Cablegate: Implementing Unscr's Iran Sanctions: Managua

VZCZCXYZ0002
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMU #0509 1162321
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 252321Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2501
INFO RUEHMU/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 0131
RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
RUMIAAA/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL//J2/J3/J5//
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC

C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAGUA 000509

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CEN AND INR/IAA
DEPT ALSO FOR ISN/RA AND IO/T

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2018
TAGS: MNUC KNNP IR NU
SUBJECT: IMPLEMENTING UNSCR'S IRAN SANCTIONS: MANAGUA
RESPONSE

REF: A. SECSTATE 34974 AND PREVIOUS
B. SECSTATE 29464
C. SECSTATE 21770
D. 07 MANAGUA 2544

Classified By: Ambassador Paul A. Trivelli for reasons 1.4 b & d.

1. (U) On April 11, we met with the Foreign Ministry's
(MINREX) Director for North America, Rene Morales, and Nelly
Beteta, Director for Africa and the Middle East, to deliver
points and non-papers as instructed per reftels. Beteta
indicated that the Government of Nicaragua supported Iran's
peaceful pursuit of nuclear technology, and would assist Iran
where possible; however, she noted that GON support would end
if Iran's activities when beyond this goal. Beteta said she
would familiarize herself with the names on the travel ban
list as well as the named companies involved in supporting
Iran's nuclear program. In response to her question about
whether the travel ban applied only to entry of Nicaragua, we
explained that, as a Security Council Resolution, the travel
ban applied to all UN member states, not just Nicaragua.
Beteta did not reply to questions about whether Nicaragua's
recent executive order granting visa-free access to Nicaragua
for Iranians would affect the GON's ability to monitor the
travel of any of the named individuals. (ref D)

2. (C) Beteta said that several Iranian delegations had
visited Nicaragua in recent months. She explained that these
had been purely commercial groups comprised of private
investors seeking investment opportunities in Nicaragua. She
added that an Iranian delegation was in Managua recently to
present a proposal to Nicaragua's Ministry of Energy and
Mines for a GON plan to develop a hydroelectric project in
the Atlantic Region. She observed that the Iranian proposal
was unlikely to win out as it did not stack up well against
proposals made by investor groups from Mexico, Brazil and
Italy.
TRIVELLI

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