[Editor’s note: The text for this document was released in 2014 by the now-defunct Wikileaks website at https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1979STATE034474_e.html. This URL may be available through the Wayback Machine.]
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STATE 034474
ORIGIN ARA-15
INFO OCT-01 ISO-00 SS-15 SP-02 MMO-01 A-02 /036 R
DRAFTED BY ARA/CAR:R MCCOY:KC
APPROVED BY ARA/CAR:J GRIFFITH
——————119993 091900Z /43
P 091831Z DEB 79
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN PRIORITY
S E C R E T STATE 034474
E.O. 12065: GDS 2/9/85 (MCCOY, RICHARD)
TAGS: AMGT, OGEN, PEPR, PFOR, GY
SUBJECT: U.S. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
1. (S) ENTIRE TEXT
2. THE INTERNAL CLEARANCE PROCESS FOR THE ANNUAL U.S. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES IS MOVING AHEAD RAPIDLY. DEPARTMENT WOULD APPRECIATE EMBASSY’S COMMENTS ON FOLLOWING TEXT ASAP.
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U.S. INTERESTS
— A FRIENDLY, STABLE, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT ORIENTED TOWARD THE WEST WITH A CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO HUMAN RIGHTS.
— ACCESS TO GUYANA’S CALCINED BAUXITE RESERVES AT REASONABLE PRICES.
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GUYANESE PARTICIPATION IN COOPERATIVE CARIBBEN ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL RELATIONSHIPS. KEY POLICY ISSUES FACING THE U.S. IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS
— HOW TO ARRANGE THE RELATIONSHIP WITH GUYANA IN VIEW OF THE TROUBLING DRIFT TOWARD ONE-PARTY RULE, INCREASING EXTREMISM OF OPPOSITION GROUPS AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT BURNHAM WILL DROP FROM THE SCENE, SETTING THE STAGE FOR A POWER STRUGGLE AND INCREASED POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC INSTABILITY.
— SETTLEMENT OF OUTSTANDING BILATERAL ISSUES RELATED TO JONESTOWN INCLUDING SETTLEMENT OF PROPERTY CLAIMS AND THE CONTINUED ACCESS OF U.S. INVESTIGATIVE AGENCIES TO PEOPLE’S TEMPLE RECORDS IN GUYANESE CUSTODY. — THE PROBABILITY THAT POLITICAL INSTABILITY WOULD CREATE TENSIONS IN THE REGION AND PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR INCREASED CUBAN AND SOVIET INFLUENCE. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
— IMPROVED BILATERAL RELATIONS.
— CONTINUATION OF GUYANESE RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS AND TRADE UNION FREEDOMS.
— ACCESS TO CALCINED BAUXITE AT ACCEPTABLE PRICES.
— DIMINISH FLOW OF ILLEGAL MIGRANTS TO U.S.
— THE DEVELOPMENT OF A HELPFUL GUYANESE ROLE IN
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INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN SUPPORT OF U.S. POSITIONS ON MULTILATERAL AND BILATERAL POLITICAL ISSUES AND SECURITY MATTERS, ENCOURAGING GUYANA TO ADOPT POLICIES INDEPENDENT FROM THOSE OF CUBA IN NON-ALIGNED MEETINGS.
— A CLARIFICATION OF GUYANESE POLICY ON PRIVATE FOREIGN INVESTMENT INCLUDING THE PASSAGE BY THE GOG OF A PRIVATE INVESTMENT CODE.
— CONTINUED EXCELLENT COOPERATION BY GOG IN RESOLVING PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE JONESTOWN TRAGEDY.” EXPLANATION OF CHANGES FROM LAST GOALS AND OBJECTIVES STATEMENT
— A HEIGHTENED CONCERN OVER FUTURE POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN GUYANA IS CAUSED BY THE GOVERNMENT’S GOAL OF A MARXIST STATE WITH A NEW SOCIALIST CONSTITUTION.
— THE JONESTOWN TRAGEDY HAS ELICITED EXCELLENT COOPERATION FROM THE GUYANESE THAT SHOULD CARRY OVER TO OTHER ISSUES.
— RECENT U.S. ECONOMIC INITIATIVES IN THE CARIBBEAN AND OUR CONTINUED BILATERAL ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE HAVE LESSENED SUSPICION OF U.S. INTENTIONS IN GUYANA.
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VANCE [Secretary of State Cyrus Vance]
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