US embassy cable - 05ASUNCION1385

UNCLAS ASUNCION 001385 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR EB/IFD/OIA 
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR LAC/AA 
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR LYANG 
NSC FOR SUE CRONIN 
TREASURY FOR OSIA MAUREEN WAFER 
TREASURY FOR OTA WARFIELD, VAN KOCH, MILLAR 
COMMERCE FOR ITA SARAH COOK 
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD DAN JOHNSON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, PHUM, ECON, PA 
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UPDATE, OCT 30 - 
NOV 5 
 
 
1. (U) Summary: 
-- President Duarte Visits Japan 
-- UNCHR Petitions Paraguay 
-- Eye Patients Travel to Cuba for Treatment 
-- Miami Vice in Paraguay 
 
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President Duarte Visits Japan 
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2. (U) On 10/31, President Duarte began a three-day official 
visit to Japan.  He met with Prime Minister Junichiro 
Koizumi, who praised GOP reform efforts and recent 
improvements to the Paraguayan financial and judicial 
systems.  During the visit, Duarte secured loans 200 million 
dollars to upgrade one of the two Paraguayan hydroelectric 
dam. The GOP also hopes to enter into negotiations for an 
investment agreement with Japan as a result of talks during 
the visit. COMMENT: VP Castiglioni told Charge President 
Duarte was very pleased with Japan's increased assistance, 
investment interest and, political effort, calling the trip a 
great success.END OF COMMENT 
 
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UNCHR Petitions Paraguay 
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3. (U) On 11/02, The United Nations Commission on Human 
Rights praised Paraguay's democratic advances since the end 
of the military dictatorship in 1989.  However, it petitioned 
the GOP to redouble its efforts in the following areas: 
 
-- Prosecuting individuals responsible for 56 cases of 
torture recognized by the GOP to have occurred during the 
military dictatorship. 
 
-- Prohibiting the recruitment of minors for military 
service, investigating complaints of conscript abuse, and 
compensating victims of such abuse. 
 
-- Ensuring the independence of the judiciary. 
 
-- Eradicating domestic violence and sexual exploitation. 
 
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Eye Patients Travel to Cuba for Treatment 
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4. (U) On 11/2, 93 Paraguayan nationals who suffer from eye 
problems, mainly cataracts, left for Cuba to receive free 
treatment.  All 93 reportedly hail from the conflictive 
Department of San Pedro.  Cuban Ambassador Adolfo Curbelo 
Castellano said that the GOC would absorb the costs of air 
fare and treatment, adding that the gesture was part of the 
GOC's program to support Paraguayan people with limited 
economic resources. 
 
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Miami Vice in Paraguay 
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5. (U) On 11/3, The production of the film Miami Vice 
concluded in Ciudad del Este (CDE), 230 miles west of 
Asuncion. This event acquired national and international 
attention because this is the first time that a production of 
this kind has taken place in Paraguay. One of the films 
cameramen reportedly was surprised to already find on sale on 
the streets of CDE a pirated version of a movie that he 
worked on earlier this year. 
JOHNSON