US embassy cable - 05ASUNCION1224

UNCLAS ASUNCION 001224 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD DAN JOHNSON 
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL, MARR, PA 
SUBJECT: (SBU) PARAGUAY: REFERENCES TO SOFA AGAINST U.S. 
POLICY INTEREST 
 
REF: A. ASUNCION 01212 
 
     B. ASUNCION 01162 
 
1. (U) This is an action request; see paragraph 6. 
 
2. (SBU) We enjoy excellent military-to-military relations 
with Paraguay, and for many years Paraguay has provided an 
open and permissive environment for exercises and other 
military initiatives.  The U.S. has an important policy 
interest in preserving that relationship and ensuring that 
the environment remains open and permissive.  Public 
references to our military-to-military agreements with 
Paraguay as a Status of Forces of Agreement (SOFA) could work 
against that interest. 
 
3. (SBU) The U.S. conducts exercises and other military 
initiatives in Paraguay based on exchanges of diplomatic 
notes that grant U.S. personnel permission to enter and 
Vienna Convention administrative and technical status 
(immunity from criminal liability, and limited immunity from 
civil liability for actions arising in the performance of 
their duties).  The diplomatic notes must be approved by 
Paraguay's Congress. 
 
4. (SBU) In 2005, for the sake of efficiency and 
transparency, we sent the Congress a single, consolidated 
note that covered exercises for a period of 18 months, rather 
than sending a separate note for each exercise (reftels). 
There were no significant changes to the content of the 
notes, as compared to notes we submitted in previous years; 
nor have we entered into any new substantive 
military-to-military agreements with Paraguay in recent years. 
 
5. (SBU) In light of current local and regional pressures, 
which have manifested themselves in a widespread 
disinformation campaign about U.S.-Paraguayan military 
cooperation (reftels), it would be against U.S. policy 
interest to refer to our military-to-military agreements with 
Paraguay as a SOFA.  The U.S. has not routinely referred to 
the agreements as a SOFA in the past.  It could be 
interpreted to signal a change in the status quo if we start 
doing so now, which would give our adversaries momentum in 
their attempt to convince the region that the U.S. intends to 
deploy large numbers of troops to Paraguay for extended 
periods of time and build a permanent military base here. 
While such assertions are untrue, perceptions are what matter 
in this campaign to win over public opinion, and the 
perception that the U.S. has entered into a comprehensive new 
military-to-military agreement with Paraguay could sway the 
opinions of many people unable to discern our adversaries' 
blatant fabrications.  In addition, the GOP continues to 
publicly deny that there has been any substantive change in 
our military-to-military relations in general, or to the 
terms for entry and protections of U.S. troops in particular. 
 The GOP does not believe it has signed any substantially new 
agreement with us. 
 
6. (SBU) Action request: Post requests that the Department 
and other USG officials refrain from publicly referring to 
U.S.-Paraguayan military-to-military agreements as a SOFA. 
To use that term could undermine the chances of continuing 
our permissive exercise environment. 
KEANE