US embassy cable - 05ASUNCION1212

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASUNCION 001212 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD DAN JOHNSON 
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, MARR, MASS, OPRC, PA 
SUBJECT: RETRANSMISSION: PARAGUAY: RESPONDING TO 
MISINFORMATION ON U.S.-PARAGUAYAN MILITARY COOPERATION 
 
REF: ASUNCION 01162 (NOTAL) 
 
1. Post is retransmitting the substantive text of reftel in 
light of continued interest and inquiries from other posts 
and offices.  Paragraphs 2 though 4, below, provide 
background.  Paragraph 5, below, contains talking points. 
Other posts and offices may draw from the talking points in 
responding to questions about U.S.-Paraguayan military 
cooperation. 
 
2. The media and government officials in Argentina, Bolivia, 
Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay continue to make statements 
about U.S.-Paraguayan military cooperation that have 
absolutely no basis in fact.  These media reports and 
officials falsely claim, inter alia, that 400 U.S. soldiers 
(some allege marines) will be stationed in Mariscal 
Estigarribia, Paraguay (northern Chaco region) for 18 months. 
 They also allege that the U.S. intends to establish a 
military base in this region or another region of Paraguay 
and that the GOP has granted U.S. troops full diplomatic 
immunity in violation of its obligations under the Rome 
Treaty. 
 
3. In fact, in May 2005, the Paraguayan Senate, acting in 
response to a request submitted by the MFA, approved the 
entry of U.S. soldiers to participate in 13 military training 
exercises to be conducted in various locations throughout the 
country, including several Medical Readiness Exercises 
(MEDRETES), over an 18 month period from July 2005 through 
December 2006.  Separately, both houses of Congress extended 
to entering U.S. military soldiers and officials, 
Administration and Technical status (immunity from charges 
lodged in connection to participation in exercises).  In most 
instances, no more than 10-20 U.S. soldiers participate in 
each exercise which generally lasts no more than 2-3 weeks 
after which they return to the U.S.  No exercise exceeds 45 
days in length. 
 
4. Grouping exercises over 18 months for both permission to 
enter and granting of A&T status was done to facilitate 
congressional review and promote transparency.  Previous 
time-consuming & cumbersome practice (1 request for entry and 
1 status agreement for each exercise) resulted in tardy 
arrival of Executive Branch requests to the congress and 
complaints from members of congress about lack of time for 
consultation and time to review the requests.  Laying out 13 
exercises over 18 months vastly improved the process, but 
some continue to mischaracterize it as approval for troops to 
remain for 18 months; this is wrong, as we and the GOP have 
repeatedly explained. 
 
5. Asuncion provides the following press guidance for 
answering queries from local media outlets.  Department may 
wish to also use this guidance to address Brazil and 
Argentina in Washington or at our Embassies, since 
representatives of those governments continue to spread 
misinformation. 
 
Begin Points: 
 
-- The U.S. has absolutely no intention of establishing a 
military base anywhere in Paraguay; 
 
-- The U.S. has no designs of any kind on Ciudad del Este, 
except that we are supporting programs to create jobs in the 
formal sector for Paraguayans there; 
 
-- The U.S. has no interest in the Guarani Aquifer, except 
that we hope it will be a resource which assists the 
prosperity and well being of the inhabitants in its 
geographic proximity. 
 
-- The U.S. and Paraguay have been conducting military 
exercises for many years; there is nothing new in these 
current exercises; 
 
-- Small numbers of U.S. personnel, generally 10-20 persons, 
train with their Paraguayan military colleagues during 
periods of two-six weeks after which they return to the U.S. 
Many exercises last two to three weeks.  No U.S. soldiers 
will be deployed for an extended period of time, and there 
will never be more than a few dozen U.S. service members in 
Paraguay for longer than 45 days; 
 
-- The first exercises provided humanitarian medical 
assistance to thousands of needy campesinos and others in the 
Departments of Canindeyu, Caazapa, and Neembucu; 
 
-- Several other short term exercises for training of various 
types will take place at different times in various locations 
between now and December 2006.  Again, none of the training 
will last more than 45 days; 
 
-- Similar exercises for training occur routinely between 
U.S. armed services and the militaries of many other 
countries in Latin America, as they have for decades. Their 
purpose in all countries is to enhance the capabilities of 
the Latin American and U.S. militaries, and in many cases, to 
provide humanitarian assistance to local populations; 
 
-- These training exercises are not linked to any other 
assistance being provided by the U.S. government. 
 
-- (if raised)  Agreements on immunities have been typical 
for decades with countries around the hemisphere and the 
globe.  They are entirely consistent with the Treaty of Rome 
obligations adopted by many countries. 
 
-- (as appropriate)  Currently, there are approximately 40 
U.S. military doctors, nurses, and veterinarians from the 
U.S. National Guard in the Department of Neembucu (located 
along the western Paraguay-Argentina border) providing 
medical care and veterinarian services to thousands of people 
from the region.  The team will be in Paraguay for 15 days 
and then return to the U.S.  These U.S. military 
representatives are providing this service in Paraguay 
instead of Louisiana or Mississippi, the site of the recent 
tragic hurricane of historic proportions in the U.S., in 
order to fulfill their commitment to Paraguay. 
 
6. Comment: There is an active disinformation campaign on 
this issue as well as some outlets simply being misinformed. 
Post welcomes Department suggestions on addressing 
governments whose representatives are both interfering in 
bilateral affairs and spreading false information. 
KEANE