VZCZCXYZ0000
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMN #0469/01 2311846
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 181846Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8402
INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUENAAA/SECNAV WASHDC
RUMIAAA/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL

UNCLAS MONTEVIDEO 000469 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT ALSO FOR WHA/BSC 
NSC FOR DFISK AND GTOMASULO 
SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL MCAP UY
SUBJECT: MERCOSUR'S PARLIAMENT REACTS NEGATIVELY TO THE 
REACTIVATION OF THE U.S. FOURTH FLEET 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Dr. Rosinha, President of the MERCOSUR 
Parliament, wrote to Ambassador Baxter on July 30 to convey 
the text of the declaration of the MERCOSUR Parliament 
voicing disapproval of the reactivation of the Fourth Fleet. 
As in this case, the Uruguayan delegates to the Mercosur 
Parliament frequently take positions contrary to GOU policy. 
End Summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Following is the text of Embassy Montevideo's 
unofficial translation of the declaration: 
 
//BEGIN UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION: 
 
Regarding the Reactivation of the Fourth Fleet of the United 
States Navy 
 
WHEREAS South America is a peaceful and democratic region, in 
which eventual conflicts are normally resolved observing the 
principles of non-intervention and of peaceful negotiation 
and solution of conflicts; 
 
SIGNALING that the region, contrary to some other regions of 
the planet, does not register terrorist activities, thanks in 
great part to its religious, political and ethnic diversity, 
which permits the harmonious cohabitation of varying races, 
and groups of different religions and ideologies; 
 
CONSTITUTING that, in relation to the necessity of combating 
drug trafficking, which greatly affects, the American 
continent, the countries of South America, and especially the 
member states of MERCOSUR, which cooperate actively amongst 
themselves and with many other nations from diverse regions 
in order to win this difficult struggle; 
 
OBSERVING that almost all the states of the region will sign 
bilateral extradition treaties to combat narcotrafficking and 
of judicial cooperation with the United States, seeking 
security in the hemisphere, in the spirit of peaceful 
diplomatic cooperation; 
 
REMEMBERING that the U.S. Navy Fourth Fleet was created in 
1943, in time of war and in a period when merchant marine 
ships of the region were being attacked by German submarines, 
which specifically justified its creation; 
 
REMEMBERING, as well, that the Fourth Fleet was deactivated 
in 1950, given the lack of necessity for a specific military 
presence for the South Atlantic and in a time of peace; 
 
CONCERNED with the possible militarization of regional 
conflicts that the reactivation of the Fourth Fleet may 
bring; or that it could bring, for its part, a hemispheric 
insecurity and compromise the processes of both South 
American integration as well as that of MERCOSUR itself; 
 
NOTING the fact that the reactivation of the Fourth Fleet, 58 
years after its deactivation, occurs at the precise moment in 
which the announcement was made of substantial discoveries of 
oil and natural gas on the continental shelves of Brazil and 
Uruguay; 
 
EMPHASIZING the necessity that all countries ratify the 
United Nations Convention on Rights of the Sea and that they 
 
respect its principles, including that which is written in 
paragraphs 4 and 5 of article 76 of the aforementioned 
convention, which states that those countries which are party 
to said Convention will be allowed to extend their 
continental shelf up to the limit of 350 nautical miles; and, 
finally, 
 
CONVINCED that the MERCOSUR member states, as well as other 
countries of South America, are in the condition, by virtue 
of their political and diplomatic maturity, to articulate the 
security of the region; 
 
THE PARLIAMENT OF MERCOSUR DECLARES: 
 
¶1. Its conviction that the reactivation of the Fourth Fleet 
of the U.S. Navy is entirely unnecessary and inopportune, 
given the actual world and regional circumstances that 
confront South America as a peaceful and democratic region, 
in which eventual conflicts are normally resolved in strict 
observance with the principles of non-intervention and of 
negotiated solutions to disagreements. 
¶2. Its understanding that the necessary fight against 
narcotrafficking can and should be done within the parameters 
already established in innumerable bilateral and multilateral 
agreements, in an environment of diplomatic cooperation and 
in strict observance of the sovereignty of all countries. 
 
¶3. Its understanding that the militarization of regional 
problems and conflicts, under whatever pretext, could result 
in hemispheric instability and compromise the integration of 
South America and of MERCOSUR itself. 
 
¶4. Its agreement with the dictates of the United Nations 
Convention on Sea Rights, including that which is written in 
paragraphs 4 and 5 of article 76 of the aforementioned 
convention, which allows countries party to said convention 
to extend their continental shelf to a limit of 350 nautical 
miles. 
 
¶5. Its support of the initiatives designed to adequately 
assure the security of the region, within the principles of 
multilateralism and of negotiated solutions to conflicts, 
such as those proposed by the Organization of American 
States, the Rio Group and by MERCOSUR itself. 
 
Montevideo, July 29, 2008 
 
SIGNED 
Parliamentarian Dr. Rosinho 
President 
 
SIGNED 
Dr. Edgar Lugo 
Parliamentary Secretary 
 
 
END UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION// 
 
 
¶3. (SBU) Embassy will scan and submit a copy of the original 
Portuguese language text of the declaration, as well as a 
copy of the cover letter and post's unofficial English 
translation, via email to WHA/BSC desk officer for 
dissemination at Main State. Contact points for this issue 
are Political Counselor Mr. Alfred Schandlbauer 
(schandlbauerax@state.gov) and Pol/Econ OMS Cheryl Churchek 
(churchekca@state.gov). 
 
Matthewman