Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LAPAZ957
2009-06-26 23:04:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy La Paz
Cable title:  

BOLIVIA: CDA, FM DISCUSS BILAT RELATIONSHIP

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM PINR BL 
pdf how-to read a cable
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C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000957 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PINR BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA: CDA, FM DISCUSS BILAT RELATIONSHIP

Classified By: A/EcoPol Chief Holly Monster for reasons 1.4 (b, d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000957

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PINR BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA: CDA, FM DISCUSS BILAT RELATIONSHIP

Classified By: A/EcoPol Chief Holly Monster for reasons 1.4 (b, d)


1. (C) Summary: Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca
welcomed new Charge d'Affaires James Creagan June 26 at what
he called a "historic moment" in the country's history.
Although he emphasized his desire to return the bilateral
relationship to a state of normalcy, Choquehuanca admitted
not everyone in the GOB shared this desire. He underlined
the government's desire for investment, but only with the GOB
in control and without damaging "mother earth." Choquehuanca
discussed the arrival of the Secretary's special envoy Maria
Echaveste to Bolivia and expressed his hope that framework
agreement negotiations could be concluded in no more than
"two or three" more meetings. End summary.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
FM Welcomes CDA Creagan, Hopes for Change
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2. (C) In a pleasant meeting at the Foreign Ministry June 26,
FM David Choquehuanca and Director of Bilateral Affairs Jean
Paul Guevara welcomed Charge d'Affaires James Creagan to
Bolivia. Choquehuanca quickly expressed his hope that
Creagan's arrival would coincide with a return to normalcy in
the bilateral relationship, calling the May 20 and 21 visit
by A/S Thomas Shannon "favorable" and a good step toward a
new bilateral framework agreement. After expressing his
optimism, however, Choquehuanca noted there was a
"complicated history" between our countries. To illustrate
what he said was the U.S.' dominant and "neoliberal" role in
the country, he said that over the years one might speak of
the "Embassy of Denmark or the Russian Embassy, but with the
U.S., one only ever needed to say 'the Embassy' and it was
obvious who you meant."


3. (C) Choquehuanca remained positive, however, and affirmed
that "change is possible." He discussed how when he was
growing up, "Chile was always our enemy... In the schools we
learned this, and we marched every year and sang songs
demanding access to the sea." Choquehuanca and Guevara sang
one of the songs before Choquehuanca continued, "but now we
have a new climate of dialogue with Chile; it is going well.
We want better relations between peoples, with Chile and with

all countries."


4. (C) Calling this period in Bolivia a "historic moment,"
Choquehuanca said the GOB desired investment and business
partnerships that would benefit "a very poor country." "We
can guarantee judicial security. We want investment. We
have natural resources, like lithium. We want to bring
technology here and add value to products." However, he said
that as per the new constitution, the GOB would have to have
majority control and such projects would have to "benefit
mother earth too."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Bilateral Talks: "Rapid Agreement"
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


5. (C) Returning to the bilateral relationship, Choquehuanca
said he hoped we could build on A/S Shannon's visit and
complete a new framework or umbrella agreement quickly.
"There is a permanent conversation between Shannon and
(Bolivian Charge to the UN Pablo) Solon. They have agreed to
postpone the next round of discussions from June 29 for two
or three weeks until after we receive and review the U.S.
counterproposal to our framework agreement draft. By the
third round, we hope to close discussions. We don't want to
wait many rounds for nothing. Let us not prolong this
process." Charge affirmed Choquehuanca's desire for rapid
progress toward a new agreement, which could be a kind of
"umbrella" covering the myriad of specific accords. The
Charge underlined the revitalizing presence of the new Obama
administration and the Secretary's desire to "move forward."


6. (C) Choquehuanca then provided Charge with a rough agenda

of meetings for the Secretary's special envoy, including
discussions of ATPDEA, the extradition of former President
Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada, the Millennium Challenge account,
and counternarcotics cooperation. The meetings would take
place with most of the same GOB representatives that
participated in A/S Shannon's May 20 and 21 visit.

- - - -
Comment
- - - -


7. (C) FM Choquehuanca was very relaxed and told several
stories, some of which illustrated his belief that a
rapprochement in bilateral relations was possible, and others
that were more barbed. After recalling that he "had never
finished a book in his life," Choquehuanca amended the
statement, saying he "had read one" (on managing conflict)
when he thought he was to attend a seminar at Harvard.
However, his visa was denied, and he said he found out he was
on a "black list." Choquehuanca said he was proud to be on
such a list and noted laughingly that after becoming Foreign
Minister "they had to give me the visa!" On balance,
however, Choquehuanca conformed to his role as the "positive
face" of the GOB and repeatedly advocated closer ties.
Still, Choquehuanca's views are not held universally in the
government. After one exchange in which he evinced his
desire to improve relations, Choquehuanca wryly admitted
under his breath that "there were a few in the GOB" who did
not feel that way. The Charge concluded the meeting by
presenting Choquehuanca with President Obama's book (in
Spanish) "The Audacity of Hope," remarking on its emphasis on
hope. End comment.
CREAGAN