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INFO RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PORT OF SPAIN 000265 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR USOAS AND WHA/EPSC 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECIN ECON PREL EAGR KSUM XM TD
SUBJECT:  T&T UPDATES USOAS AMBASSADOR ON 2009 SUMMIT OF THE 
AMERICAS PREPARATIONS 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PROTECT ACCORDINGLY 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  GOTT Ministers and the National Summit 
Coordinator welcomed the visit of USOAS Ambassador Hector Morales to 
consult on preparations for the Fifth Summit of the Americas, April 
2009 in Port of Spain.  T&T aims to unveil the initial draft Summit 
declaration in mid-July, with text negotiations to start in 
September.  Logistical arrangements are also in train, including two 
cruise ships to provide overflow accommodations.  T&T will seek U.S. 
assistance with Summit security, including air and sea coverage as 
well as sweeps of the cruise ships.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (U) Hector Morales, U.S. Ambassador to the Organization of 
American States (OAS), visited Trinidad May 19-20 to consult with 
the GOTT on preparations for the Fifth Summit of the Americas (SOA), 
which will take place April 17-19, 2009, in Port of Spain. 
Ambassador Morales was accompanied by State/E Special Assistant Tom 
Pierce.  Ambassador Luis Alberto Rodriguez, the National Summit 
Coordinator for Trinidad and Tobago (T&T), attended all substantive 
meetings.  Morales' meeting with Prime Minister Manning is reported 
septel. 
 
--------------------------------------------- 
Foreign Minister sees prospects for consensus 
--------------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Foreign Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon opened her meeting with 
Amb. Morales by noting that she had come away from the EU-Latin 
American leaders' meeting in Lima feeling optimistic about the 
prospects for achieving consensus on SOA themes, many of which were 
also addressed in the EU meeting.  She praised Peru for having "put 
on a good show."  On the other hand, the meeting had accomplished 
less for the Caribbean than it could have, for example with respect 
to bananas.  While T&T had good side meetings, other Caribbean 
countries were less active. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Ambassador Morales said he was looking forward to the OAS 
General Assembly in Medellin as an opportunity to build consensus. 
Minister Gopee-Scoon turned to Ambassador Rodriguez to ask about the 
status of preparations to circulate a draft SOA declaration at the 
OASGA.  Rodriguez explained that the draft document needed more 
input from Joint Summit Working Group (JSWG) partner institutions, 
and Ambassador Morales commented that it would be better to have the 
data before finalizing the declaration. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Ambassador Morales stressed that the US was committed to 
the success of the SOA, which would undoubtedly be one of the first 
trips abroad for the new U.S. President and would underscore 
continuing bipartisan US commitment to the hemisphere.  When the 
Minister sought assurances that the new President would definitely 
attend the SOA, Morales indicated that the new President would have 
strong foreign policy incentives to do so. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Ambassador Morales said that the themes of environment, 
energy, social inclusion, security etc. were appropriate for the 
entire continent and called for renewed emphasis by the 34 
democratically elected leaders.  Noting that food security and food 
prices would undoubtedly be raised at the SOA, he cautioned against 
overemphasizing the impact of corn-based ethanol on food prices.  He 
also stressed the need to ensure that well-intentioned environmental 
initiatives do not undercut the competitiveness of the hemisphere. 
Minister Gopee-Scoon replied that it would be important to balance 
environmental, energy, and food security concerns, all of which were 
inter-related. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Given the challenge of getting 34 leaders to agree on 
anything, Ambassador Luis Alberto Rodriguez said that a series of 
SIRG meetings prior to the SOA would doubtless be required.  The 
Minister, by contrast, cited her experience at the EU meeting in 
Lima as a basis for optimism that the SOA would achieve consensus on 
these issues.  Ambassador Rodriguez explained that many 
unaccomplished mandates remained from previous SOAs.  While T&T's 
proposal to have a declaration of commitment was intended to break 
the trend of proliferating mandates, it would be more challenging to 
negotiate.  Minister Gopee-Scoon countered that these were different 
times and that OAS members should understand the need to work 
together. 
 
¶8. (SBU) Ambassador Morales, citing the numerous challenges 
encountered at the Mar del Plata Summit, echoed the Minister's hope 
that after that experience, SOA leaders will be more prepared than 
in the past to work constructively toward consensus.  It would be 
important to have a practical approach to solving the various issues 
raised at the next SOA, he said.  Citing the recent food crisis in 
Haiti, he said that the US and the OAS were acting collectively to 
address the problem, and that he hoped this approach would prevail 
during the next SOA.  The Minister advised that T&T was about to 
release US$7 million for Haiti from the CARICOM Petroleum Fund. 
Ambassador Rodriguez said he had been very pleased with the 
 
PORT OF SP 00000265  002 OF 003 
 
 
cooperation he had received from the Department of State, and noted 
that, although he was probably not as optimistic as the Foreign 
Minister, he was confident that Trinidad and Tobago would rise to 
the occasion and host a successful SOA. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
National Security Minister praises US-TT cooperation 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
¶9. (SBU) Ambassador Austin accompanied Ambassador Morales to a 
meeting with Minister of National Security Martin Joseph.   Minister 
Joseph expressed gratitude for the recent visits by USG energy 
infrastructure security assessment teams and recalled strong U.S. 
support for T&T's recent chairmanship of the Inter American 
Committee Against Terrorism (OAS/CICTE), during which critical 
infrastructure protection was first raised on that body's agenda. 
Minister Joseph also praised T&T's partnership with the State of 
Delaware for exceeded expectations, resulting in a number of 
valuable military and law enforcement exchanges. 
 
¶10. (SBU) Ambassador Morales commended T&T for including safety and 
security as elements of the SOA theme.  He also underscored the US 
commitment to a successful SOA, noting that one administration was 
laying the groundwork for the next during a time of political 
transition.  Stressing the importance of the social aspects of 
security, such as health and education, Morales emphasized that the 
security issue would require a hemispheric approach, including the 
promotion of social alternatives to crime.  The Minister noted that 
the GOTT was offering such alternatives while also attempting to 
stem the flow of drugs and firearms from the South American 
mainland.  He added that T&T would convene a meeting in mid-June of 
regional military chiefs to discuss coordination of military assets 
in the region, and he asked for U.S. support for that effort. 
 
¶11. (SBU) Ambassador Luis Alberto Rodriguez said that he was in 
constant contact with the U.S., especially due to the large size and 
logistical footprint of the U.S. delegation.  Minister Joseph asked, 
half plaintively and half jokingly, if the new U.S. President might 
consider adjusting the size of his contingent to fit the size of a 
"small Caribbean island."  Ambassador Rodriguez intervened to 
explain that arrangements for a POTUS delegation included a fix 
number of personnel, adding that T&T was good at finding creative 
solutions to hosting international conferences and would bring off 
the SOA with typical Trinidadian panache and flair.  Ambassador 
Austin asked that it be noted for the record that Trinidad had been 
referred to as a "small Caribbean island," since he was frequently 
joshed about the small size of his native St. Vincent. 
 
------------------------ 
Status of Summit Process 
------------------------ 
 
¶12. (SBU) In separate meetings at his own office, Ambassador 
Rodriguez elaborated on substantive and logistical plans for the 
Summit.  In the interest of limiting the number of new mandates and 
tying new mandates more closely to Summit themes, T&T is proposing 
that Summit leaders issue a single "declaration of commitment" 
document rather than a declaration plus a separate "plan of action" 
document. 
 
¶13. (SBU) Rodriguez, his deputy Beverly Khan, and T&T Secretariat 
officer Tara-Lisa Persaud explained their effort to obtain 
information and data from Joint Summit Working Group (JSWG) partner 
institutions in areas relevant to SOA themes, using a reporting 
template developed by CABEI.  Morales voiced concern that countries 
may not agree on which data and what baseline to use, particularly 
in reference to Summit mandates, and he also sought clarification on 
how the CABEI template would be used.  Khan acknowledged that choice 
of data and baselines would in fact be a point of discussion. 
Rodriguez added that the exercise was not a comprehensive survey of 
past Summit mandates; rather, the T&T National Secretariat was using 
the CABEI template to collect information on what, if anything, the 
JSWG partners were doing in areas relevant to SOA-5 themes and how 
these efforts relate to past Summit mandates, if at all. 
 
¶14. (SBU) Rodriguez emphasized that any new mandates would be 
contained in the text of the declaration; there would be no matrix 
attached to the declaration and no attempt to evaluate what 
countries have and have not done to implement past mandates.  With 
respect to past Summit mandates, Khan noted that not many had 
quantitative targets, but it would be necessary to consider whether 
to retain or revisit any existing quantitative targets that relate 
to SOA-5 themes.  Persaud cited a past mandate linked to the first 
Millennium Development Goal on poverty reduction, by way of 
explaining the T&T National Secretariat's approach.  While the 
hemisphere was well on its way to meeting that goal based on 
available data, Summit participants would need to consider how 
rising food prices would affect that progress and what could be done 
in response.  Morales welcomed the explanation but also flagged 
 
PORT OF SP 00000265  003 OF 003 
 
 
Millennium Development Goals as a sensitive area for the U.S. 
 
¶15. (SBU) On next steps, Rodriguez indicated that T&T aims to unveil 
the initial draft Summit declaration at a brief Summit 
Implementation Review Group (SIRG) meeting in Washington DC on/about 
July 18.  While he had hoped to do this at the OAS General Assembly 
meeting in Medellin, JSWG partner institutions had missed target 
dates to provide the information requested by T&T.   Rodriguez 
promised to share the draft declaration with the U.S. and a few 
others in advance of the July SIRG, commenting that he would prefer 
to get a considered reaction from the U.S. ahead of time rather than 
hearing U.S. views for the first time in plenary.  He also signaled 
that he would look to the U.S. and Canada to help bring others 
along, adding that he was also coordinating closely with Brasilia 
and Santiago. 
 
¶16. (SBU) Negotiations on text would begin at a SIRG meeting in 
September, with subsequent SIRG meetings in late October and early 
December.  Barbados and Jamaica have each agreed to host a SIRG 
meeting, with dates under discussion.  T&T is also talking to 
Bahamas about hosting one of these SIRG meetings. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
Where to put all the people and planes? 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶17. (SBU) Rodriguez confirmed that the Summit will take place April 
17-19.  He had postponed announcing the dates pending conclusion of 
contract negotiations for two cruise ships to house SOA delegations, 
and those contracts had now been signed.  While some U.S. aircraft 
would have to be parked on nearby islands, Rodriguez promised that 
rooms would be available for the entire U.S. delegation.  The Summit 
Secretariat is developing a formula for the President plus certain 
number at the Hyatt Regency, with overflow at another hotel and on 
board the cruise ships.  Rodriguez offered assurances that 
renovations at the Hilton would be completed by March, and he asked 
that the U.S. work through T&T's National Secretariat for access to 
all properties. 
 
¶18. (SBU) On security preparations, Major Francis of the TT Defense 
Force (seconded to the National Summit Secretariat) said that T&T 
will be able to cover land, with some regional assistance, but will 
need help with air capability and gaps in coverage of seas.  Khan 
conveyed that T&T will seek U.S. help with security sweeps of the 
cruise ships, ideally to be started while vessels are en route from 
their home ports in Miami and Puerto Rico. 
 
---------------- 
Other Activities 
---------------- 
 
¶19. (U) In a breakfast meeting with selected leaders of the American 
Chamber of T&T, Ambassador Rodriguez discussed Summit themes, and 
Ambassador Morales invited AmCham's input.  AmCham president Raymond 
Gatcliffe encouraged the two Ambassadors to use the AmCham's 
upcoming Business Future of the Americas conference and regional 
AmCham annual meeting as a sounding board for Summit issues. 
 
¶20. (U) Ambassador Morales also paid a call on Chief of the Defense 
Staff Brigadier General Edmund Dillon at Defense Force Headquarters 
in Chaguaramas and took an aerial tour of Trinidad's energy sector, 
courtesy of the Ministry of National Security and Ministry of 
Energy. 
 
AUSTIN