DIPLOMATIC DIALOGUE IN RECIFE: DEEPER ENGAGEMENT SOUGHT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RECIFE 000063 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KPAO PREL PGOV ECON EPET ETRD EIND SCUL SENV SUBJECT: DIPLOMATIC DIALOGUE IN RECIFE: DEEPER ENGAGEMENT SOUGHT REF: (A) BRASILIA 1104 (B) 7/28/09 WHA/PDA EMAIL ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In a broad off-the-record discussion of U.S.-Brazil foreign policy issues hosted by the PO and Recife's PD section a select group of Pernambuco opinion leaders attended a breakfast meeting and expressed their points of view about the foreign policy of the Obama administration and the attitude toward the U.S. of the Lula government. All the participants were pleased to participate in the initiative and have high expectations that this will be the first of many events to discuss the relationship between U.S. and Brazil. They thought that the election of President Obama was symbolic and a significant change of the U.S. image to the world from the previous Administration, commenting on a more open dialogue. The group noted President Obama enjoys admiration from most Brazilians and stressed that Obama should not lose this opportunity to take our bilateral relationship to the next level. END SUMMARY ¶2. (SBU) The participants felt the relations between the two countries should focus in key issues of mutual concern and that Brazil now shares a responsibility to look beyond its own narrow interests if it is to become a global power. They agreed that Brazil could partner with the U.S. on environmental issues and in technological innovation. Some added relations with the Northeast - the poorest region of the country, but with economic potential - could be improved. They also asked for a clarification on the role of U.S. military strategy including the Fourth Fleet and use of bases in Colombia. Brazilian participants: Raul Jungmann Deputado Federal (PPS-PE),environmentalist Andri Regis political scientist, professor, lawyer, active member of PE bar association and local PSDB party Thales Castro political scientist, professor Josui Mussalim economist, consultant, analyst and historian Renato Cunha president of Pernambuco's sugar producers association, Sindagucar Marcos Antonio da Silva Costa federal prosecutor, former International Visitor Karla Menezes Recife's Secretary of Social Development, former state President of PT, former International Visitor - deals with disadvantage families, women issues Jt Mazzarolo Globo Nordeste TV news director �A; Claudio Marinho former State Secretary of Science & Technology, Special Advisor to Senator Jarbas Vasconcelos (PMDB-PE) Sergio Xavier Green Party (PV) president in Pernambuco Gustavo Maia Gomes economic consultant, professor at Federal University of Pernambuco (UFPE) ¶3. (SBU) Most of the interlocutors expressed the view that the world is moving from a unipolar system led by the U.S. to a more multi-polar era. A few commented that Brazil has much more in common with the U.S. than with fellow BRICs, especially China. The closer relations expected between the Obama and Lula governments brought some to compare the situation to the Eisenhower and Kennedy Administrations' more intense engagement with Brazil during the Cold War. Security and Innovation Crucial for Northeast -------------- -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The group spoke about how we need to work together on issues that affect the Northeast, all of Brazil, and global issues such as the environment. Particularly important for Recife and the Northeast are Public Security and Law Enforcement, and partnerships on developing new technologies with Recife's IT cluster - Porto Digital, innovation and patents, and green technologies. One participant was enthusiastic about ways Brazil can learn from the U.S. on how to RECIFE 00000063 002 OF 002 live greener (i.e. using public transport or biking to work, trying to consume less) and proposed the idea the U.S. and Brazil could sign up for a pilot government to government carbon swap project. Another spoke about how we could work together on health care issues, human trafficking and child labor issues and women's rights. ¶5. (SBU) Some in the groups lamented a lack of specific focus by the USG on the Northeast, with one proposing a program based on the Caribbean Basin Initiative, while another argued that the Northeast needs a focus on innovation and partnership in research and technology, as opposed to more traditional development assistance, that plays into the stereotype of Brazil's Northeast always looking for a government handout. While the group found Embassy Brasilia's economic focus on the Southeast and Sco Paulo understandable, they felt that biofuels cooperation on renewable energy technology could take a more substantive shape with the Northeast Brazil's New Role -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Federal Deputy Raul Jungmann in particular spoke about how Brazil has moved from a global trader to a global player. He pointedly asked what new initiatives the USG had for Brazil and what kind of reform the United States supported for global institutions. He mentioned that after September 2001, the USG focused more on Asia and the Mideast, ceding leadership in the hemisphere, and that Brazil was stepping into what he saw as a leadership vacuum in Latin America. He views Brazil as looking to improve its military capability so it can project power outside its borders and strengthen its aspirations for a permanent UNSC seat. Jungmann also floated the idea that Brazil might want to propose a "Marshall Plan" type social program for the other nations of South America. Increased Partnership Possible -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The group agreed that the main areas to work together are innovation and technology, biofuels, education and drugs - recognizing Brazil is now one of the top consumers of drugs with many of its neighbors being drug producers. But many sought a new orientation for U.S.-Brazil partnership. For example, on counter-terrorism laws, Brazil does not have sufficient legislation, but tends to minimize the real threat of terrorism in part because of the way Brazil sees itself. On energy security, the group mentioned the appearance that the Fourth Fleet re-establishment of the Fourth Fleet is linked with Brazil's Pre-Salt resources and reminded us the old U.S. Fourth Fleet was based out of Recife to protect the South Atlantic. Many in the group agreed that Copenhagen will be a critical test for Obama's Presidency, as viewed from the rest of the world. ¶8. (SBU) One person observed that Brazil's view of the U.S. is very positive and President Obama enjoys admiration from most Brazilians, but stressed that Obama should not lose his momentum. The participant suggested the USG act quickly and on the scale of something like the Kennedy Administration and the Alliance for Progress, to demonstrate to Brazilians that the U.S. is re-engaging with the world. He mentioned that he saw a crowding-out effect from China's relations with developing countries, changing the North-South dynamic to a "North-South-South" situation. Moving the Dialogue Forward -------------- ¶9. (SBU) The group is looking forward to continued engagement and liked the idea of constituting a think tank environment for engagement not just with the consulate, but with a similar group public and private sector counterparts in the U.S., possibly with involvement from the Brazilian Embassy in Washington and/or a Brazilian consulate with a focus on a city such as Atlanta. The identified a need for more exchanges on the private side, in addition to USG programs, since they thought most Americans have no idea about Brazil beyond samba and soccer. They are eager to further discuss ideas on ways to improve relations between our countries and to help increase this dialogue. ¶10. (SBU) COMMENT: The group was very sincere in its desire to help see our bilateral relationship grow, but somewhat unfocused on how best to get there. The idea that we need to treat Brazil like an equal and not focus on aid projects was mentioned time and again but so was the desire receive U.S. technology transfers and advantaged trade rules. Even thought the group saw Brazil as a new global player, for the most part they are still waiting for the U.S. to take the lead in changing the bilateral relationship to reflect this new paradigm. END COMMENT DEL CORSO