BOLIVIA: ENERGY AND CLIMATE PARTNERSHIP OF THE

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000586


FOR WHA/EPSC: FAITH CORNEILLE AND FRANCES COLON; DOE:
LINDSAY EINSTEIN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/14/2019
TAGS: KSUM ECON ENRG SENV BL KGHG
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA: ENERGY AND CLIMATE PARTNERSHIP OF THE
AMERICAS: DIPLOMATIC OUTREACH

REF: STATE 34126

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


1. (U) Econoff spoke with both General Director of
Multilateral Affairs in the Foreign Ministry Cecilia Chacon
and General Director on Climate Change Issues Jaime
Villanueva on April 15. Chacon will attend the Summit of the
Americas (SOA) as the Multilateral Representative. Villanueva
has previously worked with the Embassy and USAID on
coordinating resources.


2. (C) Chacon expressed her satisfaction with the new USG
approach to climate change and energy. Bolivia very much
supports the U.S. commitment to re-engage the international
community on these issues. Chacon said she would brief the
Summit delegation on the Partnership proposal, but her
initial reaction is that Bolivia would participate. She said
nearly all of the issues brought forth in reftel are
applicable to Bolivia, but their main interest would lie in
energy infrastructure, hydrocarbons development and
particularly energy poverty. (NOTE: Access to electricity and
telecommunications are currently "rights" of the people under
the newly-passed Bolivian constitution. END NOTE.) Bolivia
has been highly focused on climate change, Post would
anticipate this would be another area for which the Bolivians
would have a major interest. Econoff and Chacon agreed to
meet again post-Summit to discuss further participation.


3. (C) In a more candid part of the conversation, Chacon
admitted that there are "many" in the Bolivian Ministry of
Foreign Affairs who want to improve bilateral relations with
the United States. She said that the Summit, and particularly
themes such as climate change, could be a new opportunity for
cooperation. Her initial thought is that Bolivia would also
be interested in sending a delegation to the June Symposium
in Peru.


4. (C) Director Villanueva expressed similar satisfaction
with a U.S. change in energy policy. Although Villanueva will
not attend the Summit, he could potentially be part of the
delegation to the Peruvian Symposium if Bolivia were to send
one. He mentioned that during the proposed dates for the
Symposium, there is a Climate Change workshop in Germany, so
he would suggest perhaps switching the dates. Villanueva said
that climate change is a major theme for the Bolivian
government and that he very much looks forward to working on
the issue in a multilateral fora with the U.S.


URS