VZCZCXYZ0006
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHLP #0981/01 1821435
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 011435Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1179
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 9092
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 6484
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0446
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 7659
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 4705
RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN 0533
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 5036
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 6342
RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 7322
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 2085
RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 1812
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC

C O N F I D E N T I A L LA PAZ 000981 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/30/2019 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PINR OFDP OTRABL
SUBJECT: GOB DELAYS, DENIES ISSUANCE OF OFFICIAL VISAS 
 
Classified By: A/EcoPol Chief Holly Monster for reasons 1.4 (b, d) 
 
¶1. (C) Summary: Since September 2008, the Bolivian government 
has increasingly delayed, and in some cases denied, issuance 
of official visas to incoming USG personnel.  While the 
majority of visa requests are still granted without 
significant delay, a higher percentage of applications than 
normal (and those of military personnel especially) appear to 
be undergoing more scrutiny than usual.  The information in 
this cable, while incomplete, provides a record of issuance 
delays and denials from post's Marine Security Guard 
detachment, SouthCom, USAID, diplomatic couriers, and State. 
Some reports indicate the Bolivian Consul has said visas must 
be approved by authorities in La Paz prior to issuance, which 
may partially account for the delays.  End summary. 
 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Marine Security Guard Detachment: Delays 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶2. (C) On January 14, Marine Security Guard Captain Aaron 
Awtry requested a visa from the Miami Bolivian Consulate for 
a TDY to perform an inspection scheduled for February.  He 
received the visa in the first week of April. 
 
¶3. (C) On December 9, 2008, Marine Security Guard Regional 
Commander John Yanvary and First Sergeant Leslie Thomas 
applied for visas at the Bolivian Consulate in Miami for a 
TDY to perform an inspection scheduled for December 2008. 
First Sergeant Thomas retired before receiving the visa, 
while Commander Yanvary received his visa in the first week 
of May. 
 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - 
SouthCom: Delay and Denial 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶4. (C) On February 23, CDR Michael Cheetham applied for a 
visa at the Bolivian Embassy in WDC.  The visa was rejected 
on March 10. 
 
¶5. (C) On February 9, Mr. Charles Koutras, a civilian from 
the Army Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, applied for a 
visa at the Bolivian Embassy in WDC, but neglected to include 
the appropriate visa application.  On February 13 he provided 
the correct application via fax.  On February 20, in response 
to a request from the Bolivian Consul, he provided a copy of 
his itinerary.  He received the visa on March 6. 
 
¶6. (C) On January 6, SOUTHCOM analyst Matthew Whalen applied 
for a visa from the Bolivian Consulate in Miami for a trip 
scheduled to start on January 18.  The individual received a 
visa and was able to travel on January 20.  The Bolivian 
Consul in Miami informed the individual that all visa 
requests from US SOUTHCOM had to be approved by the Bolivian 
MFA. 
 
¶7. (C) In October 2008, two technicians, (Dan Borales and 
Jaime Ruiz) applications for visas at the Bolivian Consulate 
in Miami were delayed and eventually withdrawn. 
 
¶8. (C) A follow-on SOUTHCOM NEO team of between 10 and 13 
individuals, all military, applied for visas in September 
2008  at the Bolivian Consulate in Miami; these requests were 
denied immediately.  A note was sent from the front office to 
the Bolivian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the group 
was instructed by the MFA to reapply and the MFA provided 
assurances that the visas would be granted.  The group 
reapplied, again in September at the Miami Bolivian 
Consulate, and was denied a second time, again immediately. 
 
- - - - - - - - - - - - 
USAID: Delay and Denial 
- - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶9. (C) On January 15 a USAID official, T. David Johnston 
applied for a visa from the Bolivian Embassy in WDC.  On 
January 16, the Bolivian Embassy requested additional 
information, which was sent by fax.  On February 2 the USAID 
office was informed that the Bolivian Consul was still 
waiting for instructions from La Paz.  On February 6, the 
Bolivian Consul in WDC informed the individual seeking the 
visa that he was unable to provide a visa without the 
approval of Vice Chancellor Hugo Fernandez at the MFA.  The 
MFA faxed a diplomatic note to the US Embassy in La Paz 
denying the visa on February 6.  The explanation provided by 
the MFA via diplomatic note on February 12 was that they were 
concerned about this visit because the visa application noted 
that the purpose of the TDY was to review &strategic8 
issues, the MFA noted that this needed to be coordinated with 
the GOB as USAID programs were under review by the GOB. 
USAID officials responded via diplomatic note on February 17 
to point out that this exercise had been fully vetted at GOB 
technical levels.  Subsequently the Charg, DCM and USAID 
director met with Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Hugo 
Fernandez to clarify this issue, and the visa was issued. 
 
¶10. (C) On June 12, the Bolivian Embassy in WDC told the 
USAID Travel Office that they could not approve a visa for 
incoming Acting USAID Mission Director Kermit Moh until they 
received orders from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 
Mission Director Peter Natiello spoke with Vice Minister Hugo 
Fernandez, who in turn coordinated issuance of the visa. 
 
- - - - - - - 
State: Delays 
- - - - - - - 
 
¶11. (C) On January 21, COMSEC auditor Michael D. Larson, 
applied for an official visa.  After some delays, the 
individual called the Bolivian Embassy in Washington DC and 
was told that they were waiting for instructions from La Paz. 
  On January 29 this individual cancelled his application and 
cancelled his scheduled trip to Bolivia. 
 
¶12. (C) On January 15, four individuals applied for officials 
visas at the Bolivian Embassy in WDC: Donald E. Messick, Paul 
McIndoe, Jeffrey Knight and Ramiro Rodriguez.  These visas 
were granted in the first week of February, but too late for 
the individuals to travel as planned. 
 
¶13. (C) On December 22, 2008, Laura Truitt applied for an 
official visa at the Bolivian Embassy in WDC.  Ms. Truitt 
received her visa on January 22.  On December 15, 2008, Annie 
Trenton applied for an official visa at the Bolivian Embassy 
in WDC.  Ms. Trenton received her visa on January 22.  On 
December 11, 2008, Randy Cruz applied for an official visa at 
the Bolivian Embassy in WDC.  Mr. Cruz received his visa on 
January 16.  On December 8, 2008, Kevin Walton applied for an 
official visa at the Bolivian Embassy in WDC.  Mr. Walton 
received his visa on January 26. 
 
¶14. (C) On May 7, intern Michelle Morales called the Bolivian 
Consulate in New York City to confirm requirements for a 
specific-purpose visa to complete an 11-week internship at 
Embassy La Paz.  She was told the visa would not be issued 
without an original notarized letter from the Embassy 
explaining the purpose of her trip.  This conflicted with 
previous correspondence in which she was told that a letter 
of invitation from main State in WDC would be acceptable. 
Post contacted the MFA, which confirmed that a letter from 
WDC would be sufficient to obtain a visa.  The officer at the 
Bolivian Consulate in New York refused to accept this 
information.  As a result Ms. Morales traveled to the 
Bolivian Embassy in WDC at her own expense to obtain her 
visa, which she received within a day. 
 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
Diplomatic Couriers: Delays 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶15. (C) On December 18, 2008, a visa was requested for 
diplomatic courier Mark Sherwood from the Bolivian Embassy in 
Washington DC.   On January 21, the diplomatic couriers, 
office received approvals for this visa, and for two 
additional (and not delayed) applications, each for one year, 
in place of the customary 90 days. 
CREAGAN