(C/NF) KUDOS TO EMBASSY BRASILIA AND CONSULATE

S E C R E T STATE 048798 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/13/2034 TAGS: PINR PGOV PREL BR SUBJECT: (C/NF) KUDOS TO EMBASSY BRASILIA AND CONSULATE SAO PAULO FOR POLITICAL REPORTING (C-AL9-01102) REF: A. BRASILIA 001681 ¶B. BRASILIA 000161 ¶C. BRASILIA 000282 ¶D. SAO PAULO 000650 Classified By: SUZANNE MCCORMICK, DIR., INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (C/NF) KUDOS TO EMBASSY BRASILIA AND CONSULATE SAO PAULO FOR PROVIDING TIMELY AND RELEVANT POLITICAL REPORTING THAT WAS USED IN PRODUCTS TO SUPPORT THE VICE PRESIDENT'S TRIP TO CHILE IN MARCH. ¶2. (C/NF) REF A CONTAINED BOTH DETAILED REPORTING ON AND VALUABLE ANALYSIS OF INSTITUTIONAL DYNAMICS BETWEEN THE BRAZILIAN CONGRESS AND PLANALTO OVER PROVISIONAL MEASURES. THIS REPORTING INFORMS BOTH SHORT-TERM ANALYSIS AND LONGER-TERM ASSESSMENTS OF INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN BRAZIL. ¶3. (C/NF) REF B CONTAINED VALUABLE REPORTING ON THE STRUGGLE FOR CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP POSTS EARLIER THIS YEAR. REF B ALSO PROVIDED VALUABLE ASSESSMENTS OF THE BRAZILIAN DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT PARTY'S (PMDB) ELECTORAL STRATEGY AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THE UPCOMING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. ¶4. (C/NF) REF C PROVIDED NEW INSIGHTS INTO PLANALTO'S REGIONAL STRATEGY, WITH NEW SPECIFICS ON BRAZIL'S RELATIONSHIP WITH VENEZUELA, CUBA, AND BOLIVIA. REF C ALSO BROADLY OUTLINED BRAZIL'S REGIONAL INTEGRATION GOALS, WITH INTERESTING DETAILS REGARDING BRASILIA'S ATTITUDES TOWARDS ENERGY COOPERATION IN THE HEMISPHERE. ¶5. (C/NF) REF D PROVIDED INSIGHT INTO BRASILIA'S STRATEGY ON ETHANOL COOPERATION AND HIGHLIGHTED POTENTIAL POLICY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SAO PAULO GOVERNOR JOSE SERRA--A FIGURE WHO WILL FEATURE PROMINENTLY IN ANALYTICAL PRODUCTS AS WE APPROACH PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS--AND THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION. ¶6. (C/NF) ANALYSTS APPRECIATE THE CONSISTENTLY HIGH-CALIBER, TIMELY REPORTING ON BOTH DOMESTIC POLITICAL AND FOREIGN POLICY DEVELOPMENTS IN BRAZIL AND WISH TO CONVEY TO BOTH POSTS THAT THEIR REPORTING HAS FEATURED PROMINENTLY IN ANALYTIC PRODUCTS FOR TOP USG POLICYMAKERS. MANY THANKS, AND REGARDS FROM WASHINGTON. CLINTON