Journalicious Dots from Switzerland

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHAT/CEN (A.KRAAIMOORE) AND EUR/CE (Y.SAINT-ANDRE)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID PGOV PREL NU SZ
SUBJECT: ADDITIONAL SWISS INPUT REGARDING CALL FOR FREEZING NON-HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE TO NICARAGUA FOLLOWING FRAUDULENT ELECTIONS

REF: A. A. SECSTATE 132044
¶B. B. BERN 00655

¶1. (SBU) Further to reftel A request for Switzerland to freeze non-humanitarian assistance to Nicaragua following its fraudulent municipal elections of November 9, and reftel B interim response, Nora Kronig, Regional Coordinator for Central and South America at the SWISS Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (EDA), called Poloff on 28 January 2009 to provide the following input from her SWISS contacts concerned with this issue. Kronig said that EDA took note of the USG position and was interested to know where the U.S. stood in this regard. The GOS is, according to Kronig, aware of the risks associated with the Nicaraguan situation and is following the developments with great attention. Further, SWISS interlocutors are discussing the municipal elections and their consequences within the Donors Group of Nicaragua.

¶2. (SBU) Kronig added that Switzerland has expressed concern with the elections by way of a press communique and has also done so bilaterally with the GON. Given the exclusion of two political parties in this election, Switzerland has addressed its concern at the Minister of Foreign Affairs level between the GOS and GON.

¶3. (SBU) The Budget Support Group, which Kronig explained gives financial assistance to the Nicaraguan government to implement programs, differs from the development/humanitarian aid provided by Switzerland through the SWISS Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Kronig stated that the Budget Support Group met in mid-January to assess the situation and discuss the continuation of providing assistance to Nicaragua, adding that the group decided that Nicaragua’s actions will “bear consequences,” and a suspension of budget support will not be excluded as a possibility. The GOS has, at this time, decided that programs and projects that have been supported by Switzerland for a long time will be maintained, but under increased vigilance.

¶4. (SBU) Kronig closed by explaining that Switzerland has always acted as a constructive partner and an honest broker in its relations with Nicaragua, and that the GOS will continue to opt for open and constructive dialogue. That said, she noted that Switzerland will voice critical views and encourage democracy, non-violence, human rights, and the rule of law, and will seek constructive solutions where problems arise.

CARTER

DE RUEHSW #0057 0371539
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 061539Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY BERN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5641

XTAGS: XTAGEAID, XTAGPGOV, XTAGPREL, XTAGNU, XTAGSZ 09BERN57