US embassy cable - 05SANSALVADOR3229

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 003229 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/15/2025 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, ETRD, EINV, ES 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH GOES FOMIN ON SUMMIT, 
INTERNAL POLITICS 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador H. Douglas Barclay.  Reasons 1.4 (b,d). 
 
1.  (C) On November 14, the Ambassador met with Salvadoran 
Foreign Minister Francisco Lainez (strictly protect) at the 
Ambassador's request to discuss Summit of the Americas issues 
and Salvadoran domestic politics, inter alia. Regarding the 
Mar del Plata Summit, Lainez said that Saca had been very 
insistent about getting a private meeting with the President, 
especially after he was unable to talk with the President at 
the dinner.  Lainez added that he was also uncomfortable 
because he knew a priori that Saca did not have any new 
points to raise with the President, other than to extend an 
invitation to visit El Salvador in January 2006, which Lainez 
knew the President could not likely accept. 
 
2.  (C) The Ambassador said that Washington would like Saca 
to become a regional leader and ally on issues like CAFTA, 
free trade, and democratization, among others, but that there 
was some disappointment that Saca left the Mar del Plata 
Summit early and did not stay to advocate for FTAA, as some 
other leaders had done.  Lainez took in the Ambassador's 
message, and agreed that Saca should assume a strong regional 
leadership role.  He said that he (Lainez) is having more 
access to Saca, but that Secretary to the Presidency Elmer 
Charlaix continued to try to block access.  Asked who are 
Saca's closest advisers, Lainez responded that "it is the two 
uncles who raised him," and recommended that we get closer to 
them.  Asked about GOES Washington Ambassador Rene Leon, 
Lainez said that Leon does have access to Saca, but that 
access is waning. Lainez predicted that Leon would be gone 
right after the March 2006 national elections, but that Leon 
would have to get a "golden parachute" to ease his exit. 
 
3.  (C) On domestic politics, Lainez opined that the present 
political party system, with only two predominant parties 
representing the right and the undemocratic left, was 
detrimental to building democracy.  Lainez further stated 
that ARENA needs a credible opposition in the form of a 
moderate left, and that the decision to not certify the FDR 
was misguided. Separately, Lainez stated that Mrs. Saca would 
like to host a summit of Central American first ladies early 
next year and would like to invite First Lady Laura Bush. 
The Ambassador said he would pass the message to Washington. 
 
4.  (C) Comment:  Although Lainez may be in good graces with 
Saca he still has several key detractors to worry about, 
including Ambassador Leon and the "palace guard" composed of 
Charlaix and Governance Minister Rene Figueroa.  Lainez's 
candor is much appreciated and confirms his importance to us 
as a key GOES interlocutor. 
Barclay