Abbreviations: GOS: government of Spain, GOI: government of Italy, MFA: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PM: Prime Minister, FM: Foreign Minister, AMB: Ambassador, DCM: Deputy Chief of Mission, ATT: President Amadou Toumani Toure, AQIM: Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, PDVSA: Petróleos de Venezuela, UNGA: United Nations General Assembly
| 2005-08-19 | 05ALGIERS1753 | SENATOR LUGAR DISCUSSES WESTERN SAHARA,
ALGERIAN-MOROCCAN RELATIONS WITH BOUTEFLIKA Referring to advice from Presidents Bush and Chirac that he bear in mind King Mohammed's youth, Bouteflika said, "I am not Jesus Christ, and will not turn my other cheek." |
| 2006-07-01 | 06ALGIERS1219 | BOUTEFLIKA ON WESTERN SAHARA, RELATIONS WITH MOROCCO Bouteflika responded that as the world's biggest power, the U.S. should respect the decisions of the UN on the Western Sahara. |
| 2008-06-25 | 08ALGIERS733 | BOUTEFLIKA ON WESTERN SAHARA: OUR BACKS ARE
AGAINST THE WALL - HELP US the apparent change in policy to support Morocco's position is painful and confusing to Algerians |
| 2009-12-16 | 09ALGIERS1117 | POLISARIO RESTRICTS ACTIVITIES SEEN TO THREATEN NATIONALIST GOALS the Algerian government and the Polisario Front respond harshly to any involvement in the trafficking of weapons, persons, or drugs. They view such activities as a major liability to the Polisario's nationalist cause and demands for Sahrawi self-determination. |
| 2009-10-12 | 09BAGHDAD2744 | EVOLUTION OF INFLUENCE IN IRAQ: COMMERCIAL
ENGAGEMENT AS A POLITICAL TOOL We expect that the GOI will use these commercial relationships not only for its economic benefit, but also to achieve political and diplomatic objectives, including balancing the perception of undue U.S. influence. |
| 2008-05-30 | 08BAMAKO485 | WORKING WITH THE MALIANS ON SAHEL SECURITY the mantra of Mali's leadership is that AQIM is an Algerian problem, and that the incipient Tuareg rebellion in the north presents a greater threat to Mali's stability and sovereignty than the terrorist presence. |
| 2009-06-18 | 09BAMAKO401 | ATT: "WE'RE ACTING ON AQIM - NOW WE NEED YOUR HELP" Mali's overt offensive against AQIM is to be welcomed, even as we recognize the logistic difficulties that ATT also acknowledges will hamper his militia-assisted army as the offensive continues. As of today, Embassy sources place the Malian forces in the area of Tin-Adema, out of fuel and awaiting resupply; AQIM is hunkered down north-west of Tessalit. There does not appear to have been any geographical movement by either side since Tuesday, June 16. The resource-inspired standdown on the Malian side reinforces the crucial need for the support ATT is requesting. |
| 2008-07-31 | 08BUCHAREST608 | BOEING SETS UP FOR A 1 BILLION DOLLAR DEAL Boeing is worried about reports that EADS does not plan to compete fairly and that they may attempt to improperly influence key government officials to favor Airbus. |
| 2007-01-31 | 07BUENOSAIRES185 | ARGENTINA TO ALLOW IRAQ TO REESTABLISH EMBASSY The Argentine government plans to inform the Iraqi government in February, that the GOA would allow the GOI to reopen its Embassy in Buenos Aires "sometime in March" |
| 2007-09-17 | 07BUENOSAIRES1862 | ELECTIONS 2007 WEEKLY ROUNDUP: SEPTEMBER 4-14 First Lady and presidential front-runner Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner is still leading the polls |
| 2008-04-14 | 08BUENOSAIRES471 | AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES TIP AND CORRUPTION WITH NATIONAL OMBUDSMAN Argentina's National Ombudsman ... Mondino raised a case he is investigating involving possible corruption related to commissions being charged on government contractual transactions, the proceeds of which are being deposited in a U.S. bank. LegAtt will follow up the case ... |
| 2008-09-19 | 08BUENOSAIRES1314 | ARMY CHIEF BENDINI, A KIRCHNER ALLY, RESIGNS ON RESURGENT CHARGE
OF CORRUPTION; POZZI SELECTED AS NEW CHIEF Bendini was indicted on charges of "peculado," a charge of illegally diverting government monies for personal use. |
| 2009-03-19 | 09BUENOSAIRES313 | ARGENTINE TAX AMNESTY LAW LOOKS ACCEPTABLE ON
PAPER, BUT CONCERNS REMAIN ABOUT ENFORCEMENT The GoA dismisses concerns that the new law will facilitate money laundering |
| 2009-05-06 | 09BUENOSAIRES534 | RECENT UNSETTLING DEVELOPMENTS
POINT TO FRAYING ANTI-CORRUPTION FRAMEWORK In early March, Manuel Garrido, Argentina's chief prosecutor for corrupton cases resigned, claiming frustration over perceived limitations placed on his authorities by Prosecutor General Esteban Righi. |
| 2009-09-23 | 09CARACAS1246 | VENEZUELA: INSIGHTS FROM PDVSA'S SENIOR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
[heavily redacted] XXXXX spun a convincing narrative regarding PDVSA's challenges coming out of the global crash in oil prices. However, his assessment of PDVSA's liability for expropriated companies was not compelling and could leave one with the impression that PDVSA has no real intention of paying for seized oil assets, at least not in the near future. XXXXX admission about Venezuela's manipulation of its crude oil basket price reinforces suspicions about the Chavez administration's willingness to manipulate official government statistics. |
| 2009-12-17 | 09CARACAS1567 | Venezuela: PDVSA Experiencing Quality Control Problems The Venezuelan national oil company has prioritized the supply of gasoline and other petroleum products to its domestic market over its international clients. |
| 2010-01-06 | 10CARACAS9 | VENEZUELA: OIL SECTOR STATUS AND FORECAST With OPEC pegging Venezuela's current production at 2.35 million barrels per day (mbd), down 5.5% from 2008, plus a lack of investment, drilling, and maintenance activity, it is hard to envision a scenario where Venezuela maintains or increases crude oil production in 2010. |
| 2010-02-23 | 10CARACAS219 | Globovision Owners Acknowledge Defeat; El Nacional On the Ropes? threats from senior GBRV officials had forced them to fire XXXXX and to tone down Globovision's strongly anti-Chavez orientation. |
| 2010-02-26 | 10CARACAS233 | VENEZUELA: PDVSA Director XXXXXXXXXXXX [heavily redacted] negotiations with the Russian consortium for a project in Junin 6 were progressing |
| 2008-03-19 | 08GUATEMALA355 | CICIG COMMISSIONER DISCUSSES PROGRESS AND CHALLENGES He outlined concerns over the extent to which some Guatemalan law enforcement organizations have been compromised by organized crime and corruption |
| 2008-05-16 | 08GUATEMALA621 | CICIG COMMISSIONER PROVIDES UPDATE The three themes are femicides, extorsions and trafficking in children. |
| 2009-09-16 | 09GUATEMALA884 | WITH ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE AMBASSADOR AND CICIG,
PRESIDENT COLOM APPROVES JUDICIAL REFORMS a last minute meeting on September 2 with the Ambassador and CICIG Commissioner Carlos Castresana convinced Colom to sign the reform bills into law. |
| 2009-12-24 | 09GUATEMALA1035 | WHA DAS Reynoso's Visit Reaffirms Partnership with Guatemala DAS Reynoso asked Colom for Guatemala's support on the upcoming UN vote on the "Situation of Human Rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran". |
| 2010-01-27 | 10GUATEMALA27 | Former President Portillo Captured, Refuses Extradition CICIG told Portillo he had the option of accepting an expedited proceeding that would lead to his quick extradition to safety in the U.S. Portillo refused, saying he preferred to face justice in Guatemala. |
| 2006-04-24 | 06HAVANA8769 | CASTRO'S YOUTHFUL RECRUITS WAGE WAR ON CORRUPTION The inspector reportedly complained, however, that the port takeover had deprived him of his usual means of support (thieving) |
| 2006-04-26 | 06HAVANA8986 | (CUBA IS) A STATE ON THE TAKE the entire system - from petty officials to Castro's closest advisors - is rife with corrupt practices. |
| 2007-03-30 | 07HAVANA317 | CUBAN REGIME REMOVES JUSTICE MINISTER That someone would be removed for corruption is usually an indication that the individual's misdeeds were not fully coordinated in advance, and the profits not shared enough with the Castros. |
| 2005-11-15 | 05LIMA4854 | HUMALA FEINTS TO THE CENTER, BUT CONTINUES TO
FLIRT WITH THE FAR LEFT Ollanta is skilled at putting a moderate-seeming face on basically radical, pro-cocalero positions. |
| 2005-11-22 | 05LIMA4983 | COUNTERING CHAVEZ IN PERU Peru's political class largely shares the Toledo Government's hostility towards Chavez |
| 2005-11-29 | 05LIMA5061 | FORMER INTERIOR MINISTER ROSPIGLIOSI WORRIED ABOUT
OLLANTA HUMALA we have no/no intention of involving the Embassy in anti-Humala information or commentary campaigns |
| 2004-03-03 | 04MADRID736 | SPECIAL 301: PROGRESS NOT PERFECTION Police were successful in thwarting pirates during the prime holiday shopping season. There was also progress in the courts: Nike gained control of its trademark after a 14-year legal battle. The GOS revised its Penal Code to increase punishments for IP offenders, and has continued its efforts to train judges and provide consumer education on IP issues. ... In light of these efforts and our sense of GOS committment to continue the fight, we recommend keeping Spain off the 301 watchlist this year. |
| 2004-05-13 | 04MADRID1731 | DCM'S MEETING WITH MFA STATE SECRETARY BERNARDINO LEON DCM noted our desire, now that we have expressed our disappointment on the Iraq troop withdrawal decision, to move forward to continue our excellent relations with Spain under the new government. DCM said U.S. would welcome support in the EU on counter-terrorism issues such as Passenger Name recognition and terrorist financing. |
| 2004-07-23 | 04MADRID2804 | SPAIN: LETTER FROM SECRETARY POWELL TO FM MORATINOS took the opportunity to convey our concerns about the dormant, but possibly still pending, Spanish court case on the Couso incident, noting our desire to avoid a situation in which US soldiers could be indicted by a foreign court |
| 2005-02-23 | 05MADRID696 | SPECIAL 301 RECOMMENDATION Given the government's formation of an integrated anti-piracy plan, work with industry on legislative issues, willingness to work with the USG on an IPR "roundtable", and the newness of the government (the Zapatero government took office after the last Special 301 determination), our recommendation is that Spain stay off the 301 watchlist this year. |
| 2005-10-21 | 05MADRID3694 | SPANISH MINISTERS WORKING TO CHALLENGE ARREST WARRANTS Soon after a Spanish judge announced arrest warrants on October 19 for three US soldiers associated with the 2003 death of a Spanish cameraman in Iraq, both the Justice Minister and the Foreign Minister reached out to Ambassador Aguirre to let him know that the GOS is doing everything in its power to challenge the Judge's decision. |
| 2006-03-22 | 06MADRID722 | VICE PRESIDENT ON SYRIA, AFRICA, BILATERAL RELATIONS On Syria, the Ambassador reviewed USG concerns regarding FM Moratinos' travel to Damascus and urged Spain to adhere to the international consensus on high-level contacts with Syria. Regarding Venezuela, the Ambassador said the USG was very concerned by reports that aircraft maker EADS CASA was looking for substitutes for U.S. components in order to complete its proposed sale of twelve planes to Venezuela. |
| 2006-10-20 | 06MADRID2657 | SPAIN: UPDATE ON KEY TERRORISM-RELATED CASES recent Spanish Supreme and national court decisions freeing alleged Al-Qaeda suspects are an important factor to consider as we pursue improved judicial cooperation with Spain. ... El Pais reported that the founder of Al-Qaeda in Spain has been in a "secret CIA prison" for a year. ... Khaled al-Masri testified for three hours in a Spanish national court and claimed that he was kidnapped and tortured by CIA officers during five months in 2004. |
| 2006-11-07 | 06MADRID2853 | SPAIN AND U.S. COOPERATING TO REMEDIATE RADIATION
CONTAMINATION FROM 1966 NUCLEAR ACCIDENT On January 17, 1966, a USAF nuclear-armed B-52 collided with a USAF tanker aircraft during a refueling operation in the air above the Andalucian coastline between the cities of Almeria and Murcia. The non-nuclear detonation of two of the four weapons that fell to the ground resulted in the dispersal of plutonium contamination across 558 acres of Spanish coastline near the village of Palomares. |
| 2007-01-12 | 07MADRID71 | SPAIN: UNVIE AMBASSADOR SCHULTE RAISES AWARENESS
OF POTENTIAL IRANIAN NUCLEAR THREAT Schulte stressed that Secretary Rice would make greater efforts on the Israeli-Palestinain conflict over the coming two years and that the outcome in Iraq would also have great influence on Iranian behavior. |
| 2007-01-16 | 07MADRID82 | SPAIN/COUSO CASE: JUDGE ISSUES DETENTION ORDER
AGAINST THREE U.S. SERVICEMEN National Court Examining Magistrate Santiago Pedraz issued international detention orders on January 16 against three U.S. servicemen, Sgt. Thomas Gibson, Captain Philip Wolford, and Lt. Col. Philip de Camp, accused of murder and violating international law in the death of Spanish cameraman Jose Couso during the April 2003 capture of Baghdad. |
| 2007-01-18 | 07MADRID101 | SPAIN/COUSO CASE: MEETING WITH CHIEF PROSECUTOR Embassy officials ... met with National Court Chief Prosecutor Javier Zaragoza on 1/18 to review developments in the Spanish court case charging three U.S. servicemen with murder and war crimes in the April 2003 death of Spanish cameraman Jose Couso ... We will also follow up at higher levels in the Spanish Government to reinforce the implications of this case for bilateral relations and on international law. |
| 2007-01-26 | 07MADRID141 | SPAIN/COUSO CASE: AMBASSADOR MEET WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL the National Court prosecutors would continue to oppose the detention orders against the three U.S. servicemen, as well as any effort to embargo USG assets in connection with the case. Conde Pumpido warned that he expected the magistrate to continue to issue requests to the USG and to seek media coverage of his efforts, but said he expected the case to "go nowhere." |
| 2007-02-08 | 07MADRID215 | SPAIN/COUSO CASE: JUDGE THREATENS TO OBSTRUCT
US-SPAIN JUDICICIAL COOPERATION National Court Examining Magistrate Santiago Pedraz has threatened to request the suspension of US-Spain judicial cooperation agreements because the USG has not responded to his out of channel January 22 request for "complete identifying information" for the three U.S. servicemen named in the Couso case. The reports made clear that Judge Pedraz required specific identifying data in order to process international detention orders through Interpol. |
| 2007-03-08 | 07MADRID449 | SPANISH INTERIOR MINISTER RUBALCABA ON DE JUANA
CHAOS DECISION; ETA TERRORISM; KEY BILATERAL ISSUES Ambassador Aguirre heard the Spanish government's defense of its recent controversial decision to allow convicted ETA assassin Inaki De Juana Chaos to serve out the rest of his sentence under house arrest |
| 2007-03-21 | 07MADRID520 | SPAIN/IRAQ: SOCIALISTS FIRE UP ANTI-WAR RHETORIC
FOR ELECTORAL SEASON Baltasar Garzon published an editorial in the left leaning "El Pais" saying that the time had arrived to investigate "criminal responsibility" for the war in Iraq, to include possible charges against former President Aznar, PM Blair, and President Bush |
| 2007-04-02 | 07MADRID596 | SPAIN ON TAKING GUANTANAMO DETAINEES Pons said that it would be "nearly impossible" to accept any Guantanamo detainees |
| 2007-04-27 | 07MADRID800 | SPAIN/COUSO CASE: JUDGE CHARGES US SERVICEMEN WITH
"CRIMES AGAINST INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY" National Court Judge Santiago Pedraz issued formal charges of murder and "crimes against the international community" against the three US servicemen named in the legal case filed by family members of Spanish cameraman Jose Couso, who was killed by US fire during the capture of Baghdad in April 2003. The most serious charges are punishable by 10-15 year imprisonment. ... we will continue to press for dismissal of the charges. |
| 2007-05-11 | 07MADRID899 | SPAIN/COUSO CASE: UPDATE; CONVERSATIONS WITH KEY
SPANISH LEADERS USG's strong concern about the formal charges filed in Spain against the three US serviceman |
| 2007-05-14 | 07MADRID910 | SPAIN/COUSO CASE: PROSECUTOR APPEALS CHARGES
AGAINST US SERVICEMEN This case now proceeds to the appeals body within the National Court. This is the same appeals tribunal that dismissed the Couso case in 2006 on the grounds that Spain did not have jurisdiction to try the case. The Supreme Court overturned the decision of the National Court and ruled that Spain did have jurisdiction, but did not rule on the substance of the Couso case. |
| 2007-05-24 | 07MADRID1000 | SPAIN/COUSO CASE: JUDGE REJECTS CHIEF PROSECUTOR'S
APPEAL; CASE MOVES ON TO APPEALS TRIBUNAL Zaragoza contacted us on May 14 to report that he had appealed the Pedraz decision to file formal charges against the three U.S. servicemen |
| 2007-07-19 | 07MADRID1428 | SPANISH ATTORNEY GENERAL REVIEWS CT AND JUDICIAL
COOPERATION WITH AMBASSADOR most or all of the twenty-nine people charged in the 2004 Madrid train bombings will be convicted. |
| 2007-12-28 | 07MADRID2305 | SPAIN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (IPR) STRATEGY For the first time, the GOS has asked Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to table a specific proposal for dealing with illegal internet downloads. ... The GOS has sent a letter to the Spanish Restaurant and Bar Association proposing an agreement to deal with sales of pirated products in bars and restaurants. |
| 2008-02-25 | 08MADRID211 | SPECIAL 301 SPAIN RECOMMENDATION We propose to tell the new government that Spain will appear on the Watch List if it does not do three things by October 2008. First, issue a GOS announcement stating that internet piracy is illegal, and that the copyright levy system does not compensate creators for copyrighted material acquired through peer-to-peer file sharing. Second, amend the 2006 "Circular" that is widely interpreted in Spain as saying that peer-to-peer file sharing is legal. Third, announce that the GOS will adopt measures along the lines of the French and/or UK proposals aimed at curbing internet piracy by the summer of 2009. |
| 2008-05-14 | 08MADRID542 | PAIN/COUSO CASE: NATIONAL COURT DISMISSES CHARGES
AGAINST THREE U.S. SERVICEMEN The Judge said the red notices and arrest warrants against the servicemen were no longer in force. |
| 2008-09-15 | 08MADRID987 | DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION'S SEPTEMBER 12,2009,
MEETING WITH NEW DG FOR EUROPE AND NORTH AMERICA Taking up the theme of partnership, the DCM noted U.S. and Spanish differences on Kosovo as well as rumors that Spain was lobbying other countries (e.g., in Latin America) against recognition. He noted this was an issue that might come in meetings with U.S. officials on the margins of UNGA. |
| 2008-09-25 | 08MADRID1021 | DEPUTY CHIEF OF MISSION'S SEPTEMBER 23, 2008,
MEETING WITH SPANISH MOD SECRETARY GENERAL FOR POLICY LUIS CUESTA Cuesta mentioned a Spanish judicial investigation into so-called CIA flights to Guantanamo. ... Cuesta explained that the MOD was complying with the judge's subpoenas, but he hoped the case would be eventually be filed away and forgotten. |
| 2008-10-31 | 08MADRID1132 | NEA A/S WELCH MEETINGS WITH SPANISH OFFICIALS OCTOBER 23 "Syria wants to be part of the West, rather than aligning with Iran they want to be welcomed in Paris, and moreover, we need them to conclude any comprehensive peace plan." |
| 2008-11-07 | 08MADRID1183 | SPAIN SUPPORTS AU & EU EFFORTS TO RESTORE
CONSTITUIONAL RULE IN MAURITANIA Spain doesn't want a failed state a few miles from its territory in the Canary Islands and believes that it would be ideal if the military stepped back and allowed a "Turkish model" to emerge. |
| 2009-01-23 | 09MADRID78 | SPAIN'S PREVIEW OF THE JANUARY GAERC Lopez stated that Spain is concerned for the "security of Israel, but for the rights of Palestinians as well." |
| 2009-01-30 | 09MADRID108 | MFA REQUESTS USG REVIEW OF TWO IRAN-RELATED ISSUES the German Minister of Commerce had called in the Spanish Ambassador to Berlin to discuss the issue of a Spanish affiliate of a German steel company that is manufacturing and exporting tubes to Iran. ... the Israeli government had called in the Spanish Ambassador to Tel Aviv to discuss the possibility that some Spanish banks may be involved in transactions that ultimately have an Iranian connection. |
| 2009-04-02 | 09MADRID351 | SPAIN: S/WCI ENGAGES GOS ON ACCEPTING GTMO DETAINEES reevaluate all 241 GTMO detainees. Each individual will be categorized as cleared for transfer, cleared for release, or able to be prosecuted. Of those cleared for transfer or release, an estimated 50-60, from countries such as China, Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Syria and Uzbekistan, will not be transferred home due to humane treatment concerns. It is detainees from within this group, representing the lowest threat level, that the USG hopes to resettle in Europe. |
| 2009-04-30 | 09MADRID432 | INTERAGENCY DECISION NEEDED ON PALOMARES RESPONSE TO GOS The GOS has for several months been seeking USG interlocutors to discuss final cleanup of radiation contamination at the Palomares site. ... Post believes that an interagency policy decision, likely involving the NSC, is needed on what the USG as a whole should do |
| 2009-05-22 | 09MADRID496 | COUSO CASE: JUDGE REINSTATES CHARGES AGAINST U.S. SOLDIERS May 21 Spanish National Court Judge Santiago Pedraz issued new indictments against three U.S. soldiers in connection with the death in Iraq of Spanish journalist Jose Couso in 2003. The charging document introduces new, recently obtained evidence, including statements from former Minister of Defense Frederico Trillo and former Foreign Minister Ana Palacio. Judge Pedraz argues that the new evidence contradicts the U.S. position that the soldiers were responding to hostile fire when their tank shot at the hotel in Baghdad. |
| 2009-07-22 | 09MADRID742 | SPAIN ANALYZES GTMO FILES TO FIND "BEST FIT" FOR RESETTLEMENT The Spaniard requested - and was granted - that Madrid be allowed to "reserve" a Syrian (SY-489), two Palestinians (SA-049 and WE-684), and a Yemeni (YM-252). |
| 2009-12-04 | 09MADRID1161 | SPAIN: GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSED ANTI-INTERNET PIRACY
LEGISLATIVE MEASURES GENERATE CONTROVERSY All political parties except the ruling Socialists have expressed opposition to the measures. Internet users' associations have reacted with shrill denunciations. |
| 2010-01-25 | 10MADRID76 | INAUGURAL U.S.-SPAIN COUNTER-TERRORISM AND
ORGANIZED CRIME EXPERTS MEETING Conde-Pumpido and Zaragoza expressed considerable interest in AG Holder's October 2009 decision to have KSM and other suspected 9/11 terrorists tried in a the civil criminal justice system and congratulated the USG for its bravery in this regard. Zaragoza described the change of policy as "going back to democratic normality." |
| 2009-02-17 | 09MALABO13 | ATTACK IN THE VICINITY OF PRESIDENTIAL PALACE While reports remain sketchy, at least two speedboats with armed attackers were apparently engaged by EG military before dawn. |
| 2009-03-12 | 09MALABO27 | EQUATORIAL GUINEA RAW, PAPER 4: THE BUSINESS OF CORRUPTION During the period of the "skinny cows," officials were only expected to be in the office three days a week. |
| 2009-03-30 | 09MALABO31 | EQUATORIAL GUINEA RAW 5: HOW IT WORKS -- WHY IT SOMETIMES DOESN'T EG is a country emerging from a dark past of extreme isolation and poverty, now flush with cash and oil reserves but little else. Nonetheless, it is moving quickly, ... |
| 2009-05-21 | 09MALABO48 | EQUATORIAL GUINEA RAW, PAPER 6: REFINING OUR APPROACH What do we really want for Equatorial Guinea? Do we want to see the country continue to evolve in positive ways from the very primitive state in which it found itself after independence? Or would we prefer a revolution that brings sudden, uncertain change and unpredictability? |
| 2009-02-25 | 09MANAGUA203 | ON ELECTIONS, IT'S TIME TO MOVE ON Nearly four months after the governing Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) claimed "victory" in the November 2008 municipal elections, there has been no indication that the Nicaraguan government intends to address the credible allegations of fraud or complaints regarding the partisan manipulation of the electoral system. |
| 2008-05-16 | 08MEXICO1487 | SCENE SETTER FOR THE VISIT TO MEXICO OF FBI DEPUTY
DIRECTOR JOHN S. PISTOLE A stew of widespread criminality, drug trafficking, corruption and impunity |
| 2009-04-08 | 09MEXICO1020 | THREE CONGRESSIONAL CHAIRMAN BRING MESSAGE OF
SUPPORT TO PRESIDENT CALDERON Between 2000 and 2004 the Government of Mexico seized 3000 assault weapons. Once the U.S. ban on assault weapons was lifted in 2004 the numbers spiked dramatically, Calderon continued. Between 2007 and 2009, over 15000 such weapons have been seized, including missile launchers, AK-47s and Barret 50 calibres. The heavy weapons were used by criminal organizations to confront government entities, to intimidate local officials and law enforcement, and to wage battle against other cartels. |
| 2009-05-15 | 09MEXICO1344 | RESPONSE UPDATE: REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON HOST
GOVERNMENT PRACTICES - INFORMATION COLLECTION, SCREENING
AND SHARING Below please find Post's updated responses regarding host government's policies toward and capabilities for collection of biographic and biometric data for terrorist screening purposes. |
| 2009-08-21 | 09MEXICO2473 | SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON ZETAS AND U.S. MILITARY TRAINING The Embassy conducted an extensive cross-check of our database of Mexican military officials who participated in U.S.-funded training programs against lists of known members of Los ZETAS. The comparison of databases did not produce any hits. |
| 2010-02-18 | 10MEXICO111 | DHS SECRETARY NAPOLITANO'S MEETING WITH PRESIDENT CALDERON,
FEBRUARY 17 USG and GOM officials noted the entrance of Somalis, Eritreans, and even Iranians through the southern border. |
| 2007-07-18 | 07MINSK620 | LUKASHENKO REMOVES BELARUSIAN KGB CHIEF Human rights lawyer and former investigator Oleg xxxxx on July 17 opined to reporters that the BKGB Chief's removal resulted from a power struggle between Sukharenko and Interior Minister Vladimir Naumov |
| 2007-11-01 | 07MINSK915 | FORMER PRESIDENTIAL AIDE ON LUKASHENKO AND CRONIES Lukashenko feared losing power, but was nonetheless contemplating the installation of his son Viktor as president in elections scheduled for 2011. |
| 2008-02-28 | 08NEWDELHI638 | DEFENSE SECRETARY SINGH EMPHASIZES POSITIVE
MILITARY RELATIONSHIP TO UNDERSECRETARY MANCUSO Agreements Can Be Mutually Beneficial |
| 2009-07-23 | 09NOUAKCHOTT490 | MAURITANIA: POLITICAL ROUNDUP FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 19-23 This week in Nouakchott, Aziz scores a first round win with 52.58 percent of the vote. Despite international observer declarations that the election was transparent, four opposition candidates contest the results and denounce "massive fraud." |
| 2010-01-11 | 10PARIS30 | AFRICOM COMMANDER'S DISCUSSIONS WITH FRENCH
OFFICIALS ON AQIM AND OTHER AFRICA SECURITY THREATS The French pressed for additional coordination (military assistance, intelligence sharing, and development projects) in helping countries confront al-Qa'ida in the Islamic Maghreb |
| 2010-02-22 | 10PORTAUPRINCE176 | PORT-AU-PRINCE: FEBRUARY 12 CODEL PELOSI VISIT TO HAITI On February 12 Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, along with the 11 Senators and members of Congress, arrived in Port-au-Prince to observe U.S. relief efforts |
| 2010-02-23 | 10PORTAUPRINCE186 | PREVAL'S PARLIAMENTARY UPPER-HAND Parliament does not pose a threat to Preval and Bellerive's ability to govern. |
| 2009-08-24 | 09RABAT719 | PHONE CALL JUSTICE: MEDDLING IN MOROCCO'S JUDICIARY Judges are not even minimally independent of the Ministry of Justice, and officials use direct intervention, career consequences, and political pressure to influence outcomes. |
| 2008-08-12 | 08ROME1021 | SCENESETTER FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT'S SEPTEMBER 4-10 TRIP TO ITALY Berlusconi and Foreign Minister Frattini have been extremely cooperative on Iran, even if Italy has not been invited to join the P5 1 as they hoped. Coordination has been very good on Lebanon and Israel, though we have not yet made the same type of progress on trans-Atlantic relations with Russia. ... A G8 member and one of the world's largest economies, Italy's influence is threatened by perennially slow economic growth. Its economy has grown a full percentage point slower than the EU average this decade. A burdensome bureaucracy, corruption, organized crime, a low birth rate, severe labor market rigidity, a weak educational system, ... |
| 2008-08-14 | 08ROME1046 | AMB URGES ITALY TO PUSH FOR RUSSIAN WITHDRAWAL The Ambassador said it was essential that all Russian troops withdraw from Georgia and return to South Ossetia as soon as possible. ... The Ambassador told Letta that Washington was "not happy" with the Italian response thus far and that we had been particularly perplexed by FM Frattini's statements. |
| 2008-10-02 | 08ROME1226 | SCENESETTER FOR PM BERLUSCONI'S OCTOBER 13 TRIP TO WASHINGTON fear of casualties in Afghanistan may be preventing Berlusconi from making good on his commitment to you to assume a stronger military role in ISAF. In addition, Berlusconi's friendship with Putin and Italy's growing dependence on Russian energy supplies has led him too often to stray into apologetics for Russian behavior in Georgia. |
| 2009-06-27 | 09ROME755 | SCENESETTER FOR THE PRESIDENT'S PARTICIPATION IN
THE G8 L'AQUILA SUMMIT, JULY 8-10 Italy's ambitious agenda may have been driven in part by its fear that the G8 would become irrelevant on Italy's watch. French President Sarkozy's public questioning of the G8's relevance and UK PM Gordon Brown's successful bid to make the G20 the premier leaders' forum for addressing the global economic crisis have contributed to this concern, and have spurred Italy to expand G8 "outreach" to make it more inclusive |
| 2009-09-21 | 09ROME1077 | BERLUSCONI REAFFIRMS AFGHAN COMMITMENT DURING
AMBASSADOR'S COURTESY CALL the PM appeared elated by President Obama's decision on missile defense; reaffirmed Italy's commitment to the Afghanistan mission ... Responding to the Ambassador's request that Italy support the city of Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympics, Berlusconi indicated that Italy was prepared to support Chicago. |
| 2010-01-13 | 10ROME49 | SCENESETTER FOR FOREIGN MINISTER FRATTINI'S VISIT TO WASHINGTON Frattini's tenure as Foreign Minister has been characterized by a desire for closeness with the US and support for the priorities of PM Berlusconi ... Frattini has also pushed Turkish accession to the European Union. |
| 2009-08-31 | 09SANAA1611 | ANOTHER ROYG INSIDER SPEAKS OUT: "HE WON'T LISTEN TO ANYONE" xxxxx has joined other prominent former insiders ... in blaming President Ali Abdullah Saleh for Yemen's myriad problems |
| 2009-10-06 | 09SANAA1832 | TALE OF TWO HOSPITALS HIGHLIGHTS ROYG'S MISPLACED
FISCAL PRIORITIES ADEN HOSPITAL: 300 BEDS, NO NEW MONEY ... SANA'A HOSPITAL: 16 BEDS, EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS |
| 2009-08-28 | 09SEOUL1386 | HYUNDAI CHAIRWOMAN ON DPRK TRIP, KIM JONG-IL KYG cautioned Hyun to present the idea of offering food aid to the ROKG as her own, not as a request from Pyongyang. |
| 2009-12-24 | 09SEOUL2002 | CHINESE AMBASSADOR TO ROK ON SIX-PARTY TALKS, DPRK
ECONOMICS, AND KOREAN POLITICAL CULTURE Chinese Ambassador to the ROK Cheng Yonghua told Ambassador Stephens over dinner on December 21 that he was optimistic the DPRK would eventually return to the Six-Party Talks. |
| 2008-12-20 | 08STATE133238 | OBTAINING A COMMITMENT FROM THE GOK TO
RESETTLE THE GTMO UIGHURS The interagency has prepared an incentive package to offer the Government of Kiribati to resettle the Uighurs in Kiribati. |
| 2009-06-12 | 09STATE60946 | KUDOS AND FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS ON
ITALIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONS REFTEL WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL IN PROVIDING INSIGHT INTO THE ITALIAN-RUSSIAN RELATIONSHIP |
| 2010-01-28 | 10STATE8676 | REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ON ITALY-RUSSIA RELATIONS PLEASE PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION ON THE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RUSSIAN PM VLADIMIR PUTIN AND ITALIAN PM SILVIO BERLUSCONI. WHAT PERSONAL INVESTMENTS, IF ANY, DO THEY HAVE THAT MIGHT DRIVE THEIR FOREIGN OR ECONOMIC POLICIES? |
| 2009-12-07 | 09TIRANA776 | GOA AGREES TO ACCEPT MORE GUANTANAMO DETAINEES Prime Minister Sali Berisha agreed to accept for resettlement at least three and up to six Guantanamo detainees, provided "they are not ethnic-Uighurs and are not too dangerous." |
| 2009-01-29 | 09TRIPOLI68 | AL-QADHAFI: THE PHILOSOPHER-KING KEEPS HIS HAND IN With the imposition of international sanctions in the early 1990's, al-Qadhafi largely withdrew from the media limelight, and only re-emerged in earnest after sanctions were lifted in 2003-2004. He has since advocated various trans-national agendas, most recently for a proposed unified African government, and has cultivated the image of an international philosopher-king, a la Nelson Mandela or Vaclav Havel. |