US embassy cable - 05SANSALVADOR2415

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 002415 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/28/2015 
TAGS: PREL, ES 
SUBJECT: EL SALVADOR COMPLAINS ABOUT LACK OF SUPPORT BY 
CENTAM NEIGHBORS AT RIO GROUP MEETING 
 
 
Classified By: DCM Michael A. Butler.  Reasons: 1.4 (b,d). 
 
1.  (C) During an August 29 meeting with Polcouns, GOES 
Vice-Foreign Minister Eduardo Calix expressed frustration 
with his Central American counterparts for their 
unwillingness to confront anti-U.S. positions at the August 
25-26 Rio Group Meeting in Bariloche.  Calix said that "the 
usual group" of Venezuela, Argentina and Brazil had used the 
meeting to push forward a resolution not only condemning Rev. 
Pat Robertson's comments on Hugo Chavez, but also placing 
responsibility for Robertson's comments on President Bush and 
the Republican Party.  Calix, who headed the GOES delegation, 
said that he was virtually the only participant to speak up 
against the resolution, and that none of his Central American 
colleagues made the slightest effort to support him.  In the 
end, Calix said that the resolution, with the original harsh 
language, passed.  Calix vented that it is very difficult for 
El Salvador to continue to oppose the 
Venezuela-Argentina-Uruguay strategy of using regional fora 
and organizations to attack the U.S., especially when El 
Salvador has to do it alone.  He wondered whether a little 
feedback from the USG to the other CentAm countries might 
help get them on the right track. 
Barclay