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DE RUEHLP #2948 3091949
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 051949Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5508
INFO RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
UNCLAS LA PAZ 002948
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: OAS INDIGENOUS RIGHTS
DECLARATION
REF: SECSTATE 145292
1. On November 1, Emboff met with Miriam Siles, an official
at the multilateral relations section of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs. The official in charge of indigenous issues
within the international organizations section, Jimena Nacif,
is currently away on business travel. Siles was aware of
Ambassador Cuadros' suggestion of a plan of action and said
that the Bolivian government plans to continue to press for a
"practical" step in the OAS. Siles did not comment on
whether negotiations for a declaration could be put on hold,
but she did say that "more than just words" are needed. She
reiterated that Ambassador Cuadros still supports his own
suggestion.
2. On the question of practical support and contributions
for the year of action, Siles agreed that this is an area
where all countries could contribute. Siles mentioned that
Bolivia has substantial experience with indigenous rights and
seemed amenable to the idea of Bolivia contributing speakers
and ideas, but she provided no comment on the idea of
financial support.
3. Comment: It is important to note that recently the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not always been completely in
the loop on official decisions, which sometimes come from
above with little MFA input. The final decision on this
issue will likely be taken by President Morales or his close
advisors, and it is unclear how much that decision will
resemble the current thinking of the MFA. Although at the
working levels of the MFA there seems to be at least
conceptual support for a year of action, we understand that
Venezuela and Nicaragua may be pressuring Bolivia to focus on
a declaration and that therefore Ambassador Cuadros may be
backing away from his own idea. Given President Morales'
ties to Venezuela, it is likely that he will follow
Venezuela's lead, despite the fact that the idea of a plan of
action originated with his own Ambassador to the OAS. End
comment.
GOLDBERG