US embassy cable - 05BRASILIA1230

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRASILIA 001230 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/10/2015 
TAGS: PREL, ETRD, PGOV, XR, XF 
SUBJECT: ARAB-SOUTH AMERICA SUMMIT: THE SUMMIT DECLARATION 
"TERRORISM" LANGUAGE AND OTHER BUMPS IN THE ROAD 
 
Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES PHILIP CHICOLA, REASONS 1.4 (b 
& d) 
 
1.  (C)  At the final preparatory Ministerial meeting on May 
9, a compromise, of sorts, was reached on contentious 
"terrorism" language for the Summit Declaration, according to 
press reports.  Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim 
affirmed that the Declaration would condemn terrorism 
"without adjectives," and "in all its forms," and he 
criticized the Brazilian and international media for 
fostering doubt about this.  However, according to various 
reports, the Declaration will also refer in a separate 
paragraph to Article 51 of the United Nations Charter and the 
"inherent right of individual or collective defense" in the 
case of armed attack on UN members.  Amorim admitted that 
this language treated the "right of resistance to foreign 
occupation" as an international human right, and although he 
declined to comment whether this was an indirect criticism of 
the U.S. presence in Iraq or of Israel in the occupied 
territories, he added "Anyone can interpret it as they want." 
 
2.  (SBU)  The Declaration, which will be presented May 10, 
will reportedly also include a reference to the legitimacy of 
Argentine sovereignty over the Malvinas (Falkland Islands) 
and will praise recent elections in Iraq, both apparently 
inserted at the last minute.  Language expressing concern 
over U.S. sanctions against Syria also will likely remain in 
the final Declaration text. 
 
3.  (C)  The tone for the Ministerial was set early by 
Algerian Foreign Minister Abdul Aziz Bel Khadem speaking on 
behalf of the Arab states.  While the Minister hoped the 
Summit would open "new horizons" for countries from the two 
regions, he pointedly took a strong political line towards 
the "legitimate right of self-determination for the 
Palestinians and rejection of occupation."  Elsewhere, 
Brazilian President Lula also reportedly made public comments 
on the Palestinian issue.  In a meeting with Palestinian 
National Authority leader Mohamoud Abbas, Lula compared the 
patience of the Palestinian people with the political 
trajectory which brought his Worker's Party (PT) to power 
after having waited many years and suffered numerous 
electoral defeats (1989, 1994, 1998). 
 
4.  (C)  Hotel woes continued right into the eve of the 
Summit.  After Moroccan King Mohamed allegedly declined to 
come to Brasilia because of "inadequate" luxury hotel space 
for his delegation, this time it was Iraqi President 
Talabani's turn to take umbrage with sub-standard 
accommodations.  Unsatisfied with its rooms at the Hotel 
Nacional -- the Presidential Suite at the Nacional certainly 
seemed luxurious enough to U.S. security staff -- the Iraqi 
delegation transferred en masse to the Blue Tree which 
improvised last minute luxury quarters. 
 
5.  (C) Comment:  Until the Summit Declaration is released on 
May 10, we will not know how closely the problemmatic 
language on terrorism, etc., resembles bracketed drafts 
already seen by the USG.  However, from all initial press 
reports, it appears that Brazil has succumbed to pressure 
from the Arabs and others to include harsh treatment of the 
U.S., Israel, and Great Britain in the Declaration language. 
 
 
Chicola