US embassy cable - 04GUATEMALA1007

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 001007 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, GT 
SUBJECT: PRESS CRITICISM OF FM BRIZ COULD HURT 
 
 
1. (SBU) Summary:  Signaling the end of the honeymoon for at 
least one member of the Berger Administration, a major 
national daily has attacked the performance of Jorge Briz 
Abularach's Foreign Ministry.  While the motives for the 
attack are still unclear, Briz confided to the Ambassador he 
is sensitive to the criticism.  Briz's political sensitivity 
could indirectly affect U.S. interests.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (SBU) Leading daily "Prensa Libre," the most influential 
newspaper in Guatemala, is widely viewed as a partisan 
mouthpiece for elite economic interests, and was solidly 
pro-Berger and anti-FRG throughout the election campaign in 
2003.  Until now it has refrained from direct attacks on the 
performance of the new government, while featuring alleged 
corruption by the previous government involving other 
opposition parties. 
 
3.  (U) However, on April 19, "Prensa Libre" featured a lead 
editorial entitled "A Do-nothing Foreign Ministry."  The 
editorial criticized the performance of the MFA under Foreign 
Minister Briz, and Briz himself for his lack of diplomatic 
experience, mastery of the English language and the foreign 
policy issues he now confronts.  It cites unnamed government 
officials and diplomats as saying "international relations 
are totally blocked and nothing is happening in the Foreign 
Ministry, and blaming Briz."  The editorial ascribes to Briz 
a "Cold War geo-strategic world view," and a marked 
preference for naming Ambassadors from business backgrounds 
rather than those with "more progressive views."  It accuses 
him of ceding ground to the Economy Ministry on trade, to 
Rigoberta Menchu on the Peace Accords, and to Vice President 
Stein on relations with the U.S.  Stein's solo visit to 
Washington to prepare for the Berger visit is cited a proof 
of Briz's marginalization.  By the author's reckoning, Briz's 
uncertainty and indecision have resulted in a paralyzed MFA. 
The editorial ends by contrasting Briz's "ideological and 
pro-business" vision with VP Stein's emphasis on social 
inclusion.  On April 20, influential "El Periodico" columnist 
Jorge Palmieri also mounted an attack on Briz, citing the 
VP's leading role in foreign policy among other examples of 
the FM's marginalization.  Those included Berger's call for 
reform of the Central American Parliament, and Stein's public 
pronouncement in favor of the OAS SecGen candidacy of Miguel 
Angel Rodriguez, neither of which were cleared with Briz. 
 
Comment 
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4.  (SBU) Briz, as a Presidential aspirant with a background 
in business, not diplomacy, is vulnerable to this kind of 
sniping.  Since the outset of his tenure as Foreign Minister 
we have noted Briz's sensitivity to criticism or perceived 
slights.  However, Briz has been willing to take political 
risks at our request (e.g., on Cuba resolutions in Geneva and 
on Article 98). 
 
5.  (SBU) The motives for the "Prensa Libre" editorial are 
still a subject of speculation.  We do not believe it comes 
from Stein, although he has dissented from the Briz-Berger 
position on Cuba and has not been enthusiastic about Article 
98.  It also strikes us as rather early for Briz's fellow 
presidential aspirants in the Berger government to launch 
such an attack against him.  Skinner-Klee has speculated that 
the attack may have come from within the Foreign Ministry, 
either from high-ranking MFA staff replaced by Briz or from 
rival aspirants for the Foreign Ministry job. 
 
6.  (SBU) Comment, continued.  Regardless of the motive, the 
editorial attacks on Briz have undermined his confidence and 
willingness to risk exposure on issues that are controversial 
in Guatemala, including accession to an Article 98 agreement 
with the U.S. 
WHARTON