Paraguayan response to death of Farc Commander

id: 144533
date: 3/6/2008 10:36
refid: 08ASUNCION140
origin: Embassy Asuncion
classification: CONFIDENTIAL
destination:
header:
VZCZCXYZ4986
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAC #0140 0661036
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 061036Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASUNCION
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6676
INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 0579
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 0243


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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 000140

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR WHA/BSC KBEAMER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2017
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, CO, ER, PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAYAN RESPONSE TO DEATH OF FARC COMMANDER


Classified By: DCM Michael J. Fitzpatrick for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

1. (SBU) President Nicanor Duarte Frutos condemned March 4
Colombia's actions in killing FARC Commander Raul Reyes,
stating that Paraguay condemned Colombia's "external
agression" and reaffirmed "the sovereignty of nations" such
as Ecuador. A confidential message from the Paraguayan
government to the OAS obtained by the newspaper ABC Color
indicated that Paraguay formally acknowledged its support for
Ecuador and opposition to Colombia's action. Ecuadorian
Ambassador to Paraguay Julio Prado Espinosa told ABC Color
March 4 that Duarte had expressed solidarity with Ecuador
following Colombia's incursion into Ecuadorian territory to
kill Reyes. (NOTE: Paraguayan diplomatic sources indicated
to ABC Color that Duarte phoned Ecuadorian President Rafael
Correa personally to offer his support. END NOTE.)

2. (C) COMMENT: President Duarte took a nationalistic and
populist stance yet again. This is in keeping with his
ongoing domestic campaign prior to April's presidential and
congressional elections here. Duarte did not mention the
Venezuelan government's response to the killing, and has
avoided all press reports regarding FARC's presence in
Ecuador in the first place. As a result, Duarte appears to
be balancing his own populist rhetoric by showing his
solidarity with Ecuador and its ally, Venezuela, without
taking the controversial stand of acknowledging support for
Venezuela in this conflict. COMMENT.

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CASON