VZCZCXYZ0018
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMN #0169 0931954
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 021954Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8061
INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS MONTEVIDEO 000169 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF PHUM SMIG MARR MOPS UY
SUBJECT: URUGUAY LIKELY TO BACK SWING FOR IOM 
 
REF: STATE 14788 
 
¶1.  (SBU) SUMMARY: Ambassador Swing was well-received by the 
Foreign Minister, Gonzalo Fernandez, and other key GOU 
officials during his March 27-28 visit.  Fernandez confirmed 
that Uruguay would give the utmost consideration to 
Ambassador Swing's candidacy.  Other key MFA officials were 
very pleased with Ambassador Swing's visit and implied that 
Uruguay's support was almost certain.  The Swing's visit was 
carried on leading radio stations in Montevideo, which 
highlighted his candidacy to head the IOM and the personal 
thanks he delivered to the GOU for Uruguay's contributions to 
UN peacekeeping operations. END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (U) The Ambassador accompanied Ambassador Swing to 
meetings with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of 
Defense and hosted a reception in his honor with key 
officials from the MFA and Ministry of Interior in 
attendance.  GOU officials were very pleased that Ambassador 
Swing took the time to visit Uruguay and implied that the 
GOU's support was almost certain. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) Ambassador Swing took the opportunity to convey his 
personal thanks to GOU officials, including Minister of 
Defense Jose Bayardi, for the contributions of Uruguayan 
peacekeeping troops in the Congo and Haiti.  The MoD rolled 
out the red carpet to receive Ambassador Swing during a tour 
of their joint peacekeeping training center (ENOPU). 
Ambassador Swing discussed Uruguay's peacekeeping operations 
with the outgoing and incoming PKO commanders and met 
Uruguayan troops who were involved in the March 2007 rescue 
of the Spanish Ambassador to the Congo.  Swing stressed the 
importance of human rights training for PKO troops, citing 
cases of sexual misconduct by peacekeeping troops, including 
Uruguayans, in the Congo.  Generals Iduarte and de los Santos 
were responsive and explained how the UAF had reacted swiftly 
to each identified case and had implemented specific human 
rights training for all troops participating in PKO missions. 
 The UAF took sexual misconduct by its troops seriously and 
would continue to proactively address the issue, they said. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) The generals cited USD 15 million in UN PKO arrears 
(for almost one year) to Uruguay that was seriously affecting 
Uruguay's ability to reequip its forces for future 
peacekeeping operations.  Ambassador Swing offered to reach 
back to UN contacts on a personal basis to mention Uruguay's 
concerns about the delayed peacekeeping funds. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) In separate meetings with the Director General for 
Consular Affairs, Jose Luis Remedi and the Director General 
for International Cooperation, Bernardo Griever, Ambassador 
Swing was briefed that an estimated 500,000 Uruguayans live 
abroad (15% of the population) and that emigration patterns 
and brain drain have had a vital impact on Uruguayan society 
and its economy.  The Ambassador's visit was carried on 
leading radio stations in Montevideo, which highlighted his 
candidacy to head the IOM and the personal thanks he 
delivered to the GOU for Uruguay's contributions to UN 
peacekeeping operations. 
 
¶6.  (U) PRM has cleared this message. 
 
Baxter