and the broader scope of their discussions, which also touched on Iran's nuclear plans and issues of religious freedom. Gonsalves' insights provide a useful glimpse into the Iranian leader's world. End Summary. -------------- Gonsalves to Ahmadinijad Hat in Hand -------------- ¶2. (C) In a three-hour meeting with Prime Minister Gonsalves October 26, the Charge pressed Gonsalves about his recent meeting with Iranian President Ahmadinijad and the seemingly expanding ties between Iran and St. Vincent. Gonsalves said he had met Ahmadinijad on two recent occasions -- in late April in Tehran and in September at the UNGA -- and discussed a range of investment and social issues. In particular, Gonsalves sought financial support from Iran to assist in the stagnating construction of St. Vincent's Argyle International Airport project. Gonsalves claimed to have already received assistance from Cuba and Venezuela, with the latter supposedly footing a sizable portion of the bill to date. Despite a much ballyhooed Iranian pledge of $7 million made in September 2008 (reftel),PM Gonsalves acknowledged to the Charge that no Iranian funds have yet to be deposited into Vincentian accounts. The only progress so far, Gonsalves said, was that an Iranian construction team had visited St. Vincent to assess the airport site and construction requirements. It was unclear whether the assessment would translate into either financial or in-kind support. -------------- Ahmadinijad: Nuclear Weaponry "Un-Islamic" -------------- ¶3. (C) Asked by the Charge for his impressions of Ahmadinijad, Gonsalves said he had raised the issue of Iran's nuclear ambitions with Ahmadinijad during his April trip to Tehran. Gonsalves claimed that he urged the Iranian president to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency and comply with its guidelines. Ahmadinijad reportedly professed to Gonsalves that building nuclear weapon capabilities would not promote peaceful coexistence with other nations and would therefore be "un-Islamic." In this regard, Iran had no interest in developing a nuclear weapon capability. At the same time, Gonsalves added, Ahmadinijad said Iran regarded it as unfair that some states, who build and retain such weaponry, would seek to dictate to other states. The issue, Ahmadinijad explained, was one of principle: while Iran had no intention to develop nuclear weapons, it would not allow "others" to dictate its actions, but would make its decisions based on its Islamic character and national interests. -------------- Religious Diversity, Iranian-style -------------- ¶4. (C) During his visit to Tehran, immediately following a visit with Pope Benedict at the Vatican (as Gonsalves joked to seek advance absolution for his sin of visiting Ahmadinijad) Gonsalves asked his hosts to allow him to visit non-Islamic sites to gain a better understanding of Iran's professed religious diversity. With government minders watching closely, he said he visited a Zoroastrian temple and learned that, although separate from the Islamic faith, the temple was nevertheless under the direct control of the Iranian Government. He said he also asked Ahmadinijad directly about Iran's Baha'i community, allegedly hoping to relay concerns expressed by Vincentian Baha'is regarding systematic human rights abuses by the Iranian regime against that religious minority. Although claiming to be open to the existence of the Baha'is in Iran, Ahmadinijad cautioned that "sometimes" the Baha'i faith was used as a cover for Israeli intelligence agents operating in the country and region. Gonsalves claimed to have challenged Ahmadinijad's perception, noting that even the existence of a few cases should not be generalized to the entire religious community. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) Gonsalves, who once traveled to Libya as a young leftist academic, has long sought to squeeze whatever benefits he could from his ties with Muslim leaders. He believes that small states such as St. Vincent have no choice but to cast a wide net in its perennial search for assistance and financing. Gonsalves has previously acknowledged that his current efforts with Iran have been encouraged and abetted by Hugo Chavez, who has provided Iran a handy springboard for expanding its ties within the Hemisphere. The relationship benefits both sides: Iran needs friends in international fora wherever it can get them, and St. Vincent urgently needs financing for his overly ambitious airport project -- a prestige project Gonsalves hopes will boost St. Vincent's tourism prospects. What is not clear is whether Gonsalves understands the international political capital he may be squandering in the process. Opposition leader Arnhim Eustace called Gonsalves' move towards Iran "dangerous," the "wrong course," and bad for St. Vincent's reputation -- a view shared by many in St. Vincent. For the moment, Iran appears to be stringing St. Vincent along, securing a moderation of its votes in the UN without yet putting anything concrete on the table. HARDT