US embassy cable - 04PARAMARIBO464

UNCLAS PARAMARIBO 000464 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR -- MSEIBEL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, NS 
SUBJECT: SURINAMESE DEFENSE MINISTER SHARES VIEWS ON 
SECURITY 
 
 
1.  (U)  DURING THE JUNE 14 OPENING OF A COURSE ENTITLED 
    "THE THEORIES AND REALITIES OF THE SECURITY OF SMALL 
STATES" SPONSORED BY ANTON DE KOM UNIVERSITY'S INSTITUTE OF 
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, SURINAMESE MINISTER OF DEFENSE 
RONALD ASSEN PROVIDED A RARE GLIMPSE OF SURINAME'S DEFENSE 
STANDPOINT.  IN HIS KEYNOTE ADDRESS TO STUDENTS AND INVITED 
GUESTS, ASSEN DEFINED SECURITY AS THE "ABSENCE OF FOREIGN 
ARMED MILITARY AGGRESSION, TERRORISM, AND LOCAL AND TRANS- 
NATIONAL CRIME."  HE NAMED THE LACK OF FUNDING FOR 
PERSONNEL, TRAINING, AND OPERATIONS AND THE ENTANGLEMENT OF 
NATIONAL SECURITY FORCES WITH DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL 
CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS AS KEY FACTORS HAMPERING SMALL 
STATES IN THEIR EFFORTS TO BEEF UP THEIR SECURITY POSTURE. 
 
2.  (U)  ASSEN SUGGESTED THAT SMALL STATES CAN OVERCOME 
THEIR FINANCIAL PROBLEMS IN PART BY FORGING ALLIANCES WITH 
INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS BUT CAUTIONED THAT SUCH ALLIANCES 
COULD RESULT IN OVER-DEPENDENCE ON A SINGLE DONOR.  TO 
EMPHASIZE THIS POINT, HE REFERRED TO THE UNANIMOUS 
CONCLUSION REACHED BY CARIBBEAN COMMANDERS IN CHIEFS WHO 
ATTENDED THE JUNE 1-3 CARIBBEAN NATIONS SECURITY CONFERENCE 
(CANSEC) IN MIAMI ORGANIZED BY THE U.S. SOUTHERN COMMAND 
(SOUTHCOM) THAT SOUTHCOM'S MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO THEIR 
COUNTRIES IS ESSENTIAL TO THEIR EFFORTS TO PROMOTE 
SECURITY.  ASSEN RECOMMENDED THAT SMALL STATES DIVERSIFY 
THEIR MILITARY SPONSORS TO PREVENT THEIR OVER-DEPENDENCE ON 
A SINGLE DONOR FROM BECOMING A "POLITICAL MECHANISM IN 
FOREIGN HANDS."  AT THE SAME TIME, HOWEVER, HE CONCEDED 
THAT THE NUMBER OF STATES WILLING TO GIVE CONSIDERABLE 
MILITARY ASSISTANCE TO CARICOM IS LIMITED. 
 
3.  (U)  ASSEN CALLED ATTENTION TO CARICOM'S ONGOING 
    DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A REGIONAL SECURITY 
SYSTEM PROPOSED BY CARICOM HEADS OF STATE ONE YEAR AGO.  HE 
SAID THAT CARICOM MEMBER-STATES ARE PREPARING THE 
FOUNDATION FOR A "REGIONAL RAPID RESPONSE MECHANISM" THAT 
WOULD ENABLE CARICOM TO COMBAT AND ELIMINATE THREATS TO 
NATIONAL AND REGIONAL SECURITY AND TO MANAGE POLITICAL 
CRISES OR DISASTERS.  NOTABLY, HE DID NOT ELABORATE ON 
WHICH ALLIES WOULD BE PICKING UP THE TAB FOR SUCH A FORCE. 
IN CLOSING, ASSEN URGED CARICOM MEMBER STATES TO INVEST 
MORE IN NATIONAL SECURITY FORCES, WITHOUT ELABORATING ON 
SURINAME'S OWN PLANS ON THAT FRONT. 
 
4.  (SBU)  COMMENT.  THE CONTINUING FALLOUT TO HOLD A NEW 
HORIZONS EXERCISE HERE THIS SUMMER HAS CLEARLY INFLUENCED 
ASSEN'S REMARKS.  THE GOVERNMENT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN TAKEN 
BY SURPRISE BY THE PUBLIC CRITICISM OF ITS FAILURE TO TAKE 
ADVANTAGE OF AN INFUSION OF CASH INTO THE ECONOMY AND THE 
CONSTRUCTION OF MEDICAL CLINICS.  ONE PARLIAMENTARIAN WHO 
IS A MEMBER OF THE GOVERNING COALITION ASSERTED THAT 
SURINAME'S SOVEREIGNTY WAS WORTH MORE THAN U.S. HANDOUTS. 
CLEARLY ASSEN IS PICKING UP ON THIS THEME, WHILE 
RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF U.S. ASSISTANCE, ASSERTING 
SURINAME'S INDEPENDENT AND PRINCIPLED POSITION IN ENTERING 
INTO AGREEMENTS WITH FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS.  THIS STRUTTING 
POSTURE IS GOOD FOR LOCAL CONSUMPTION IN THE RUN UP TO NEXT 
YEAR'S ELECTION.  ASSEN, HOWEVER, REALIZES THAT NO OTHER 
DONOR IS WAITING IN THE WINGS TO ASSIST THE SURINAMESE 
MILITARY.  END COMMENT. 
 
BARNES 
 

 
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