MFA PLUGS HIGH-LEVEL MEETING, APPLAUDS IRAQ PLANS

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000381

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/11/2019
TAGS: PGOV IZ MOPS PREL KDEM PINR ENVR ASEC BL
SUBJECT: MFA PLUGS HIGH-LEVEL MEETING, APPLAUDS IRAQ PLANS

REF: A. SECSTATE 18283

B. 08 LAPAZ 2307

Classified By: A/EcoPol Chief Brian Quigley for reasons 1.4 (b, d)


1. (C) Summary: Post delivered demarche on Iraq (reftel A)
to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and received a generally
positive response. Conversation turned quickly to recent
House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearings on bilateral
relations, which MFA representatives used to ask again for a
meeting between Presidents Morales and Obama. End summary.

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Iraq's Alright; But What About Obama?
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2. (C) Post delivered demarche (Reftel A) to Ministry of
Foreign Affairs Yuri Arce, U.S. desk officer, and Maria
Estela Mendoza, Chief of American Affairs, March 5. Mendoza
said the government "applauded" such actions and would see it
as a "very positive" step forward, before adding that they
"want to see Iraq assume responsibilities" of self-governance
as soon as possible. Mendoza welcomed the opportunity to
understand better the details of the Iraq policy, but took
the opportunity to stress again the government's desire that
all correspondence be provided officially as diplomatic notes
(Reftel B).


3. (C) Conversation quickly turned to the U.S. House Foreign
Affairs Subcommittee's March 3 hearing on bilateral
relations. Although neither Arce nor Mendoza made
substantive comments about hearings, both seemed pleased that
U.S. attention had turned to Bolivia. Mendoza leveraged Rep.
Eliot Engel's (D-New York) call for high-level dialogue to
suggest a meeting between President Morales and President
Obama at the April 17 to 19 Summit of the Americas in Port of
Spain.


4. (C) Arce pointedly noted that bilateral relations were
still "complex" and said there needed to be more "confidence
building" measures. He noted that the July 23 meeting with
A/S Shannon had resulted in some good feelings, but that the
United States had not responded to the Bolivian MFA's
seven-point agenda (reftel). (Note: Some seven weeks after
this meeting, President Morales expelled our Ambassador. End
note.) Mendoza added that they had good relations with
Shannon and that "he understands the complexities of the
situation well." Arce, however, interjected that what the
MFA "wanted" was a meeting with President Obama.


5. (C) Arce said President Morales would likely travel to the
Summit of the Americas with two or three ministers, no more.
He added that the choice of ministers "would depend on whom
he was meeting with." Arce said, however, that Vice Minister
for Social Control (Drug Czar) Filipe Caceres would be part
of the delegation, anticipating a high-level meeting with the
U.S. along the margins of the Summit of the Americas. "We
expect to talk about our narcotics relationship (with the
United States)," added Arce. (Note: Our MFA contacts also
tell us the MFA is determined for a meeting with President
Obama and that any bilateral outreach below the level of
Secretary of State might be rebuffed. Septel. End Note.)

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Comment
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6. (C) President Morales' stated desire to have a
face-to-face meeting with President Obama has clearly
filtered down to the Ministry working level. The concept of
building up to such a meeting with a cessation of public
attacks and unwarranted expulsions, as a start, does not seem
to resonate with the Bolivian MFA. End comment.
URS