This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 SAO PAULO 000493 
 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR MDEMPSEY 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2014 
TAGS: PGOV PREL CO BL CU VE BR UNHCR US
SUBJECT: SPECIAL ENVOY REICH'S MEETING WITH JOSE DIRCEU 
 
REF: BRASILIA 676 
 
Classified By: CG PATRICK DUDDY for reasons 1.5(B) and (D). 
 
¶1.  (C)  SUMMARY.  White House Special Envoy for the Western 
Hemisphere Otto Reich met with President Luis Inacio Lula da 
Silva's Chief of Staff Jose Dirceu on Sunday, March 21 at a 
private residence in Sao Paulo.  During the course of the 
relaxed and open 90-minute conversation, the two touched on 
current events in Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Cuba, Haiti 
and Argentina, and expressed their intent to maintain an open 
channel of communication.  Dirceu said that the Brazilian 
government is deeply concerned about the situation in 
Venezuela and in Cuba, and that the GOB would abstain (as it 
has in the past) on the UNHRC motion on Cuba.  Dirceu 
indicated that he hoped to visit the United States in the 
near future, perhaps as soon as Easter week, or shortly 
thereafter. Reich was accompanied by Special Advisor to the 
Assistant Secretary for Western Hemisphere Affairs William 
Perry and Consul General Patrick Duddy.  Dirceu was 
accompanied by Andre Araujo.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (C) Following the exchange of opening pleasantries, Amb. 
Reich raised Venezuela, noting that the United States is 
deeply concerned with the deteriorating situation there. 
Dirceu stated that Brazil is also concerned with the 
situation in Venezuela.  He noted that Presidential Foreign 
Policy Advisor Marco Aurelio Garcia was recently in 
Venezuela, and had prepared a report for President Lula on 
his visit.  Dirceu said he had seen it, but had not yet had 
the opportunity to read the report in detail.  He said he 
expected Lula and other senior advisors would discuss 
Venezuela early in the week of March 22.  When asked what he 
thought the U.S. and Brazil could do together on Venezuela, 
Dirceu was non-comittal, reiterating that the GOB would 
discuss the Venezuelan situation in the coming week. 
However, Dirceu's comments about Chavez's behavior during the 
G-15 meeting in Caracas were quite critical, and he said Lula 
left the meeting early because he "was uncomfortable."  He 
added that Lula had not returned any of Chavez's calls since 
then, but that he would probably do so soon in order to keep 
the communication open, as unpleasannt as it may be. 
 
¶3.  (C) On Bolivia, Reich stressed that the U.S. and Brazil 
have shared interests in that country, and a common interest 
in assisting Bolivia to maintain political stability.  Reich 
noted his concern about the March 18 statement by a Foreign 
Ministry spokesman that Brazil had not attended the most 
recent meeting of the Bolivia Support Group in Washington 
because the GOB considered the meeting a "waste of time." 
Dirceu appeared to be surprised at hearing about the 
spokesman's statement, and took notes on Reich's points.  He 
said he would talk to FM Amorim about it. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Reich thanked the GOB for its willingness to help 
in Haiti, and to contribute peacekeeping forces.  He asked 
Dirceu for clarification that the GOB would only participate 
in a UN Chapter 6 (peacekeeping), rather than a Chapter 7 
(peace enforcement), mission in Haiti.  Dirceu confirmed that 
that was correct.  In response to Reich's question on whether 
the Brazilian deployment in Haiti could be moved forward, 
Dirceu was non-committal, noting only that the GOB had had 
financial concerns about the deployment which were being 
resolved.  Dirceu noted that he also expected to speak to the 
President about Haiti during the coming week, and suggested 
that he might get back in touch on the issue. 
 
¶5.  (C) Reich raised the USG's continuing concern with the 
Cuban government's harsh repression of dissidents.  Dirceu 
said that the GOB is also concerned about the situation in 
Cuba.  He said, however, that the GOB would not "change its 
vote" on the Cuba motion in the upcoming UNHRC session; he 
said the GOB would abstain on the motion, as it has in past 
years.  Dirceu noted that Cuba is a difficult issue for the 
Lula government, and a very difficult issue for him 
personally.  (NOTE:  Dirceu spent much of six years (1969-75) 
in exile in Cuba, after being expelled from Brazil by the 
military dictatorship.  End Note.)  Dirceu acknowledged that 
the Cuban government has not been receptive to private GOB 
overtures on treatment of detainees.  He said the newly 
arrived Cuban Ambassador in Brasilia had refused to entertain 
any discussion of the issue, even in relation to a Brazilian 
citizen who had been arrested in Cuba for complicity in alien 
smuggling.  Dirceu added that Lula had received the mother of 
the Brazilian detained in Cuba.  Asked whether the Lula 
government would consider having Lula receive the mothers of 
detained Cuban dissidents as a gesture of concern, Dirceu 
said he would discuss the idea with others in the GOB, 
including the President.  (COMMENT:  No modalities were 
discussed.  End Comment.) 
 
¶6.  (SBU) On Colombia, Dirceu noted that the GOB has a good 
relationship with Colombia.  He said that Brazil was 
committed to stepped up military and police presence along 
Brazil's northern border, and mentioned the SIVAM Amazon 
surveillance system.  Reich pointed out several indicators of 
progress in the GOC's efforts to ensure security in the 
country, including regaining control of all the towns 
previously controlled by rebel groups, significant numbers of 
surrenders by paramilitary members, and resumed economic 
growth of 4 percent in the last year.  Dirceu indicated that 
he was aware of the improvements in the security situation in 
Colombia. 
 
¶7.  (C) Turning to Argentina, Dirceu commented that part of 
the problem is that it is not clear that the Kirchner 
government has a clear or comprehensive plan for extricating 
the country from its economic woes.  Consequently, the 
government is in the position of having to "slay a lion" 
every week to stay out in front of impending crises. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) Dirceu said that he was planning to make a trip to 
the United States in the near future, possibly as soon as the 
week after Easter.  He indicated interest in identifying an 
appropriate venue for making a speech or other public 
statement while there, as well as in meetings with USG 
officials. 
 
¶9.  (C) Comment.  The cordial but frank exchange of views 
between Reich and Dirceu advanced the USG effort to maintain 
a robust and cooperative relationship with the GOB.  While no 
immediate action items resulted from the meeting, Minister 
Dirceu said he would consult and get back in touch with 
Ambassador Reich on issues of mutual concern, including 
Venezuela, Cuba and possibly Haiti.  Dirceu's comments on 
Haiti and Brazil's vote on the Cuba motion at the UNHRC track 
closely with Foreign Ministry UnderSecretary Vera Pedrosa's 
comments to Ambassador Hrinak on March 19, reported reftel. 
End Comment. 
 
¶10.  (U) This message was coordinated with Embassy Brasilia 
and cleared by Ambassador Reich. 
DUDDY