Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MONTEVIDEO444
2009-07-30 17:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Montevideo
Cable title:  

URUGUAY: PRESIDENT VAZQUEZ SEEKS MEETING WITH

Tags:  PREL PGOV UY 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0013
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMN #0444 2111746
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 301746Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9256
C O N F I D E N T I A L MONTEVIDEO 000444 

SIPDIS

FOR DEPUTY SECRETARY STEINBERG
WHA FOR CRAIG KELLY, CHRIS MCMULLEN, WHA/BSC, AND WHA/PPC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV UY
SUBJECT: URUGUAY: PRESIDENT VAZQUEZ SEEKS MEETING WITH
PRESIDENT OBAMA

Classified By: CDA Alfred Schandlbauer, for reason 1.4 (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L MONTEVIDEO 000444

SIPDIS

FOR DEPUTY SECRETARY STEINBERG
WHA FOR CRAIG KELLY, CHRIS MCMULLEN, WHA/BSC, AND WHA/PPC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2019
TAGS: PREL PGOV UY
SUBJECT: URUGUAY: PRESIDENT VAZQUEZ SEEKS MEETING WITH
PRESIDENT OBAMA

Classified By: CDA Alfred Schandlbauer, for reason 1.4 (d)


1. (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 7.


2. (C) On July 16, Foreign Minister Gonzalo Fernandez passed
along to Charge a second request for President Vazquez to
meet with President Obama in September (the first request was
made in March 2009 and reiterated in Fernandez, meeting with
Secretary Clinton on April 6). Vazquez is currently planning
to come to Washington September 15-18, prior to going to New
York for the UN General Assembly. However, Vazquez,s
schedule is flexible and he could come to DC earlier (or
later) if that better fits the President,s schedule.
Fernandez underscored that Uruguay is one of the countries in
the region that the USG can count on for support.


3. (C) Embassy Montevideo strongly endorses this request, as
the visit would be a critical way to reinforce Uruguay,s
consistent partnership with the U.S. Uruguay,s
left-of-center government enjoys considerable regional
credibility and holds leadership roles in multi-lateral
organizations. We have had strong cooperation from the GOU
on a broad range of issues, such as international
peacekeeping, managing the economic crisis, furthering trade
liberalization, and quietly moderating anti-Americanism in
the region.


4. (C) As the largest per-capita contributor to UN
peacekeeping missions, Uruguay's role in Haiti, Congo and
elsewhere continues to be crucial in stabilizing these
countries. As a new member of the governing board of the
International Atomic Energy Agency, Uruguay joined us in
supporting the election of Amano as Director General, and has
taken responsible stances on Iran. The GOU also voted for
the USG candidate for the Human Rights Council and worked
with us on the declarations on Sudan. Uruguay was
constructive in the OAS General Assembly deliberations on
Cuba, working with us to achieve the final compromise. In
regional fora such as ALADI, Rio Group, UNASUR, and Mercosur,
Uruguay has been a voice reinforcing democratic institutions,
prudent economic policies, and peaceful resolution of
conflicts. Most recently, in relation to the Honduran
crisis, Uruguay has distinguished itself within Mercosur in
promoting the Arias process and discouraging intervention by
other countries.


5. (C) In world trade and agricultural talks, ranging from
the Doha Round to Codex, Uruguay has been among the USG,s
allies. Similarly, the GOU has worked closely with Treasury
on macroeconomic and financial policy in the wake of the
global economic crisis. Military-military cooperation has
been blossoming in the past year and a half, with Uruguay
taking an increasingly important role in regional exercises
such as Panamax. Embassy Montevideo has also been working
closely with Uruguay on counternarcotics and money
laundering, and encouraging reduction in restrictive
sanitary-phytosanitary measures. Respect for labor rights is
among the strongest in the world, and Uruguay is a supporter
of stronger environmental protection.


6. (C) In short, under President Vazquez,s leadership,
Uruguay has been a consistent and constructive partner, a
stabilizing force in the region, and an ally in a range of
international discussions of strategic importance. A POTUS
meeting would be a valuable investment in this partnership at
a critical time.


7. (C) Action Request: Embassy requests guidance to respond
to the Uruguayan government request for a meeting in
Washington in September between President Vazquez and
President Obama.
Schandlbauer