EL SALVADOR: ENGAGING PRESIDENT-ELECT FUNES

S E C R E T SAN SALVADOR 000244 TO WHA A/S TOM SHANNON FROM CHARGE E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD PINR ES SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR: ENGAGING PRESIDENT-ELECT FUNES Classified By: Charge d'Affaires; for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S) Tom, your visit here had great impact, building upon President Obama's congratulatory call to President-Elect Funes, and Embassy's aggressive engagement of Funes and the FMLN for the past year. For most of that time, and even now, everyone has been speculating over whether a Funes-led GOES would be run by a relatively moderate Funes or radical FMLN former guerrillas who would be loyal to Castro's Cuba and Chavez's Venezuela. As of now we no longer consider this an academic, analytical exercise, but rather a policy imperative to engage Funes as much as possible to ensure that the balance of power in the new GOES is centrist and pragmatic. We know the other side will mobilize to push for the opposite outcome. ¶2. (S) Following your meeting with Funes Wednesday afternoon, and Funes's stated interest in proceeding along these lines, I have identified five subsets of the country team and asked them to prepare slide-show briefings for the Funes advisers in the following areas. We will begin these as soon as possible after Funes returns from Brazil: -- Law Enforcement: INL and the many law enforcement agencies at post will brief the Merida Initiative, Transnational Anti-Gang center, ILEA, counterdrug, fingerprint exchange program, etc. Embassy outreach to FMLN and ARENA party legislators is moving closer to producing a new text for a wiretap law. -- Trade, Investment: ECON, FCS and USAID will brief CAFTA, US investments, and programs for trade capacity building, as well as Pathways to Prosperity (and, we hope, a possible visit by the Secretary of State). -- USG Assistance: USAID and MCC will brief their multiple projects and programs, with emphasis on continuity of MCC's local management structure. The USAID Director will meet with Mrs. Funes, as she requested. -- Military: DAO and MilGroup will brief on the FOL, and mil-to-mil programs, highlighting the upcoming visit of the USS Comfort, other Medical Readiness training, and the possibility of Salvadoran troops deploying to Afghanistan. -- Migration: CONS, DHS, and ICE will brief on repatriation (JPATs) flights, Temporary Protective Status, and overall USG immigration law and policy. ¶3. (S) We will also engage civil society, the media, and the public, where we believe there is already overwhelming support for USG engagement. I will urge that media conduct polling to demonstrate just how solid this support is, and continue the discussion you began with business leaders on Wednesday evening. In fact today (Friday, March 20),we are meeting with the American Chamber of Commerce; and next Wednesday we are invited to lead a discussion (open to media) with 100-150 alumni from the prestigious INCAE business school. ¶4. (S) International: At your request I gave an outbrief of your visit to the Brazilian Ambassador, who is himself on the pro-American extreme of his country's diplomatic service--based on his tour as ConGen in Miami. He agrees that we should build on the biofuels program that is already underway, and in general urge that Funes's relationship with Lula (the two are meeting on Monday, March 23) serve as a counter-balance in LATAM to Castro and Chavez. The Israeli ambassador (also a former ConGen in Miami) told me this morning that FMLN legislator, Hugo Martinez, a possible Funes foreign minister, has participated in exchange programs with Israel, and "gets it" about Iran and terrorism. Iranian influence is Israel's principal concern. ¶5. (S) In conclusion, and thanks in large part to your visit, we have many levers to use with the new Funes administration. Funes's ecstatic reaction to the call from President Obama portends well for a favorable atmosphere when the two cross paths in Trinidad and Tobago, as well as when Funes gets a chance to meet the Vice President in San Jose on March 30. BLAU