

Currently released so far... 12689 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AF
ASEC
AR
AEMR
AMGT
AE
AU
AID
AORC
APER
AS
AM
AFIN
AMED
AJ
AGR
ACOA
ANET
ASIG
ABLD
AL
AA
APECO
AGAO
AY
AGMT
APEC
AINF
AG
ACS
AECL
AFFAIRS
ABUD
ASUP
ADANA
AADP
AMCHAMS
ARF
ASEAN
ADPM
ATRN
ALOW
APCS
ADCO
ACAO
AORG
AROC
AO
AODE
ACABQ
AX
AMEX
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
ASCH
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORL
ADM
AN
AIT
BU
BR
BL
BO
BA
BB
BG
BM
BBSR
BH
BEXP
BK
BD
BTIO
BT
BE
BY
BF
BX
BP
BRUSSELS
BILAT
BIDEN
BC
BMGT
BWC
BN
BTIU
CH
CG
CF
CU
CE
CVIS
CASC
CO
CS
CA
CIDA
CBW
CW
CMGT
CI
CODEL
CY
CPAS
CJAN
CD
CWC
CDG
CIA
CL
CROS
CAPC
CTR
CT
CR
CBSA
CEUDA
COM
CFED
CV
CACS
CARSON
CLINTON
CN
CONS
CM
CAC
CIC
COPUOS
CDC
CONDOLEEZZA
CICTE
COUNTER
COUNTRY
CBE
CKGR
CHR
CVR
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CLEARANCE
COE
CARICOM
CB
CSW
CITT
CACM
CDB
CJUS
CTM
CAN
CLMT
CBC
CNARC
CIS
EG
EZ
EUN
ECON
ETRD
ECPS
EFIN
ENRG
ETTC
EPET
EINV
EAID
EAIR
EWWT
EU
EAGR
EC
ELAB
EIND
EN
EMIN
ESENV
ENNP
EFIS
ELTN
ET
ECIN
EFTA
ES
EINT
EI
ENGR
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENVI
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECINECONCS
ELN
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EXTERNAL
EXIM
ETRO
ENIV
ESA
ER
EK
EUR
EFINECONCS
EUMEM
EUREM
EPA
ERNG
ENERG
ECA
ETRC
EINVEFIN
ETC
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
ECONOMIC
EXBS
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
EREL
EINVETC
ECONCS
ETRA
EAIG
EUC
ERD
ETRN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
IS
IZ
IR
IC
IO
IN
ID
IGAD
IT
ILC
IAEA
ITU
ICAO
IMO
IBRD
IMF
ICJ
IAHRC
ITF
INRA
INRO
IWC
IQ
IV
ICRC
ICTY
INRB
IEFIN
ILO
ITRA
ITALY
IBET
ISRAELI
IL
INTELSAT
IRC
IDP
ICTR
IRAQI
IPR
IIP
INMARSAT
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
INTERNAL
IRS
IA
INTERPOL
IEA
INR
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
ISRAEL
IACI
INDO
IDA
ISLAMISTS
KSPR
KNNP
KWBG
KAWK
KISL
KPAO
KN
KS
KIPR
KCRM
KDEM
KIRF
KJUS
KHLS
KSCA
KOMC
KAWC
KV
KFRD
KWMN
KTIP
KPWR
KSUM
KGHG
KTIA
KTFN
KIRC
KCOR
KACT
KMDR
KGIC
KOLY
KUNR
KIDE
KMPI
KPKO
KCFE
KVPR
KRAD
KPAL
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KTEX
KTDB
KFSC
KZ
KSEP
KFLU
KE
KU
KPLS
KRVC
KRIM
KSTH
KG
KFLO
KPOA
KICC
KDDG
KPRV
KTBT
KBCT
KSAF
KMOC
KDRG
KBIO
KREC
KSTC
KVRP
KBTR
KMIG
KENV
KNSD
KCGC
KWAC
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KWMM
KPRP
KNEI
KPAI
KO
KVIR
KX
KMCA
KCRS
KMFO
KID
KCIP
KNAR
KR
KCRCM
KBTS
KSEO
KHDP
KFIN
KOCI
KGIT
KNUP
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KSCI
KTLA
KHIV
KCSY
KTRD
KMRS
KNPP
KJUST
KCMR
KTER
KRCM
KCFC
KSAC
KCHG
KREL
KFTFN
KCOM
KLIG
KDEMAF
KAID
KGCC
KICA
KHUM
KSEC
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KWWMN
KOM
KWNM
KRFD
KRGY
KIFR
KWMNCS
KPAK
KOMS
KHSA
MPOS
MOPS
MARR
MTCR
MNUC
MASS
MX
MCAP
MAR
MTRE
MASC
MK
MG
MTCRE
MI
MD
MA
MO
MY
MU
ML
MRCRE
MAS
MEDIA
MC
MR
MIL
MW
MARAD
MAPP
MZ
MP
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPN
MEPI
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MT
MCC
MIK
MAPS
MV
MILITARY
MDC
MEPP
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MQADHAFI
NATO
NG
NL
NZ
NT
NW
NO
NU
NS
NPT
NASA
NI
NK
NSG
NE
NORAD
NAFTA
NP
NATIONAL
NSSP
NSF
NA
NGO
NV
NR
NDP
NIPP
NZUS
NH
NC
NEW
NRR
NAR
NATOPREL
NPG
NSC
NPA
NSFO
OPDC
OPRC
OEXC
OTRA
ODIP
OIIP
OVIP
OPIC
OPCW
OAS
OREP
OSCE
OSCI
OES
OFDP
OECD
OCS
OIC
OPAD
OVP
OHUM
OFFICIALS
OIE
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OBSP
OFDA
ON
OCII
PREL
PGOV
PARM
PINR
PTER
PHUM
PK
PREF
PM
PHSA
PA
PINS
PE
PBTS
PCI
PO
PL
POGOV
PAK
PEL
PGIV
PROP
PP
PBIO
POL
POLITICS
POLICY
PINL
PBT
PMIL
POV
PTBS
PG
POSTS
PALESTINIAN
PROV
PNAT
PINF
PRL
PAS
PDOV
PRAM
PREO
PAHO
PHUMPGOV
PAO
PREFA
PSI
POLITICAL
PAIGH
PARMS
PROG
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PS
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PNG
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PGOC
PY
PLN
PHUH
PF
PHUS
PU
PARTIES
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PHUMPREL
RS
RU
RW
REACTION
RCMP
RSO
RO
RP
ROOD
RM
ROBERT
RICE
REGION
RSP
RF
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
RELATIONS
RFE
REPORT
SY
SP
SOCI
SMIG
SNAR
SCUL
SC
SU
SO
SI
SENV
SZ
SW
SA
SR
SF
SEVN
SN
STEINBERG
SEN
SG
SYR
SWE
SK
SH
SNARCS
SAARC
SNARIZ
SPCE
SARS
SNARN
SCRS
SYRIA
SL
SENVKGHG
SAN
ST
SIPDIS
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SANC
SHI
SHUM
SIPRS
TSPA
TSPL
TU
TBIO
TRGY
TPHY
TS
TP
TW
TBID
TI
TF
TZ
TD
TT
TN
TNGD
TC
TX
TH
TL
TIP
THPY
TV
TK
TERRORISM
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TINT
TFIN
TAGS
TR
US
UNSC
UNGA
UK
UP
UNCHC
UN
UNMIK
UNCSD
UY
USTR
USOAS
UNHRC
UNFCYP
UG
UNAUS
UNESCO
UNIDROIT
UNO
UV
UNHCR
USUN
UZ
USNC
UNCHR
UNCND
UNEP
USEU
USPS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
UNDP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNDESCO
UNC
UNPUOS
UNDC
UNICEF
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 07LAPAZ597, MORALES TO TOBIAS: THANKS FOR THE ASSISTANCE
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07LAPAZ597.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
07LAPAZ597 | 2007-03-02 20:38 | 2010-12-03 21:30 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy La Paz |
VZCZCXYZ0001
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHLP #0597/01 0612038
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 022038Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2707
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 6602
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 3923
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 7811
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 5057
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 2292
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 2390
RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 3355
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 4458
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 4933
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 9521
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0191
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000597
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/03/2017
TAGS: ECON PGOV PREL SNAR BL
SUBJECT: MORALES TO TOBIAS: THANKS FOR THE ASSISTANCE
Classified By: DCM Kris Urs for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
--------
SUMMARY
--------
¶1. (C) As part of Director of Foreign Assistance and USAID
Administrator Randall Tobias' visit to Bolivia, President
Morales met with Tobias, WHA PDAS Charles Shapiro, and
Ambassador Goldberg early March 2. Morales thanked
Ambassador Tobias for U.S. natural disaster assistance,
saying that this year's flooding is the worst Bolivia has
seen in 60 years. On the bilateral relationship in general,
Morales said Bolivia wants an "excellent relationship" with
the United States. Ambassadors Tobias and Shapiro offered
support for Bolivia's goal of a more inclusive society, but
Tobias noted that the goal should be placed in the context of
a democracy that includes all Bolivians. Morales asked for
aid in creating jobs and improving infrastructure and said he
has "great interest" in the Millennium Challenge Account
(MCA) and in an additional ATPDEA extension. Morales
described Bolivia's many marches and blockades as largely
local problems and accused opposition party Podemos of
organizing them and plotting against his government. Morales
thanked Ambassador Tobias for USAID assistance, highlighting
alternative development and infrastructure programs in
particular. Ambassador Tobias noted both countries' interest
in close counternarcotics cooperation and acknowledged the
GOB's interdiction efforts; Morales responded by saying his
government is serious about fighting narcotics trafficking.
Morales spoke in terms of a net reduction of coca and said
his government plans to work harder in the Yungas; he also
stressed the GOB's desire for closer counternarcotics
cooperation with the United States. In an unprecedented move,
Morales joined Tobias for a joint press conference following
the meeting and publicly thanked the USG for disaster
assistance and general cooperation. In perhaps the Embassy's
most positive meeting with Morales to date, the president
repeatedly thanked Tobias (both privately and publicly) for
U.S. assistance and seemed to appreciate the finer points of
USAID operations in Bolivia. End summary.
-------------------
DISASTER ASSISTANCE
-------------------
¶2. (C) As part of Director of Foreign Assistance and USAID
Administrator Randall Tobias' visit to Bolivia, President
Morales (along with Amcit MFA trade advisor Tom Kruse) met
with Tobias, WHA PDAS Charles Shapiro, and Ambassador
Goldberg early March 2. Morales thanked Ambassador Tobias
for U.S. natural disaster assistance, saying that this year's
flooding is the worst Bolivia has seen in 60 years. Morales
said he is "very grateful" for the international cooperation
Bolivia has received. Ambassador Tobias conveyed the
sympathy of the American people for Bolivia's flooding
victims and informed Morales that two relief planes will
arrive March 5 to provide additional assistance. Tobias said
the USG is glad to have the opportunity to help Bolivia in
its time of need. Morales thanked Tobias for two additional
plane loads of assistance and said food rations and donations
will be needed for approximately six months in some areas,
until Bolivians can begin to recover from the disasters.
-------------------------
BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP
-------------------------
¶3. (C) On the bilateral relationship in general, Morales said
he wants an "excellent relationship" with the United States.
He explained that Bolivia has a culture of dialogue and that
debate is welcome. Morales said that while sometimes the
press wants to generate conflict between us, he wants the
"maximum level of cooperation with the USG." He acknowledged
that the United States is the most developed country in the
world, but noted that the United States faces environmental
challenges, implying that the United States could learn from
the Bolivians about how to live at peace with nature.
Ambassadors Tobias and Shapiro offered support for Bolivia's
goal of a more inclusive society, but Tobias noted that the
goal should be placed in the context of a democracy that
includes all Bolivians. Ambassador Tobias emphasized the
long relationship between Bolivia and the United States,
which he said the United States values and wants to continue.
Tobias told Morales that the United States and Bolivia have
many things in common, and that they should continue to work
to find common interests.
¶4. (C) Morales asked for aid in creating jobs and improving
infrastructure and said he has "great interest" in the
Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) (particularly for a
highway from La Paz to Pando via Beni) and in an additional
ATPDEA extension. Morales thanked Tobias for Congress'
extension of ATPDEA benefits and said Bolivia wants commerce
with the United States so it can export goods to the U.S.
market. He noted that as developed and developing countries,
the United States and Bolivia complement each other well.
Morales also acknowledged the United States' prominent role
in international institutions including the World Bank and
the IDB, and said he was grateful for that assistance.
Morales said Bolivia's macroeconomic stability has improved
overall, largely due to increased hydrocarbons revenues, but
not enough to create sufficient jobs. He also pointed out
that his government's hydrocarbons' nationalization did not
include expropriation of property or assets. Ambassador
Tobias responded by saying that the USG is working hard to
improve lives, create jobs and increase investment in
Bolivia. We recognize that a stable economy is key to those
goals, he said. Tobias also encouraged Morales to
aggressively pursue a MCC proprosal. He emphasized that his
visit should be read as a strong signal that the United
States wants to work with Bolivia toward these goals.
-------------
SOCIAL UNREST
-------------
¶5. (C) Morales described Bolivia's many marches and blockades
as largely local problems and accused opposition party
Podemos of organizing them and plotting against his
government. He said that in contrast to protests over the
past year, the marches he led prior to becoming president
were "apolitical"-- in support of human rights, coca, and
other causes. He said the Bolivian people received his
marches warmly by supporting the marchers and providing them
with food. Morales lamented the most violent conflict in his
administration to date-- the October 2006 conflict between
miners in Huanuni. Before the conflict, Morales said he
personally met with miners more than 15 times. He said he
told both sides that he would work to help them but that they
would have to work together. Morales regretted that they
couldn't, calling the violence the "worst moment" in his
administration.
--------------
USAID SUPPORT
--------------
¶6. (C) Morales thanked Ambassador Tobias for USAID
assistance, highlighting alternative development programs in
particular. He noted the current high prices for
Chapare-produced palm hearts, as well as the GOB's desire to
export more bananas. Morales said Bolivia wants to export
alternative development products, as successes in alternative
development reduce coca cultivation. He mentioned the
importance of a good infrastructure for alternative
development projects, and thanked Tobias for USAID assistance
in constructing a road in the Chapare. While stating that
the GOB "wants to maximize U.S. cooperation," Morales
suggested that USAID assistance could be more efficient. He
said that for the cost of one USAID-constructed soccer field,
the GOB could have built three. (NOTE: Morales made this
argument previously and Ambassador Goldberg responded via
letter to explain that our numbers indicated otherwise).
Morales also mentioned health and education as critical areas
for international cooperation in Bolivia.
¶7. (C) After expressing gratitude for USAID assistance,
Morales indicated that he would prefer that international
assistance be donated to the central government, not
Bolivia's prefects or mayors. He said he would like to
establish a type of open registry to monitor aid, not for
purposes of controlling it but for the benefit of Bolivia's
development process. He said it would be useful to know the
amount of USAID assistance in Bolivia and what the money is
spent on.
--------------------
COCA: MORE IS LESS?
--------------------
¶8. (C) Ambassador Tobias highlighted both countries' interest
in close counternarcotics cooperation and acknowledged the
GOB's interdiction efforts. He said that while the United
States remains concerned that any increase in coca
cultivation will go to the illegal drug trade, he looked
forward to continuing to work through those issues with the
GOB. Morales responded by saying his government is serious
about fighting narcotics trafficking. He said that although
he has been accused of being a narcotrafficker, the GOB
policy is "zero cocaine, zero drugs." He said in Bolivia,
"one can't talk about zero coca." At the same time, he said,
his government's respect for the traditional use of coca does
not imply unrestricted growth. Morales also explained that
cocaine is not part of Bolivia's indigenous culture.
¶9. (C) In giving Ambassador Tobias some of his personal
history, Morales said he was not born a cocalero but moved to
Chapare in 1979-80 after completing his mandatory military
service. His family, he said, focused on rice production but
also grew a few catos of coca on the side. Because of
globalization and increased international trade in the
1980's, Brazilian rice became cheaper than Bolivian rice,
thus damaging his family's business. He recounted that in
those years of hyperinflation, people had to sell large
bundles of bananas to buy a coke or a beer. Morales said
eradication with government compensation failed because
people became accustomed to being paid large sums of money,
"like by a bank." In Morales' opinion, militarization also
failed, as it led to permanent confrontation without results.
These failures, Morales said, led him to suggest one cato of
coca per affiliate to limit production of coca and to prevent
conflict. He said that when he speaks to the Six Federations
(the main coca labor organization in the Chapare), he tells
them if they fail to respect the cato of coca, the GOB will
have to return to militarization. He said this serves as a
strong deterrent.
¶10. (C) Regarding the GOB's future plans, Morales spoke in
terms of a net reduction of coca and said his government
plans to work harder in the Yungas (particularly in La Asunta
and in Caranavi). He also stressed the GOB's desire for
closer counternarcotics cooperation with the United States.
Morales lamented a lack of progress in the Yungas but said he
hoped the situation would improve. He thanked the USG for
its help eradicating in Bolivia's national parks, calling
counternarcotics a "shared responsibility." Morales,
however, also defended the GOB's proposal to raise the legal
limits of coca production to 20,000 hectares, saying it is
"impossible to guarantee 10,000- 12,000 hectares of coca" but
that 20,000 hectares is a more realistic goal. Likewise, he
defended the GOB's human rights-conscious policy of
"rationalization," or voluntary eradication, stating that
statistics show that the process is more effective if it is
voluntary. While Morales admitted increased coca cultivation
in some areas, he maintained those cases are the exception
and not the rule. Morales said he knows if he fails, the
United Nations and United States will be watching. In
response to Ambassador Tobias' inquiry about how much coca
should be approved for traditional uses under ideal
circumstances, Morales replied "less than 20,000 hectares."
He admitted, however, that the European Union's legal demand
study was "stuck." Overall, Morales said, he is optimistic
about the GOB's ability to fight narcotics trafficking,
having met its obligations in 2006.
---------------------------------------------
A FIRST JOINT PRESS CONFERENCE WITH MORALES
---------------------------------------------
¶10. (SBU) In an unprecedented move, Morales joined Tobias for
a joint press conference following the meeting. Morales
stated publicly that he was "very happy" with the meeting,
and publicly thanked the USG for disaster assistance (noting
that more would arrive next week) and general cooperation.
Morales said the GOB's dialogue with the United States was
important to Bolivia and that it would continue. Morales
emphasized the GOB's "culture of dialogue" and its respect
for differences with other countries. Additionally, in
response to questions about the release of the INCSR report
March 1, Morales said that he respected the report as an
internal evaluation of our government, but that GOB
statistics on counternarcotics progress were very different.
---------
COMMENT
---------
¶11. (C) In perhaps the Embassy's most positive meeting with
Morales to date, the president repeatedly thanked Tobias
privately and publicly for U.S. assistance. Morales seemed
to appreciate the finer points of USAID operations in Bolivia
and to have a superficial understanding of U.S. concerns on
counternarcotics (as reflected by his discussion of a net
reduction of coca). On trade, Morales clearly wants an
ATPDEA extension, as further evidenced by Foreign Minister
Choquehuanca's late February trip to Washington, but again
made no mention of a concrete free trade proposal. While it
seems that Morales may be warming to the benefits of a good
bilateral relationship, his willingness to cooperate on the
more difficult issues and to deliver solid political,
economic, and counternarcotics policies may still be another
matter. End comment.
This cable has been cleared by Ambassadors Tobias and Shapiro.
GOLDBERG