VZCZCXYZ0005
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMN #0627 3271908
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 231908Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0045
INFO MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA

C O N F I D E N T I A L MONTEVIDEO 000627 
 
SIPDIS 
FOR WHA/BSC MARY DASCHBACH 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2019/11/23 
TAGS: PREL MARR UY
SUBJECT: Uruguay: Low-Level Representation at Next UNASUR Defense 
Council Meeting 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Robin H. Matthewman, CDA, State, Exec; REASON: 1.4(B), 
(D) 
 
¶1.       (C)  During a wide-ranging discussion on defense issues 
November 23, Uruguayan Defense Minister Gonzalo Fernandez told 
Charge Matthewman that ALBA countries are pushing for another 
UNASUR Defense Council ministerial, which is to be held in Quito. 
The principal agenda item would again be the U.S.-Colombia Defense 
Cooperation Agreement, although other topical items, such as the 
Peru-Chile espionage dust-up, would also be covered. 
 
 
 
¶2.       (C)  Fernandez said Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez has 
decided that Uruguay will not participate at the ministerial level 
if the proposed meeting takes place, and will instead send the 
Uruguayan ambassador to Ecuador as the country's representative. 
Uruguay's position on the DCA - that it is not Uruguay's business 
to opine on a matter decided bilaterally by the U.S. and Colombia 
--  is clear and unchanging, Fernandez explained, and remains 
consistent with the three pillars of Uruguay's foreign policy: 
non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries; 
support for the peaceful resolution of conflicts; and respect for 
territorial sovereignty.  Fernandez also noted that, if pressed on 
the issue, he would further specify that Uruguay never has and 
never will accept the presence of foreign troops based on its own 
soil. 
 
 
 
¶3.       (C)  Fernandez added that another reason he won't be 
attending the proposed Quito meeting is Uruguay's unwillingness to 
further tolerate what he characterized as "Chavez's theatrics," of 
the sort on display during the Bariloche summit of UNASUR heads of 
state in August. 
MATTHEWMAN