(C/NF) ADDITIONAL REPORTING REQUEST: PARAGUAY'S

id: 208372
date: 5/22/2009 14:44
refid: 09STATE52767
origin: Secretary of State
classification: CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
destination: 09ASUNCION222|09ASUNCION259
header:
VZCZCXYZ0006
RR RUEHWEB
DE RUEHC #2767 1421457
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 221444Z MAY 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 0724
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C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 052767
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2034
TAGS: PINR PGOV PREL PA
SUBJECT: (C/NF) ADDITIONAL REPORTING REQUEST: PARAGUAY'S
POLITICAL SITUATION AND NEW FOREIGN MINISTER (C-AL9-01126)
REF: A. ASUNCION 000259

B. ASUNCION 000222
Classified By: SUZANNE MCCORMICK, DIR., INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C).

1. (C/NF) SENIOR POLICYMAKERS ARE INTERESTED IN POLITICAL
DEVELOPMENTS IN PARAGUAY IN LIGHT OF RECENT POLITICAL
INSTABILITY AND CABINET CHANGES. WASHINGTON ANALYSTS
APPRECIATE REPORTING TO DATE ON LUGO'S TRAVAILS AND THEIR
IMPACT SO FAR ON PARAGUAY,S POLITICAL CLIMATE AND FOREIGN
POLICY. ANALYSTS WOULD APPRECIATE POST'S ANSWERS TO THE
QUESTIONS AND TOPICS BELOW, AS TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT. IF
POST'S ANSWERS ARE RECEIVED BY 6/05/2009, ANALYSTS WILL BE
ABLE TO INCORPORATE THEM INTO FINISHED ANALYTIC PRODUCTS FOR
SENIOR US POLICYMAKERS IN THE JUNE-JULY TIMEFRAME. MANY
THANKS FOR POST'S CONTINUALLY EXCELLENT COVERAGE OF
PARAGUAYAN POLITICS, AND BEST REGARDS FROM WASHINGTON.

A. (C) ANALYSTS APPRECIATED REF A, WHICH PROVIDED VALUABLE
INSIGHT INTO FOREIGN MINISTER LACOGNATA. REPORTING ON THE
NATURE OF LACOGNATA'S RELATIONSHIP WITH VENEZUELA AND ANY
ACTIVITIES LACOGNATA HAS HELPED ORGANIZE IN PARAGUAY FOR
VENEZUELA WOULD ALSO BE USEFUL.

B. (C) WHAT HAS LUGO SAID PRIVATELY TO US DIPLOMATS ABOUT
HIS ATTENDANCE TO THE ALBA SUMMIT IN VENEZUELA JUST BEFORE
THE SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS? HAS LUGO EXPRESSED AN INTEREST
IN JOINING ALBA, AND IF SO, WHAT IS HIS TIMELINE FOR
PARTICIPATING?

C. (C) WHAT IS THE NATURE OF PARAGUAYAN INTERNATIONAL
AFFAIRS ADVISOR GUSTAVO CODAS' RELATIONSHIP WITH VENEZUELAN
LEADERS?

D. (C) ANALYSTS APPRECIATE POST'S INSIGHT INTO THE DYNAMICS
OF LUGO'S &ALLIANCE FOR CHANGE8 COALITION, SUCH AS IN REF
B, AND WOULD APPRECIATE CONTINUED COVERAGE OF LUGO AND HIS
ADVISORS' STRATEGY FOR PROMOTING COALITION UNITY.

2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-AL9-01126 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF
REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS.
CLINTON
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