XIII OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, NOVEMBER 14-18

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP85M00364R001803580004-6
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 10, 2010
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: November 24, 1983
• Content Type: CABLE

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DRAFTED BY ARA/USOAS:LFLEISCHER/RSHULER/OLEE/RHIGGIIIS
APPROVED BY USOAS:JWMIDDENDORF
ARA/USOAS:OSTEVART [DRAFT)
ARA/USOAS:MGEOGHEGAN (DRAFT)
ARA/USOAS:TJOUNNIGAN
ARA:FMLEMAY
------------------151755 2411331 113
P 240534Z NOV 83 ZEX
FM SECSTATE VASNOC
10 ALL AMERICAN REPUBLIC DIPLOMATIC POSTS PRIORITY
USMISSION USUH NEW YORK PRIORITY
AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS PRIORITY
E.O. 12356: DECL.: OADR
TAGS: OAS, PREL
SUCJECT:XIII OAS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, NOVEMBER 14-18
2. SUMMARY THE US WAS ABLE TO ACHIEVE ALL OF ITS
OCJECTIVES AT THE RECENTLY CONCLUDED XIII GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE OAS. GRENADA TURNED OUT TO BE A
HON-ISSUE. SECRETARY GENERAL ORFILA'S ANNOUNCEMENT
THAT HE WOULD RESIGN EARLY III 1984, AGREEMENT BY
BOLIVIA AND CHILE TO BEGIN DISCUSSIONS ON THEIR
DISAGREEMENT OVER BOLIVIA'S CLAIM TO ACCESS TO THE
SEA, AIID DECATE Oil COUTADORA AND CENTRAL AMERICA WERE
SEVERAL OF THE NOTEWORTHY THEMES OF THE WEEK.
NICARAGUA PLAYED A RELATIVELY LOW-KEY ROLE AT THE GA.
SECRETARY SIIULTZ PARTICIPATED IN A VERY PRODUCTIVE
'INFORMAL DIALOGUE' WITH MOST OF THE FOREIGN MINISTERS
IN ATTENDANCE. DEPUTY SECRETARY DAM'S PLENARY SPEECH
WAS WELL RECEIVED. THE GA APPROVED BUDGETS FOR
1984-19&S ATTHESAME LEVEL AS 1952 AND 1583 -- A
SINGULAR ACHIEVEMENT. THE US WAS ABLE TO-JOIN
CONSENSUS ON ALL RESOLUTIONS IN THE ECONOMIC AND
SOCIAL SESSIONS. US CANDIDATE WAS ONE OF FOUR ELECTED
TO THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS. END
SUMMARY.
3. BY COMMON AGREEMENT AMONG USOAS, OAS SECRETARIAT
PERSONNEL, AS WILL AS OTHER DELEGATIONS, THE RECENTLY
CONCLUDED XIII GENERAL ASSEMBLY WAS A VERY SUCCESSFUL
ONE FOR 111E ORGANIZATION AND FOR THE US. THE MEETING,
HELD IN WASNIMGION, NOV. 14-18, WAS CHARACTERIZED BY A
MOOD OF COMPROMISE AND HARMONY. IN( U.S. WAS ABLE TO
ACHIEVE ALL OF ITS OBJECTIVES -- OVER AND ABOVE WHAT
MIGHT HAVE BEEN EXPECTED, ESPECIALLY GIVEN THE
PRESENCE OF U.S. TROOPS IN GRENADA AND THE CONTINUING
CONFLICT IN CENTRAL AMERICA AND JOINT MILITARY
IACRCISES OLIN,, CARRIED OUT IN HONDURAS,. AMONG THESE
OUTGOING
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OBJECTIVES WERE: 1, TO PREVENT ANY RESOLUTION OH
GRENADA; 2, TO ISOLATE NICARAGUA 10 THE EXTENT
POSSIBLE; 3. TO ENCOURAGE A RESOLUTION ON THE
CONTADORA PROCESS THAT WE COULD SUPPORT; 4. TO WORK
WITH ARGENTINA TO GET A MODERATE RESOLUTION ON
FALKLAIIDS/MALVINAS; AND 5, TO ELECT THE US CANDIDATE
TO THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION Oil HUMAN RIGHTS. THE
MEETING'S HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDED THE SURPRISE
ATINOUIICEMENT BY SECRETARY GENERAL ALEJANDRO ORFILA
THAT HE WOULD RESIGN EARLY IN THE YEAR AND THE
ANNOUNCEMENT MADE BY THE COLOMBIAN FOREIGN MINISTER
THAT BOLIVIA AND CHILE HAD ACCEPTED THE GOOD OFFICES
OF THE COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT TO BEGIN DIRECT DISCUSSIONS
ABOUT THE LONG-SIMMERING PROBLEM OF BOLIVIA'S CLAIM
FOR ACCESS TO THE SEA.
4. GRENADA TURNED OUT TO BE ALMOST it NON-ISSUE.
DESPITE INDICATIONS THAT FORMER GREHADAN OAS
AMBASSADOR DESSIMA WILLIAMS WAS PREPARED, UP TO THE
LAST MINUTE, TO ATTEND THE ASSEMBLY AND TO SPEAK OUT
AGAINST THE CARIBBEAN-U.S. ACTION, SITE DID NOT DO SO
AND THE GRENADAII CHAIR REMAINED EMPTY. AS WAS TO BE
EXPECTED, THERE WAS SOME CRITICISM LEVELED AT THE V.S.
FOR ITS ACTIONS IN GRENADA, MOST NOTABLY BY MEXICO,
NICARAGUA, AND THE BAHAMAS. EVEN THIS CRITICISM,
HOWEVER, WAS MORE RESTRAINED THAN IT HAD BEEN SEVERAL
WEEKS EARLIER. THERE WERE PERSISTENT REPORTS THAT
BOLIVIA, MEXICO AGO NICARAGUA WERE GOING TO INTRODUCE
A RESOLUTION SPECIFICALLY CASTIGATING THE U.S. OR,
FAILING THIS, REAFFIRMING THE PRINCIPLE OF
NON-INTERVENTION. IN THE END, MO RESOLUTION WAS
INTRODUCED. SEVERAL POSTS,' BUi LSPEIALLI A11DASaA0GR
CORM IN LA PAZ, WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN HELPING C:FUSE
THIS ISSUE.
S. ALTHOUGH HE WAS NOTABLE TO DELIVER THE U.S.
GENERAL STATEMENT, SECRETARY SHU17Z 010 HOST A VERY
SUCCESSFUL LUNCH FOR THE HEADS OF DELEGATION AND
PARTICIPATED ACTIVELY III A SUBSEQUENT LENGTHY
'INFORMAL DIALOGUE" WITH THE ATTENDING MINISTERS,
WHERE DEBT QUESTIONS ANO OTHER. ECONOMIC SUBJECTS,
INTRODUCED BY THE SECRETARY, DOMINATED THE DISC;SSION.
HIS COMMENTS WERE EXTREMELY WELL RECEIVED. DEPUTY
SECRETARY DAM DELIVERED THE U.S. GENERAL STATFMENT
STATE 328169, WHICH WAS ALSO WELL RECEIVED. - -
EMPHASIZING US SUPPORT OF THE CONTADORA PROCESS, THE
DEPUTY SECRETARY REAFFIRMED OUR COMMITMENT TOTHE -
GROWTH OF DEMOCRACY AND TO THE IR61OTI011 OF RESPECT
FOR HUMAN RIGHTS III THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE WHTLE -
EMPHASIZING NICARAGUA'S FAILURE 10 FULFILL TTS 1979
PLEDGES 10 THE OAS Oil THESE AND RELATED ISSUES . HE
ALSO EXPLAINED AGAIN THE BASIS FOR THE ACTION IN -
GRENADA.
6. NICARAGUA WAS A TIMID ACTOR DURING THE ASSEMBLY.
BOTH VICE FOREIGN MINISTER TINOCO AND AMBASSADCR -
PARRALES DELIVERED LENGTHY ATTACKS ON THE U.S.,
PARRALES CONCENTRATING ON A DETAILED DEFENSE OF HIS
GOVERNMENT'S HUMAN RIGHTS RECORD. FOREIGN MINISTER
D'ESCO1O WAS IN TILE U.S. BUT NEVER APPEARED AT THE
OAS., NICARAGUA WAS OBVIOUSLY IN All ISOLATED POSITION,
HOWEVER, AND UNABLE TO TURN ITS FRUSTRATION INTO ANY
CONCRETE ANTI-U.S. ACTIONS.
7. THE BATTLE ID SUCCEED OAF ILA AS SECRETARY GENERAL
IS ALREADY JOINED. DURING THE ASSEMBLY BRAZIL
FORMALLY ANNOUNCED THE CANDIDACY OF 1011M111 SECRETARY
GENERAL BAENA SOARES, MIU OAS ASSISTANT SECRETARY
GENERAL VAE MCCOMIE THREW HIS HAT INTO IIIE RING.
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OTHER ANNOUNCED CANDIDATES ARE AMBASSADOR-LUIS
MAFCHAND OF PERU AND AMBASSADOR MARIO LOPEZ ESCOBAR OF
PARAGUAY, BOTH PRESENTLY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES OF
THEIR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES. SUBSEQUENT TO THE OASGA,
FORMER COSTA RICAN F011MIN GOIIZALO FACIO ENTERED HIS
CANDIDACY.. AFTER SEVERAL CLOSED MEETINGS OF THE HEADS
OF DELEGATIONS IT WAS AGREED TO HOLD A SPECIAL GENERAL
ASSEMBLY SESSION DURING THE FIRST HALF OF MARCH TO
ELECT THE NEW SECRETARY GENERAL.
2. ,FACE EFFORTS IN CENTRAL AMERICA: AT THE
INITIATION OF THE CONTADORA COUNTRIES, AN ADDITIONAL
AGENDA ITEM ON CENTRAL AMERICA WAS ADDED AT THE
OPENING SESSION OF THE GA. THE US JOINED IN APPROVING
A RESOLUTION THAT SUPPORTS CONTADORA AND THE DOCUMENT
OF 21 OBJECTIVES APPROVED BY THE CENTRAL` AMERICAN
STATES. TOE INITIAL DRAFT, SPONSORED BY ARGENTINA,
BRAZIL, BOLIVIA; AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, FAILED TO
INCLUDE REFERENCES TO DEMOCRACY AND PLURALISM. AFTER
ANOTHER PROPOSAL WAS CIRCULATED BY HONDURAS, IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE OTHER CORE FOUR STATES, A
COMPROMISE WAS REACHED WHICH INTERJECTED THE KEY
REFERENCES TO DEMOCRACY.' THOUGH LANGUAGE FORMALLY
CALLING FOR REPORTS TO THE OAS CO LD NOT BE AGREED TO,
VARIOUS SPEAKERS, INCLUDING THE US, NOTED THE
IMPORTANCE OF THE OAS ROLE.
9. HUMAN RIGHTS: THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE
INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS IAHRC?
COUNTRY SPECIFIC REPORTS ON GUATEMALA AND SURINAME,
AND THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COURT OF
HGIIAN RIGHTS niLLIVtO CONSIDERABLE ATTENTION.
NICARAGUA ATTEMPTED TO REBUT, POINT BY POINT, THE
IANRC'S CRITICISM CONTAINED IN ITS ANNUAL REPORT. THE
GRN'S PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE SPOKE FOR ALMOST AN
HOUR AND A HALF WITHOUT CONVINCING ANYONE THAT THE
VALIDITY OF THE COMMISSION'S CHARGES WAS IN DOUBT.
CCRNIDOR COMMENTARY GENERALLY REFLECTED THE OPINION
THAT THE GRIT PRESENTATION DID MORE HARM THAN GOOD.
THE DUTCH OBSERVER EXPRESSED THIS VIEW AND CLAIMED
THAT, CONTRARY TO A NEV YORK TIMES ARTICLE OF NOV. 16,
TILE NETHERLANDS IS HO LONGER PRIVATELY DEFENDING THE
SANDINISTAS., LOTH GUATEMALA AND SURItIAME OFFERED
WEAK DEFENSES FOR THE CRITICISMS LEVELED AGAINST THEIR
GOVERNMENTS AND SOUGHT TO EXCLUDE SPECIFIC MENTION OF
THEIR COUNTRIES IN ANY RESOLUTION. A SINGLE RESOLUTION
NOT NAMING ANY STATES WAS APPROVED AFTER LENGTHY
.DEBATE. THE ONLY US DISAGREEMENT WTIY THE FINAL
RESOLUTION IS ITS DESCRIPTION OF FORCED DISAPPEARANCES
AS A "CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY,- A FORMULATION THAT WE
DO NOT BELIEVE IS LEGALLY JUSTIFIED. -
10. THE FALKLANDS/MALVINAS: A RESOLUTION
REAFFIRMING SUPPORT FOR THE 1982 UN RESOLUTIONS
CALLING FOR A RESUMPTION OF NEGOTIATIONS AND
EXPRESSING CONCERN FOR A LACK OF PROGRESS PASSED THE
GA WITH LITTLE DEBATE. THE US WORKED CLOSELY WITH
ARGENTINA 10 PRODUCE A RESOLUTION ACCEPTABLE TO THE
ASSEMBLY TAKING CUT PROVOCATIVE LANGUAGE IN ADVANCE.
EIGHT CARIBBEAN COUNTRIES ABSTAINED IN COMMITTEE BUT
WENT ALONG WITH THE CONSENSUS IN PLENARY.
11. EXISTING MECHANISMS FCR PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF
DISPUTES: A US SPONSORED RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE
STUDY OT EXISTING MECHANISMS FOR RESOLVING DISPUTES,
INCLUDING THE PACT OF BOGOTA, WAS ADOPTED. THIS
INIT.IAIIVE ORIGINATED IN. SECRETARY SHULTZ' ADDRESS TO
THE XII GA IN 1932.
12. MECHANISM FOR INSPECTION OF WEAPONS AND MILITARY
PERSONNEL: A COLOMBIAN SPONSORED RESOLUTION CALLING
FOR THE STUDY OF THE ADVISABILITY OF ESTABLISHING A
MECHANISM FOR INSPECTING WEAPONS AND MILITARY
PERSONNEL WAS ADOPTED. MEMBER GOVERNMENTS WILL HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS VIEWS ON THIS PROJECT,
WHICH WILL BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE OAS PERMANENT COUNCIL
IN PREPARATION OF A REPORT TO THE NEXT GA.
13. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVED ANNUAL BUDGETS III
1984-85 AT THE SANE LEVEL -- 164.5 MILLION -- AS IN
1982 AND 1983. THIS IS A UNIO;E ACHIEVEMENT IN
BUDGETARY AUSTERITY AMONG INTERNATIONAL
ORGANIZATIONS. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE 1982-83
REORGANIZATION REDUCED OVERHEAD COST IN PERSONNEL BY
20 PERCENT, ENABLING THE ORGANIZATION TO INCREASE
DIRECT SERVICES TO MEMBER COUNTRIES BY 13.5 MILLION IN
1984-85 WITHOUT INCREASING BUDGETS. THE COLOMBIAN
FOREIGN MINISTER UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF
REACHING A SOLUTION TO THE LONGSTANDING ISSUE OF
OVER-DEPENDENCE ON THE U.S. 70 FINANCE TOE OAS. THIS
WAS A STATESMANLIKE POSITION WHICH FORESHADOWS
FOLLOW-UP INITIATIVES 114 THE COMING YEAR. CUE OF THE
REASONS FOR U.S. INSISTENCE ON A BUDGETARY FREEZE HAS
BEEN FRUSTRATION IN NEGOTIATING A GRADUAL REDUCTION IN
THE U.S. QUOTA OF 66 AS MANDATED BY CONGRESS. WHEN
THIS ISSUE HAS?BEEN SETTLED TO U.S. SATISFACTION, IT
WILL BE POSSIBLE TO AGREE TO EVENTUAL INCREASES IN THE
ORGANIZATION'S BUDGET AND MORE DIRECT SERVICES.,
14. IN THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SESSIONS COMMITTEE
11, THE U.S. JOINED THE CONSENSUS 41i ALL RESOLUTIONS;
WE MADE EXPLANATORY STATEMENTS ON THREE: PANAMA CANAL
TOLLS, COPPER, AND THE GSP. THE STATEMENTS MARKED THE
FACT THAT U.S. PARTICIPATION IN THE CONSENSUS DID NOT
IMPLY U.S. CONCURRENCE WITH ALL ELEMENTS OF THE
RESOLUTIONS. THE U. S. INTRODUCED A RESOLUTION IN
SUPPORT OF THE INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON COMMERCIAL
ARBITRATION WHICH WAS ADOPTED BY CONSENSUS, DELEGATED
THE TOPIC OF COERCIVE ECONOMIC MEASURES TO A LEGAL
COMMITTEE STUDY, MET ALL OUR OBJECTIVES ON
PROGRAM/BUDGET MATTERS, KEPT FINANCE AND TRADE MATTERS
UNDER CONTROL GILD MOVING FORWARD, 9110 SUCCESSFULLY
DERAILED SEVERAL OBJECTIONABLE RESOLUTIONS.
THE ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE SATISFACTORY AGREEMENTS ON
RESOLUTIONS IN THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL AREA HELPED TO
ESTABLISH A FAVORABLE CONFERENCE EINVIRCHMENT. TO THE
DEGREE U.S. RESPONSIVENESS CHANNELS THESE ISSUES TO
THE OAS, WE MAY WEAKEN MORE STRIDENT ANTI-U.S. EFFORTS
IN OTHER INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL ORGANIZATIONS SUCH
AS THE U.N., ECLA AND SELA. FOR EXAMPLE, THE WEST
COAST LATIN AMERICAN COUNTRIES SHOULD BE LESS INCLINED
TO ATTACK U.S. PANAMA CANAL POLICIES DURING THE
JANUARY ECONOMIC CONFERENCE IN QUITO.
15. THE U.S. CANDIDATE BRUCE MCCOLM, FOR THE
INTER-AMERICAN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS WAS ELECTED
WITH 25 VOTES.' THERE WERE FIVE CANDIDATES FOR FOUR
VACANCIES NICARAGUA'S CANDIDATE DIED A FEW WEEKS
AGO,. THE OTHERS ELECTED WERE BRAZIL WITH 29 VOTES
UNANIMOUS ; COLOMBIA, 24 VOTES, AND BOLIVIA, 20
VOTES. THE CANDIDATE FROM EL SALVADOR RECEIVED 15
VOTES. IN OTHER ELECTIONS, CANDIDATES FROM COSTA RICA
AND PERU WERE ELECTED TO THE INTER-AMFRICAN JURIDICAL
COMMITTEE AND BRAZILIAN CANDIDATES WERE ELECTED 10 THE
BOARD OF EXTERNAL AUDITORS AND THE ADMdNISTRATIVE
TRIBUNAL.
CONFIDENTIAL
OUTGOING
TELEGRAM
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l6. SINCE THE BULK OF THE WORN IN THE EDUCATION,
SCIENCE, AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS AREA WAS ACCOMPLISHED AT
THE MEETING OF EDUCATION MINISTERS IN SEPTEMBER,
RESOLUTIONS IN THIS AREA PASSED WITHOUT MUCH DEBATE.
THE BUDGET FOR 19S$-SS WAS APPROVED WITHOUT
MODIFICATIONS; THE STATUTES WERE CHANGED TO COMPLY
WITH A GENERAL ASSEMBLY MANDATE CALLING FOR ALTERNATE
MINISTERIAL LEVEL AND ADMINISTRATIVE MEETINGS, AND A
STUDY WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO DETERMINE THE FUTURE ROLE
OF THE OAS MUSEUM. A RESOLUTION WAS ALSO PASSED THAT
SET UP AN AD HOC GROUP-TO DEVELOP THE AGENDA FOR THE
FIRSTPREPARATORY CONFERENCE OF THE COMMEMORATION OF
THE DISCOVERY OF AMERICA. NATIONS ARE ALREADY VIEWING
THIS COMMEMORATION AS SOMETHING BEYOND A MERE CULTURAL
CELEBRATION. CHILE, COLOMBIA, AND THE DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC ARE CALLING FOR TRADE NEGOTIATIONS AND VISA
AGREEMENTS, AMONG OTHER THINGS. THE CULTURAL CLASHES
THAT HAVE ALREADY OCCURRED BETWEEN THE CARIBBEAN AND
LATIN AMERICAN 'COUNTRIES ON THIS SUBJECT FORESHADOW A
DIFFICULT COMMEMORATION FOR ALL.
CONFIDENTIAL
OUTGOING
TELEGRAM
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