O 231437Z SEP 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR IMMEDIATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 101399 
 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2018 
TAGS: OVIP RICE CONDOLEEZZA PREL ENRG ES
SUBJECT: (U) SECRETARY RICE'S SEPTEMBER 18, 2008 
CONVERSATION WITH SALVADORAN FOREIGN MINISTER ARGUETA 
 
Classified By: WHA Assistant Secretary Thomas A. Shannon, 
Reasons 1.4.(b) and (d) 
 
¶1.  (U)  September 18, 2008; 4:00 p.m.; Washington, DC. 
 
¶2.  (U) Participants: 
 
U.S. 
The Secretary 
A/S Thomas A. Shannon, WHA 
Deputy Spokesman Robert Wood, PA 
Hillary Thompson (Notetaker) 
 
EL SALVADOR 
FM Marisol Argueta 
Charg Carmen Tobar 
Director General Werner Romero 
Astrid Moreno (Notetaker) 
 
 
¶3.  (C) SUMMARY.  Salvadoran FM Argueta met with Secretary 
Rice on September 18 during her visit to Washington to 
commemorate Salvadoran National Day.  Arguing that the United 
States must treat their friends in the region better than 
they treat their enemies, FM Argueta requested assistance 
from the United States in the lead-up to the 2009 Salvadoran 
elections, where the governing National Republican Alliance 
party (ARENA) candidate is trailing his Farabundo Marti 
National Liberation Front (FMLN) opponent in the polls.  She 
specifically requested that the United States send clear 
messages by extending Temporary Protected Status and through 
greater allocation of Merida resources to El Salvador.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
¶4. (U) FM Argueta also met with OAS Secretary General Insulza 
to request the OAS organize an election observation mission 
for the 2009 Salvadoran presidential elections and with 
Inter-American Development Bank President Luis Alberto Moreno 
to discuss how to best leverage remittances sent home by 
Salvadorans living in the United States. 
 
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SALVADORAN ELECTIONS 
-------------------- 
 
¶5.  (C) FM Argueta detailed the Government of El Salvador's 
(GOES) concerns about a possible FMLN victory in the 2009 
Salvadoran presidential elections.  The GOES is having 
difficulty responding to the world-wide rise in cost of 
living and the increase in oil prices.  Through Petrocaribe, 
other governments in the region are selling oil to consumers 
at a lower price.  ARENA suspects that Venezuela has diverted 
approximate $30 million in profits to the FMLN and can 
confirm that $2 million was openly given to participating 
municipalities in El Salvador. 
 
¶6.  (C) The Secretary underscored that the United States does 
not want a role in Salvadoran partisan politics, but supports 
democratic elections and democratic institutions.  She noted 
that the Pathways to Prosperity meeting to be held next week 
at the United Nations would be a visible show of USG support 
for GOES policies and encouraged the GOES to expose those in 
El Salvador that do not support democratic ideals.  FM 
Argueta noted the need for U.S. support as the 2009 elections 
approach, detailing Salvadorans' positive image of the United 
States and American ideals.  She suggested that the United 
States could send clear messages by highlighting linkages 
between the Government of El Salvador and U.S. values.  FM 
Argueta specifically mentioned an extension of Temporary 
Protected Status and greater allocation of Merida resources 
to El Salvador as helpful signals that the USG could send to 
the Salvadoran people as signs of support for the GOES 
policies. 
 
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IRAQ 
---- 
¶7. (C) The Secretary thanked FM Argueta for El Salvador's 
contributions to the coalition in Iraq and expressed her 
desire that El Salvador will decide to continue to contribute 
forces into 2009.  She noted that El Salvador should be proud 
of their troops and described the progress that is taking 
shape in Iraq.  Foreign Minister Argueta agreed that El 
Salvador is indeed proud of its armed forces and reiterated 
that the GOES views their contribution to the coalition as an 
opportunity to thank the United Nations, as well as the 
United States, for their assistance during El Salvador's time 
of need.  Argueta noted that the Iraq coalition meeting at 
the UN in New York next week would be a good opportunity for 
President Bush and President Saca to share notes on El 
Salvador's contribution to the Global War on Terror. 
 
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COMALAPA 
-------- 
¶8. (C) FM Argueta relayed that El Salvador is ready to sit 
down with a U.S. team to discuss extension of the agreement 
that allows for U.S. presence at the Cooperative Security 
Location (CSL) in Comalapa.  Noting the current political 
environment in the lead-up to El Salvador's 2009 elections, 
Assistant Secretary Shannon underlined the USG's concerns 
about modifying the current agreement, which would require 
Salvadoran legislative approval.  Instead, he highlighted 
that the best approach would be to extend the current 
agreement for five years and begin conversations regarding a 
possible expansion only after the presidential elections. 
FM Argueta suggested that increased U.S. financial assistance 
to the CSL would be another sign of USG support for the GOES 
while also enabling more successful counternarcotics 
operations from Comalapa. 
 
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REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS 
--------------------- 
¶9. (C) FM Argueta stressed El Salvador's concern over recent 
events in Venezuela and Bolivia, as well as uncertainty in 
Honduras.  She encouraged the Secretary to deliver a clear 
response.  The Secretary remarked that El Salvador should 
expect to see a strong response to Bolivia's expulsion of the 
U.S. Ambassador, but that the USG has decided that it is 
better not to play by Chavez's rules.  She noted the 
deteriorating domestic circumstances in both countries.  FM 
Argueta also raised her unease over a growing Iranian 
presence in the region and the linkages between Venezuela, 
Iran, Hezbollah, and the FARC in Colombia.  The Secretary 
agreed that Venezuela is a danger, but strongly urged the 
Central Americans to push back against Iranian intervention 
in the region.  She encouraged the Foreign Minister to stress 
to the Salvadoran people that Iran has its own problems at 
home and cannot do anything for El Salvador. 
 
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EVENTS IN YEMEN 
--------------- 
 
¶10.  (C) Argueta conveyed the GOES' condolences over the 
attack in Yemen.  The Secretary commented that our 
investments in embassy security had paid off.  She noted her 
pleasure at Yemen's quick response. 
 
 
RICE