Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LIMA1131
2009-08-05 22:12:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lima
Cable title:  

PRESIDENT, FOREIGN MINISTER TALK PERU'S FOREIGN

Tags:  PGOV PREL PINR PTER PE 
pdf how-to read a cable
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C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 001131 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR PTER PE
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT, FOREIGN MINISTER TALK PERU'S FOREIGN
RELATIONS, COLOMBIA BASES, AND REGIONAL CONCERNS

Classified By: Amb. P Michael McKinley for reasons 1.4b and d.

C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 001131

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/06/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR PTER PE
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT, FOREIGN MINISTER TALK PERU'S FOREIGN
RELATIONS, COLOMBIA BASES, AND REGIONAL CONCERNS

Classified By: Amb. P Michael McKinley for reasons 1.4b and d.


1. (C) Summary: Ambassador McKinley met in late July with
President Alan Garcia and spoke separately on several recent
occasions with Foreign Minister Jose Garcia Belaunde. Garcia
and Belaunde discussed a range of Peruvian foreign policy
issues, including the situation in Honduras, Colombian
politics and bases, Venezuelan asylum seekers and trade,
Ecuador's weak government, outreach to Paraguayan President
Lugo, and the status of relations with Chile and Bolivia. In
some of the highlights, Belaunde emphasized the importance of
a stronger US role in resolving the Honduran crisis,
expressed support for Colombian President Uribe on the bases
issue, said Peru continued to try to reduce tensions with
Bolivia. The Foreign Minister emphasized the importance that
Garcia be able to meet with President Obama at the earliest
opportunity. End Summary.

Honduras Viewed Through Chavez Prism
--------------

2. (C) Ambassador had a small informal dinner on July 21 with
President Garcia and spoke with Foreign Minister Jose Garcia
Belaunde on July 21, July 27th, and August 4th. Both Foreign
Minister Belaunde and President Garcia view the Honduras
situation in the context of the regional contest with
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. As such, both view
Zelaya's ouster as the first major setback for Chavez's
efforts to dominate Latin America and clearly would prefer a
solution to the crisis that does not allow Zelaya to return
to Honduras with much power. Both the President and his
Foreign Minister are disappointed with OAS Secretary General
Jose Miguel Insulza's handling of the crisis and believe he
has been manipulated by Chavez. They believe he has failed
to conduct honest diplomacy in favor of public grandstanding.


3. (C) Garcia and the FM praised Secretary Clinton for
allowing the OAS to rush in to take the lead on the Honduras
crisis but then supporting Costa Rican President Oscar Arias
as the principle mediator. At the same time, they think
Arias may have reached an impasse, and Belaunde argued that

only a more visible USG presence in negotiations can resolve
the crisis. In each conversation, Belaunde reiterated the
case for a strong and visible US role in defusing the crisis.
Comment: The GOP has sought to smooth its sometimes tense
relations with Venezuela and Bolivia in the past couple
weeks, including by holding a recent Foreign Minister-level
meeting with La Paz. Given this context, we doubt that Peru
itself is likely to take a more visible or forward-leaning
approach in dealing with President Chavez or the Honduran
crisis. End Comment.

Regional Round Up
--------------

4. (C) The President and FM gave their views on the principal
challenges in the region:

--Colombia: President Garcia said he did not believe
Colombian President Alvaro Uribe would run for a third term
in office. Belaunde said he believed the resignations of
Defense Minister Juan Manuel Santos and Ambassador to London
Neomi Sanin also indicated that Uribe would not attempt to
hold on to power. Regarding Uribe's visit to discuss the
bases issue, Belaunde said Peru supports Colombia, and
publicly stated that they are "not traditional military
bases" and that "Colombia's sovereignty is respected."
Garcia likewise publicly praised Uribe's "efforts to promote
the democratic model throughout the continent."

--Venezuela: Foreign Minister Belaunde indicated that a
Venezuelan backer of opposition leader Manuel Rosales would
soon be granted asylum in Peru. Regarding bilateral trade,
Belaunde reported that Peru has increased textiles sales to
Venezuela since the crisis in the US market, but the GOV
refuses to release the $500 million in foreign exchanged
needed to pay Peruvian producers. The GOP will continue
pushing for payment.

--Ecuador: Belaunde stressed the GOP's close relationship
with Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, but emphasized
Correa's political weakness and said the US should be careful
not to confront or undermine him. Belaunde said Uribe is

making a mistake by baiting Correa on the FARC issue.
(Ecuador's Foreign Minister is visited Peru on August 5th to
discuss bilateral ties and to prepare for presidential talks
in October.)

--Paraguay: Belaunde discussed his efforts to convince
President Garcia to invite Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo
to Peru. Lugo himself has requested the visit to demonstrate
that he was not enthralled to Venezuela and its alliance of
ALBA countries. Garcia, however, remains disinclined.

--Bolivia: Belaunde said the GOP is working hard to reduce
tensions with Bolivia and keep the relationship as quiet as
possible.

--Chile: Belaunde and Garcia both view Chilean President
Michelle Bachelet and Foreign Minister Mariano Fernandez as
unnecessarily provocative towards Peru and are concerned
about Chile's continued arms buildup. President Garcia
openly hoped for opposition leader Sebastian Pinera to win
the presidential election later this year.

FM Underscores Symbolic Importance of Garcia-Obama Meeting
-------------- --------------

5. (SBU) Belaunde spoke about the importance of having a
working level meeting between President Garcia and President
Obama. The political struggle for the hearts and minds of
Latin America continues, he explained, and President Obama's
meetings with Colombian President Uribe and Chilean President
Bachelet while leaving President Garcia out of the mix left
the impression that Peru was not part of the mainstream.
Garcia Belaunde emphasized the symbolic importance of such a
meeting, and hoped it could take place in the next few months
(either before or after UNGA, which President Garcia did not
plan to attend) while Peru continued to enjoy a lull in
internal social tensions. Vice Minister Popolizzio
reiterated the importance of a Garcia-Obama meeting in a July
31 conversation with Charge.
MCKINLEY