DELIVERED: SPECIAL 301 - BOLIVIA 2009

UNCLAS LA PAZ 000637 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DOC PASS AWILSON DOL PASS MPETTIS DOJ PASS JZACHARIA DHS PASS MMDUDEK LOC PASS PPINHA NSC PASS DBELL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KIPR ECON ETRD BL SUBJECT: DELIVERED: SPECIAL 301 - BOLIVIA 2009 REF: SECSTATE 42891 ¶1. Econoff delivered reftel to Dr. Alvaro Sepulveda Rivero, Executive Director of the Bolivian National Service of Intellectual Property (SENAPI) April 29. Dr. Sepulveda was unfamiliar with the Special 301 list but said he was relieved that Bolivia had not been moved to the Priority Watch List. He explained that he was the fifth person to head SENAPI in the past year. ¶2. Dr. Sepulveda said he would pass the information on to his superiors and emphasized his willingness to hear about positive examples of countries that had successfully removed themselves from the list. He said that his tactics for combating piracy were to reach out to universities and social groups to change their mentality of protection of intellectual property. He said his office brought in several speakers for World IPR Day and that any type of training or guidance from the USG in these matters would be much appreciated. ¶3. Dr. Sepulveda admitted that some areas of concern in reftel would be very difficult to confront given President Morales' stance on "protection" of foreign companies. He said that pharmaceuticals were particularly an issue, as under the new constitution, people are guaranteed health and medical treatment. He did agree he would try to work further with the other branches of government, particularly on increasing the enforcement and punishments for violations. He further asked to be sent a copy of both Watch Lists as to potentially work with neighboring countries on improving contraband control and access to legal goods. ¶4. POC at Post for Special 301/IPR issues is Kelly Diiro; diirokl@state.gov, (591) 2-216-8225. URS