US embassy cable - 05ASUNCION701

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Identifier:	05ASUNCION701
Wikileaks:	View 05ASUNCION701 at Wikileaks.org
Origin:	Embassy Asuncion
Created:	2005-05-25 20:28:00
Classification:	UNCLASSIFIED
Tags:	ECON ETRD PA WTO
Redacted:	This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000701 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR WHA/BSC, WHA/EPSC, EB/TPP/MTA 
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR SCRONIN, LYANG 
USAID FOR AA/LAC ADOLFO FRANCO 
TREASURY FOR OSIA MAUREEN WAFER 
COMMERCE ITA SARAH COOK 
NSC FOR MIKE DEMPSEY 
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD 
US SOUTHERN COMMAND MIAMI, FLORIDA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON, ETRD, PA, WTO 
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY WILL NOT SUBMIT REVISED WTO SERVICES OFFER 
 
REF: 05 STATE 81619 
 
1.  Econcouns delivered reftel demarche on WTO services 
negotiations to Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ruben 
Ramirez on May 24.  Ramirez explained that Paraguay would 
not be submitting a revised services offer until it sees 
more progress in agriculture negotiations, Paraguay's 
priority.  Ramirez will be attending the July meetings in 
Geneva and will reassess the status of negotiations then. 
 
2.  Ramirez stated that the GOP understands the importance 
of services liberalization and is taking action, including 
the passage by the Senate of legislation reopening the 
possibility of privatization of the state-owned telecom 
company, and the signing of Open Skies agreements with the 
USG and with Chile earlier this month.  However, he stated 
that it is difficult to convince others in the GOP and 
industry to devote resources to devising a revised services 
offer without clearer indications that Paraguay will see 
concrete benefits in agriculture negotiations. 
 
KEANE