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AA AADP AALC ABDALLAH FETHI ABDULHADI ABDULRAHMEN ABER ABLD ABLDG ABLG ABMC ABT ABUD AC ACABQ ACAO ACBAQ ACCELERATED ACCOUNT ACDA ACEC ACKM ACOA ACOTA ACS ACTION ADANA ADB ADCO ADCP ADEL ADEP ADIP ADM ADMIRAL ADPM ADRC AE AEC AECL AEGR AEIR AEM AEMED AEMR AER AESC AF AFAF AL HOURANI AFARI AFDB AFDIN AFFAIRS AFGHAN AFGHANISTAN AFIN AFL AFLU AFOR AFR AFSA AFSI AFSN AFU AFZAL AG AGAO AGENCIES AGENDA AGENGA AGIT AGMT AGOA AGR AGRI AGRIC AGRICULTURE AGS AGUILAR AGUIRRE AHMED AI AIAG AID AIDAC AIDS AIEA AIHRC AIN AINF AINFCY AINR AINT AISG AIT AJ AK AL ALAB ALAMI ALANAZI ALBE ALEXANDER ALI ALIREZA ALJAZEERA ALL ALNEA ALOUNI ALOW ALOWAR ALVAREZ AM AMAT AMB AMBASSADOR AMCHAM AMCHAMS AMCT AME AMED AMEDI AMEMR AMER AMERICAS AMEX AMG AMGE AMGMT AMGT AMIA AMLB AMPR AMT AMTC AMTG AN ANARCHISTS ANC AND ANDREW LEE WATKINS ANET ANTITERRORISM ANTOINE GHONDA ANTONIO ANTXON AO AOCR AODE AOIC AOMS AOPR AORC AORD AOREC AORG AORL AOWC AP APCS APDC APEC APECO APER APR APRC APRM AQ AR ARAB ARABBL ARABL ARABLEAGUE ARAS ARC ARCH ARENA AREP ARF ARG ARM ARMITAGE ARMS ARNOLD FREDERICK MORRIS AROC ARR ARRMZY ARSO AS ASA ASAC ASC ASCC ASCE ASCEC ASCH ASE ASEAN ASEC ASECARP ASECE ASECM ASECSI ASECVE ASED ASEDC ASEG ASEK ASES ASEX ASFC ASIC ASIG ASIR ASJA ASO ASOC ASPA ASR ASSEMBLY ASSK ASSSEMBLY ASUP AT ATFN ATPDEA ATRA ATRD ATRN AU AU-1 AUC AUNR AUSGR AUSTRALIAGROUP AV AVERY AVIAN AVIANFLU AVIATION AW AX AY AZ AZE B. BA BAGHDAD BAIO BAKOYANNIS BALKANS BAPOL BARACK BASHAR BATA BAYS BB BBG BBSR BC BCW BCXP BD BE BEAN BELLVIEW BEN BERARDUCCI BESP BEXB BEXP BEXPC BEXPPLM BEXT BF BFIF BFIN BFIO BG BGD BGMT BH BHUM BI BIC BIDOON BIH BILAT BIMSTEC BINR BIO BIOS BIOTECH BIOTECHNOLOGY BIT BITO BK BL BLR BLUE BLUNT BM BMENA BMGT BMOT BN BNUC BO BOIKO BOL BOND BOQ BORDER BOSNIA BOU BOUCHAIB KAKA BOUTERSE BP BPIS BPTS BR BRIAN BRITNEY BRITNY BRPA BRUSSELS BS BSSR BT BTA BTC BTIO BTIU BTRA BTT BU BUD BULGARIA BURMA BURNS BUSH BUY AMERICA BV BW BWC BX BXEP BY BZ CA CAC CACM CACS CAFTA CAIO CAJC CAMBODIA CAN CAPC CARC CARE CARIB CARICOM CARSON CAS CASA CASC CASCC CASCR CASE CASTILLO CAVO CB CBC CBD CBE CBG CBIS CBM CBSA CBTH CBW CCSR CCY CD CDB CDC CDCC CDCE CDG CDI CE CEA CEC CEDAW CEN CENSUS CENTCOM CENTRIC CEUDA CF CFE CFED CFG CFIS CFSP CG CGEN CGOPRC CH CHAD CHALLENGE CHAO CHAVEZ CHELIDZE CHENEY CHERTOFF CHG CHIEF CHN CHR CHR-1 CHRISTIAN CHRISTOF CHRISTOPHER CI CIA CIAT CIC CICTE CIDA CIO CIP CIS CITEL CITES CITIBANK CITT CIVAIR CIVS CJ CJAN CJUS CK CKGR CKOR CL CLEARANCE CLINTON CLMT CLO CLOK CM CMAE CMFT CMGT CMP CMT CN CNAR CNARC CNC CNO CO CODEL COE COL COLIN COLLECTIVE COLOMBO COM COMESA COMMERCE CON CONAWAY CONDOLEEZZA CONDOLEEZZA RICE CONEAZ CONG CONGO CONGRINT CONS CONSULAR CONTROL CONTROLS CORRUPTION COSI COUNTER COUNTER TERRORISM COUNTERTERRORISM COUNTRY COUNTRYCLEARANCE CP CPA CPAS CPC CPCTC CPPT CPUOS CQ CR CRIM CRIME CRIMES CRISTINA CRM CROATIA CROS CRS CRUZ CS CSCE CSEP CSIS CSW CT CTBT CTER CTERR CTM CTR CTRYCLR CU CUCO CUIS CUL CUSTODIO CV CVIA CVIC CVIS CVISU CVPR CVR CW CWC CWCM CWG CX CY CYNTHIA CYP CYPRUSARMS CZ DA DAC DAFR DAN DANFUNG DANIEL DAO DARFR DARFUR DAVID DAVID LEE HOWES DAVID WELCH DAVID WILLIAM RAY DB DC DCDG DCG DCHA DCI DCM DCOM DCRM DE DEA DEAX DEFENSE DEFENSEREFORM DELTAVIOLENCE DEM DEMARCHE DEMARCHES DEMETRIOS DEMOCRATIC DENNIS DEOC DEPORTATION DEPT DEPT FOR DS COMMAND CENTER DESI DHA DHLAKAMA DHLS DHRF DHS DHSX DIEZ DIPLOMACY DISENGAGEMENT DJ DK DKEM DMIN DMINE DO DOC DOD DOE DOJ DOMC DOMESTIC DOMESTICPOLITICS DONALD RUMSFELD DOT DPAO DPKO DPM DPOL DPRK DR DRC DRIP DRL DS DSR DSS DTFN DTRA DTRO DU DUNCAN CAMERON DVC DY EAC EAD EADI EADM EAG EAGER EAGR EAI EAIC EAID EAIDB EAIDCIN EAIDEGZ EAIDMG EAIDNI EAIF EAIG EAIO EAIR EAIS EAIT EAOD EAP EAPC EAR EARI EASS EATO EAUD EAVI EB EBEXP EBRD EBUD EC ECA ECCP ECCT ECE ECHEVARRIA ECIN ECIP ECLAC ECN ECOIN ECOM ECON ECONCS ECONEGE ECONOMIC ECONOMICS ECONOMY ECONOMY AND FINANCE ECOR ECOS ECOSOC ECOWAS ECPC ECPN ECPO ECPS ECPSN ECRM ECTRD ECUN ED EDA EDEV EDRC EDU EDUARDO EDUC EE EEB EEC EENG EENV EEOC EET EETC EFI EFIC EFIM EFIN EFIS EFLU EFN EFND EFNI EFQ EFTA EG EGAD EGAR EGEN EGHG EGOV EGOVSY EH EI EIAD EIAID EIAR EIB EICN EID EIDE EIDN EIFN EIN EIND EINDIR EINF EING EINN EINO EINR EINT EINV EINZ EIPR EIQ EISL EISNLN EITC EITI EIVN EK EL ELA ELAB ELAD ELAINE ELAM ELAN ELAP ELB ELBA ELBR ELEC ELECTIONS ELF ELIN ELN ELND ELNT ELTD ELTM ELTN ELTRN EMAIL EMED EMI EMIN EMN EMS EMW EN END ENDURING ENEG ENER ENERG ENERGY ENFR ENG ENGR ENGRD ENGRG ENGY ENIV ENLT ENNP ENR ENRC ENRG ENRL ENTG ENV ENVI ENVIRONMENT ENVR ENVT EON EOXC EP EPA EPAT EPCS EPE EPEC EPECO EPET EPIN EPIT EPPD EPRT EPSC EPTE EPTED EPWR EQ EQRD ER ERA ERD EREL ERGR ERICKSON ERIN ERTD ES ESA ESCAP ESCI ESDP ESENV ESF ESLCO ESOC ESOCI ESPS ESS ESSO ESTH ESTN ESTRADA ET ETA ETAD ETC ETCC ETD ETDR ETEL ETER ETEX ETFN ETIC ETIO ETLN ETMIN ETR ETRA ETRAD ETRB ETRC ETRD ETRDECD ETRG ETRK ETRN ETRO ETRP ETT ETTC ETTD ETTF ETTN ETTR ETTRD ETTW ETZ EU EUC EUCOM EUE EUEAID EUFOR EUM EUMEM EUN EUR EUREM EURM EURN EV EVENTS EVN EWRG EWT EWTR EWWT EX EXBS EXEC EXIM EXO EXPORT EXTERNAL EZ FA FAA FAC FAGR FAO FARC FARM FAS FATAH FBI FCC FCS FCSC FCSCEG FCUL FDA FDIC FEDULOV FEMA FERNANDO FGM FI FIGUEROA FIN FINANCE FINE FINR FINREF FINV FIR FISO FJ FK FKFLO FKLU FLU FM FMC FMGT FMLN FMS FO FOI FOOKS FOR FORCE FORCES FOREIGN FORWHA FP FPC FR FRA FRANCIS FRANCISCO RODENAS RUIZ FRANCISCO VILLA URBALEJO FRAZER FRB FREDOM FREEDOM FRELIMO FRIED FRN FRU FSC FSI FT FTA FTAA FWS GA GAERC GAMES GANGS GAO GARCIA GASPAR GATES GATT GAZA GAZPROM GB GBSLE GC GCC GCCC GE GEF GEORGE GERARD GESKE GF GG GH GI GIPNC GIWI GJ GKGIC GL GLOBAL GM GN GO GOG GOI GOMEZ GON GOVPOI GPGOV GPI GPOI GPOV GR GREGG RENE WALTER GRQ GS GT GTIP GTMO GTREFTEL GU GUAM GUANTANAMO GUIDANCE GUILLERMO GUTIERREZ GV GWI GY GZ GZIS HA HAMID KARZAI HARRIET HARRY HAWZ HCOPIL HDP HE HEAVEN HEBRON HECTOR HELGERSON HERCEGOVINA HG HHS HI HIGHLIGHTS HIJAZI HILARY HILLARY HILLEN HIPC HIV HIZ HK HKSX HL HLSX HN HNCHR HO HOA HOSTAGES HPKO HR HRC HRCS HRICTY HRIGHTS HRKSTC HSI HSTC HSWG HT HTCG HTSC HU HUD HUM HUMAN HUMANITARIAN HUMANR HUMANRIGHTS HUMOR HUMRIT HUNRC HURI HURRICANE HYDE HYLAND HYMPSK HZ IA IACHR IACI IACO IACW IADB IAEA IAES IAHRC IAIE IAII IASA IATTC IAZ IBB IBD IBET IBPCA IBRB IBRD IC ICAC ICAO ICC ICCAT ICCROM ICES ICJ ICRC ICRS ICSCA ICTR ICTY ID IDA IDB IDLI IDLO IDP IDR IE IEA IEAB IEF IF IFAD IFC IFIN IFM IFO IFR IFRC IG IGAD IGF IHO IICA IINS IIP IK IL ILAB ILC ILEA ILO IMC IMET IMF IMMIGRATION IMO IMSO IMTS IN INAUGURATION INCB IND INDO INF INFLUENZA INL INMARSAT INNP INPFC INR INRA INRB INRD INRO INRPAZ INS INSC INT INTEL INTELLECTUAL INTELSAT INTERNAL INTERPOL INV INVI IO IOC IOM IP IPET IPGRI IPK IPPC IPR IPROP IQ IQNV IR IRAN IRAQ IRAQI IRAQI FREEDOM IRC IRCE IRDB IRE IRL IRLE IRM IRMO IRNB IRPE IRQEGION IRS IS ISA ISAAC ISAF ISCA ISCON ISLAMISTS ISLE ISN ISNV ISO ISPA ISPL ISRAEL ISRAEL RELATIONS ISRAELI ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS ISSUES ISTC IT ITA ITALIAN ITALY ITECIP ITEIND ITELTN ITER ITF ITIA ITRA ITRD ITU IUCN IV IVIANNA IWC IWI IX IZ IZAORC JA JABER JAM JAMES JAPAN JAT JAWAD JCIC JE JEAN-PIERRE BEMBA JEFFERY JEFFREY JENDAYI JHR JI JIMENEZ JIMENEZ CHILDREN JK JKUS JM JN JO JOHANNS JOHN JOHN BOEHNER JOHNNIE JONATHAN CHAMAN JOSE ANGEL ALZUGUREN PERURENA JOSE NEY MILA ESPINOSA JOSE RAMOS HORTA JOSEPH BIDEN JP JS JSRP JUAN JULIAN RENE KIRCHOFF JUS JY KA KACP KACT KACW KADM KAID KALM KALR KANSOU KAPO KARIM WADE KATRINA KAUST KAWC KAWK KAWL KAWS KAWX KAYLA KBCT KBDS KBEM KBIO KBNC KBTC KBTR KBTS KBWG KCCP KCEM KCERS KCFC KCFE KCGC KCHG KCIP KCIS KCM KCMA KCMR KCOG KCOM KCOR KCPS KCRCM KCRI KCRIM KCRM KCRN KCRO KCROM KCROR KCRP KCRS KCRT KCSA KCSI KCSY KCUL KCUM KCVM KCWI KDCM KDDEM KDDG KDE KDEM KDEN KDET KDEV KDGOV KDGR KDHS KDM KDMR KDP KDRG KDRL KDTB KDUM KE KEAI KEANE KEBG KECF KEDEM KEDM KEDU KEIM KEM KEMPI KEMR KEMS KEN KENV KERF KERG KESO KESP KESS KEVIN KFAM KFCE KFE KFEM KFGM KFIN KFIU KFLD KFLO KFLU KFOR KFPC KFRD KFRP KFSC KFTFN KFTN KG KGCC KGCN KGHA KGHG KGIC KGICKS KGIT KGIV KGKG KGLB KGOR KGOV KH KHDP KHGH KHIB KHIV KHJUS KHLS KHMN KHOURY KHPD KHSA KHSL KHUM KI KIBL KICA KICC KICCPUR KICR KICT KID KIDE KIF KIFR KIIC KIIP KIL KILS KIMMITT KIMT KIND KINF KINL KINP KINR KINT KIPR KIPT KIRC KIRD KIRF KIRL KIRP KIS KISC KISK KISL KISM KISR KITA KIVP KIVR KJAN KJRE KJU KJUS KJUST KJWC KK KKIV KKNP KKOR KKPO KLAB KLAP KLBO KLEG KLFLO KLFU KLHS KLIG KLIP KLPM KLSO KLTN KM KMAC KMAR KMCA KMCC KMCR KMDR KMEPI KMFO KMGT KMIG KMNP KMOC KMPF KMPI KMPIO KMPL KMPP KMPT KMRD KMRS KMSG KMVP KMWN KN KNAO KNAP KNAR KNDP KNEI KNEP KNET KNMP KNN KNNA KNNB KNNC KNNF KNNO KNNP KNNR KNOP KNP KNPP KNPPIS KNPR KNPT KNRG KNRV KNSD KNUC KNUP KO KOC KOCI KOCM KOEM KOGL KOLY KOM KOMC KOMCCO KOMCSG KOMH KOMO KOMS KOR KOSOVO KOUYATE KPA KPAD KPAI KPAK KPAL KPALAOIS KPAM KPAO KPAS KPBT KPDD KPEM KPEO KPER KPET KPIN KPIR KPKO KPKP KPLS KPMI KPMO KPO KPOA KPOKO KPOL KPOP KPOV KPOW KPPAO KPPD KPRD KPRM KPRO KPROG KPRP KPRV KPSC KPTD KPTS KPWG KPWR KQ KQM KQRDQ KR KRAD KRAL KRCIM KRCM KRCS KRD KRDP KREC KREF KREISLER KREL KRF KRFD KRFR KRG KRGY KRIC KRIF KRIM KRKO KRM KRMS KRV KRVC KS KSA KSAC KSAF KSCA KSCI KSCS KSCT KSEAO KSEC KSEI KSEO KSEP KSI KSIA KSKN KSLG KSMT KSOC KSOCI KSPA KSPR KSRE KSTC KSTCC KSTCPL KSTH KSTS KSTT KSUM KSUP KT KTAO KTBD KTBT KTCRE KTDB KTDD KTDM KTER KTEX KTFIN KTFM KTFN KTFR KTFS KTIA KTIP KTLA KTNBT KTNF KTPN KTRD KTRF KTSC KTSD KTTB KTTC KTTP KU KUAE KUIR KUM KUNA KUNC KUNH KUNP KUNR KUS KUWAIT KV KVBL KVIP KVIR KVIS KVPR KVRC KVRP KW KWAC KWAK KWAWC KWBC KWBG KWBW KWCI KWCR KWGB KWHG KWIC KWIM KWIR KWKN KWM KWMJN KWMM KWMN KWN KWNM KWNN KWOMN KWPA KWPB KWPG KWPR KWRC KWRF KWRG KWUN KWWT KWWW KX KY KZ LA LAB LABOR LANSANA LANTERN LARREA LARS LAS LAURA LAVIN LAW LB LBAR LBY LE LEAGUE LEB LEBIK LEGAT LEGATT LEIS LEON LEVINE LEW LG LGAT LH LI LIB LICC LIMA LINE LK LMS LN LO LOG LOPEZ LORAN LOTT LOVE LR LS LT LTG LTTE LU LV LVPR LY LZ MA MAAR MACEDONIA MACP MANUEL MANUEL SERGIO GONZALEZ MAP MAPP MAPS MAR MARAD MARANTIS MARIA MARIE MARINO MARITIME MARK MARQUEZ MARR MARS MARTIN MARV MAS MASC MASS MATT MAYA MB MBM MC MCA MCAP MCAPARR MCAPN MCAPP MCAPS MCAT MCC MCCAIN MCCONNELL MCCP MCGRAW MCRM MCTRE MD MDA MDC MDO ME MEA MED MEDIA MEETINGS MENDIETA MEP MEPI MEPN MEPP MERCOSUR MESUR MEX MF MFA MFO MG MGL MGMT MGOV MGT MGTA MH MHUC MI MIAH MIC MICHAEL MICHEL MIGUEL FELIPE CANAHUATI YACAMAN MIGUEL VARGAS MALDONADO MIK MIKE MIL MILI MILITANTS MILITARY MILLENNIUM MINURSO MINUSTAH MITCHELL MJ MK ML MLS MMAR MMED MN MNLF MNNC MNNUC MNU MNUC MNUCH MNUCWA MNUM MNUN MNUR MNUS MNVC MO MOHAMAD MOHAMED HESHAM ELDIN YOUSSEF MOHAMMAD MOLINA MONTENEGRO MONUC MONY MOOPS MOP MOPP MOPPS MOPS MORALES MORG MOROCCO MORS MOS MOTO MOTT MP MPOL MPOS MPP MPS MQADHAFI MR MRCRE MRRR MRS MRSEC MS MSG MSIG MT MTAA MTAG MTCAE MTCR MTCRA MTCRE MTRCE MTRE MTRRE MTS MU MUC MUCN MUKASEY MULLEN MUNC MURAD MURRAY MV MW MX MY MZ NA NAC NACB NADIA NAFTA NAM NAMSA NANCY NAR NARC NARCOTICS NARR NAS NASA NAT NATEU NATGAS NATIONAL NATO NATOAFGHAN NATOBALKANS NATOIRAQ NATOOPS NATOPOLICY NATSIOS NAVO NB NBTS NBU NC NCCC NCD NCT NCTC NDI NDP NE NEA NEC NEGROPONTE NEI NELSON NEPAD NERG NET NEW NFATC NFMS NFSO NG NGO NGUYEN NH NI NICHOLAS NICOLE NIH NIPP NK NKWG NL NLD NLIAEA NLO NMFS NMNUC NMUC NNPT NO NOAA NOI NOK NON NONE NORAD NOTAG NOVO NP NPA NPG NPT NR NRC NRG NRR NRRC NS NSC NSF NSFO NSG NSSP NT NTDB NTSB NTTC NU NUC NUIN NV NW NZ NZUS OA OAO OARC OAS OASC OASCC OASS OAU OBAMA OBS OBSP OCBD OCEA OCED OCHA OCII OCRA OCS OCSE ODAG ODC ODIP ODPC OECD OECS OECV OES OESC OEXC OEXP OF OFDA OFDC OFDP OFDPQIS OFFICIALS OFPD OFSO OGAC OGIV OHCHR OHI OHIP OI OIC OICCO OIE OIF OIG OIIP OIL OIM OLY OLYAIR OLYMPICS OM OMAR OMB OMIG OMS ON ONA OPAD OPBAT OPC OPCD OPCR OPCW OPDAT OPDC OPDP OPEC OPET OPIC OPID OPOC OPPC OPRC OPREC OPREP OPS OPSC OPVIP ORA ORC ORCA ORECD ORED OREG OREP ORGANIZED ORP ORTA ORUE OSAC OSCE OSCI OSD OSEC OSHA OSIC OSTA OSTRA OTA OTAR OTHER OTHERSASNEEDED OTP OTR OTRA OTRABL OTRAO OTRAZ OTRC OTRD OUALI OVIP OVP OXEC OXEM OZ PA PAARM PAC PACE PAGE PAGR PAHO PAIGH PAK PAL PALESTINIAN PAMQ PAN PANAM PAO PAR PARALYMPIC PARCA PAREL PARK PARLIAMENT PARM PARMS PARN PARP PARR PARTIES PARTM PARTY PAS PASS PATRICK WARREN MAHURIN PATTY PAUL PAUM PB PBGT PBIO PBK PBOV PBPTS PBS PBST PBT PBTS PCI PCON PCOR PCRM PCUL PD PDA PDD PDEM PDIP PDOV PDRG PE PEACE PEACEKEEPINGFORCES PEDRO PEL PELOSI PEMEX PENA PENV PEPFAR PEPR PER PEREZ PERL PERM PERSONS PET PETER PETERS PETR PETRAEUS PETROL PF PFIN PFLP PFOR PFOV PG PGGOC PGIC PGIV PGKV PGO PGOC PGOF PGOG PGON PGOR PGOT PGOV PGOVE PGOVQL PGPV PGREL PGREV PGV PH PHALANAGE PHARM PHAS PHEM PHIM PHM PHSA PHU PHUH PHUM PHUMHUPPS PHUN PHUS PHYTRP PI PIA PICES PIF PIN PINB PIND PINER PINF PING PINL PINO PINOCHET PINR PINS PINT PINV PIR PIRF PIRN PJUS PK PKAO PKBL PKFK PKISL PKK PKMN PKNP PKO PKPA PKPAL PKPO PKPRP PKST PL PLAB PLAN PLEC PLN PLO PLUM PM PMAR PMAT PMDL PMIG PMIL PMIN PMR PMUC PN PNAT PNET PNG PNIR PNNL PNR PNRG PNS PNUC PNUK PNUM PO PODC POG POGV POINS POL POLG POLI POLICY POLINT POLITICAL POLITICS POLM POLMIL POLS POLUN POREL PORG POSTS POTUS POUS POV POWELL PP PPA PPAO PPD PPEF PPEL PPKO PPOL PQL PQM PRC PRE PREC PRED PREF PREG PREJ PREK PREL PRELEVU PRELM PRELPLS PRELTBIOBA PREM PREO PREP PRER PRES PRESIDENT PRESL PREV PREZ PRF PRFE PRFL PRGO PRGOV PRIL PRIVATIZATION PRL PRLE PRM PRO PROB PROCESS PROG PROL PROLIFERATION PROP PROPERTY PROTECTION PROTESTS PROV PROVE PRT PRTER PRWL PS PSA PSCE PSEC PSEPC PSHA PSI PSNR PSO PSOC PSOCI PSOE PT PTBS PTE PTEL PTEP PTER PTGOV PTIA PTR PTRD PU PUAS PUBLIC PUNE PUNR PUOS PV PVIP PVOV PVPR PVTS PWBG PWMN PY QA QADRI QEL QI QIZ QM QT QU QUAN QUOC RA RAED RAFAEL RAID RAMON RAMONTEIJELO RAS RATIFICATION RAY GUEVARA MILTON RBI RCA RCMP RE REA REACTION REALTIONS RECIN REF REFORM REFPAN REFUGEE REFUGEES REGION REGIONAL REID REIN REINEMEYER REL RELAM RELATIONS RELFREE RELIGIOUS REMON RENAMO RENE PREVAL REO REPORT REUBEN RF RFE RFIN RFREEDOM RGOV RGY RHUM RI RICE RICHARD RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL RIMC RIVERA RL RLA RM RMA RO ROBERT ROBERT JOSEPH RODHAM RODRIGUEZ ROK ROME ROOD ROSS ROW ROY RP RPEL RPTS RQ RR RRB RREL RS RSO RSOX RSP RSZ RTT RU RUEHZO RV RW RWANDA SA SAAD SAARC SABAH SACU SADC SAFE SAIR SAIS SALOPEK SAMA SAN SANC SANR SAO SARB SARGSIAN SARS SASC SASEC SASIAIN SB SBA SC SCA SCCC SCE SCENESETTER SCHUL SCI SCIENCE SCNV SCOI SCOL SCOM SCPR SCRM SCRS SCRSERD SCUL SCVL SD SE SEC SECDEF SECI SECRET SECRETARY SECSTATE SECTOR SECURITY SEMAAN GABY EID SEN SENC SENG SENS SENU SENV SENVQGR SENVSPL SENVSXE SEP SERBIA SERZH SETTLEMENTS SEVN SEXP SF SFNV SG SGNV SGWI SH SHANNON SHI SHUM SI SILVASANDE SIMS SIPDI SIPDIS SIPR SIPRNET SIPRS SIUK SK SKCA SKEP SKI SKSAF SL SLM SLOVAK SM SMAR SMI SMIG SMIL SMIT SMITH SMRT SN SNA SNAP SNAR SNUC SO SOC SOCI SOCIA SOCIETY SOCIO SOCIS SOCISZX SOCR SOCY SOE SOFA SOI SOIC SOLI SOLIC SOM SOMALIA SOPN SORT SOSI SOVIET SOWGC SP SPAS SPC SPCE SPCVIS SPECI SPECIALIST SPILL SPP SPSTATE SR SREF SRIT SRS SRYI SSA SSH ST STAG START STATE STC STEINBERG STEPHEN HADLEY STET STP STR STUDENT SU SUCCESSION SUFFRAGE SULLIVAN SUMMIT SUR SUSAN SV SW SWHO SWMN SX SXG SY SYAI SYMBOL SYR SYRIA SYSI SYTH SZ TA TAGS TALAL TAUSCHER TAX TB TBI TBID TBIO TBIOZK TBKIO TBO TC TCOR TCSENV TD TDA TE TECH TECHNOLOGY TER TERAA TERFIN TERR TERROR TERRORISM TF TFIN TG TGRY TH THANH THE THERESE THIRDTERM THKSJA THOMAS THOMAS THOMMA THPY TI TIA TIBO TIFA TINT TIO TIP TITI TIUZ TJ TK TL TM TN TNDG TNGD TO TOPEC TORRIJOS TOURISM TP TPHY TPKO TPP TPSA TPSL TR TRAD TRADE TRAFFICKING TRBIO TRBY TRD TREAS TREASURY TREATY TREL TRG TRGV TRGY TRIO TRSY TRT TRV TRY TRYG TRYS TS TSA TSLP TSPA TSPL TSRL TSRY TSY TT TTFN TU TURKEY TV TVBIO TW TWRO TX TY TZ TZBY UA UAE UAID UAM UB UDEM UE UEU UG UGA UK UKR UKRAINE UM UMIK UN UNA UNAF UNAIDS UNAMA UNAMSIL UNAORC UNAUS UNBRO UNC UNCC UNCDF UNCDN UNCHC UNCHR UNCHS UNCITRAL UNCND UNCOPUOS UNCRED UNCRIME UNCSD UNCSW UNCTAD UNDC UNDEF UNDOF UNDP UNECE UNEF UNEP UNESCO UNFA UNFC UNFCYP UNFF UNFICYP UNFIYCP UNFPA UNGA UNGAPL UNGO UNHCR UNHRC UNICEF UNIDCP UNIDO UNIDROIT UNIFEM UNIFIL UNION UNKIK UNM UNMEE UNMIC UNMIK UNMIKI UNMIKV UNMIL UNMIN UNMOVIC UNO UNODC UNOMIG UNOPS UNP UNPAR UNPUOS UNRCCA UNRCR UNREST UNRWA UNSC UNSCAPU UNSCD UNSCE UNSCER UNSCR UNSCS UNSD UNSE UNTAC UNTERR UNTZ UNUS UNVIE UNYI UP UPU UPUO UR US USAID USAU USCC USCG USDA USDELFESTTWO USEU USG USGS USMS USNC USOAS USOP USPS USPTO USSC USTA USTDA USTR USTRD USTRIT USTRPS USTRUWR USUN UUNR UV UX UY UZ VA VANESSA VANG VAT VC VE VELS VEN VENZ VETTING VI VINICIO VIP VIS VISAS VISIT VM VN VO VOA VT VTEG VTFR VTIS VTPREL VTTBIO VTWCAR VXY VY VZ WA WAEMU WAKI WAR WARD WB WBEG WBG WCAR WCI WCL WCO WE WEBG WEBZ WEET WEF WEOG WET WEU WFA WFP WFPAORC WFPO WGC WGG WHA WHITMER WHO WHTI WI WILCOX WILLIAM WIPO WIR WITH WJRO WM WMD WMDT WMN WMO WOMEN WPO WRTO WS WSIS WTO WTRD WTRO WTRQ WW WWARD WWBG WWT WZ XA XAAF XB XC XD XE XF XFNEA XG XH XI XJ XK XL XLUM XM XO XP XQ XR XS XT XTAG XU XV XW XX XXX XY XZ YE YEH YI YL YM YMCS YS YU YURIY ZA ZANU ZB ZC ZCTU ZEALAND ZF ZFR ZH ZI ZIM ZJ ZK ZKGM ZL ZM ZN ZO ZOELLICK ZP ZR ZS ZT ZU ZW ZXA
AA AADP AALC ABDALLAH FETHI ABDULHADI ABDULRAHMEN ABER ABLD ABLDG ABLG ABMC ABT ABUD AC ACABQ ACAO ACBAQ ACCELERATED ACCOUNT ACDA ACEC ACKM ACOA ACOTA ACS ACTION ADANA ADB ADCO ADCP ADEL ADEP ADIP ADM ADMIRAL ADPM ADRC AE AEC AECL AEGR AEIR AEM AEMED AEMR AER AESC AF AFAF AL HOURANI AFARI AFDB AFDIN AFFAIRS AFGHAN AFGHANISTAN AFIN AFL AFLU AFOR AFR AFSA AFSI AFSN AFU AFZAL AG AGAO AGENCIES AGENDA AGENGA AGIT AGMT AGOA AGR AGRI AGRIC AGRICULTURE AGS AGUILAR AGUIRRE AHMED AI AIAG AID AIDAC AIDS AIEA AIHRC AIN AINF AINFCY AINR AINT AISG AIT AJ AK AL ALAB ALAMI ALANAZI ALBE ALEXANDER ALI ALIREZA ALJAZEERA ALL ALNEA ALOUNI ALOW ALOWAR ALVAREZ AM AMAT AMB AMBASSADOR AMCHAM AMCHAMS AMCT AME AMED AMEDI AMEMR AMER AMERICAS AMEX AMG AMGE AMGMT AMGT AMIA AMLB AMPR AMT AMTC AMTG AN ANARCHISTS ANC AND ANDREW LEE WATKINS ANET ANTITERRORISM ANTOINE GHONDA ANTONIO ANTXON AO AOCR AODE AOIC AOMS AOPR AORC AORD AOREC AORG AORL AOWC AP APCS APDC APEC APECO APER APR APRC APRM AQ AR ARAB ARABBL ARABL ARABLEAGUE ARAS ARC ARCH ARENA AREP ARF ARG ARM ARMITAGE ARMS ARNOLD FREDERICK MORRIS AROC ARR ARRMZY ARSO AS ASA ASAC ASC ASCC ASCE ASCEC ASCH ASE ASEAN ASEC ASECARP ASECE ASECM ASECSI ASECVE ASED ASEDC ASEG ASEK ASES ASEX ASFC ASIC ASIG ASIR ASJA ASO ASOC ASPA ASR ASSEMBLY ASSK ASSSEMBLY ASUP AT ATFN ATPDEA ATRA ATRD ATRN AU AU-1 AUC AUNR AUSGR AUSTRALIAGROUP AV AVERY AVIAN AVIANFLU AVIATION AW AX AY AZ AZE B. BA BAGHDAD BAIO BAKOYANNIS BALKANS BAPOL BARACK BASHAR BATA BAYS BB BBG BBSR BC BCW BCXP BD BE BEAN BELLVIEW BEN BERARDUCCI BESP BEXB BEXP BEXPC BEXPPLM BEXT BF BFIF BFIN BFIO BG BGD BGMT BH BHUM BI BIC BIDOON BIH BILAT BIMSTEC BINR BIO BIOS BIOTECH BIOTECHNOLOGY BIT BITO BK BL BLR BLUE BLUNT BM BMENA BMGT BMOT BN BNUC BO BOIKO BOL BOND BOQ BORDER BOSNIA BOU BOUCHAIB KAKA BOUTERSE BP BPIS BPTS BR BRIAN BRITNEY BRITNY BRPA BRUSSELS BS BSSR BT BTA BTC BTIO BTIU BTRA BTT BU BUD BULGARIA BURMA BURNS BUSH BUY AMERICA BV BW BWC BX BXEP BY BZ CA CAC CACM CACS CAFTA CAIO CAJC CAMBODIA CAN CAPC CARC CARE CARIB CARICOM CARSON CAS CASA CASC CASCC CASCR CASE CASTILLO CAVO CB CBC CBD CBE CBG CBIS CBM CBSA CBTH CBW CCSR CCY CD CDB CDC CDCC CDCE CDG CDI CE CEA CEC CEDAW CEN CENSUS CENTCOM CENTRIC CEUDA CF CFE CFED CFG CFIS CFSP CG CGEN CGOPRC CH CHAD CHALLENGE CHAO CHAVEZ CHELIDZE CHENEY CHERTOFF CHG CHIEF CHN CHR CHR-1 CHRISTIAN CHRISTOF CHRISTOPHER CI CIA CIAT CIC CICTE CIDA CIO CIP CIS CITEL CITES CITIBANK CITT CIVAIR CIVS CJ CJAN CJUS CK CKGR CKOR CL CLEARANCE CLINTON CLMT CLO CLOK CM CMAE CMFT CMGT CMP CMT CN CNAR CNARC CNC CNO CO CODEL COE COL COLIN COLLECTIVE COLOMBO COM COMESA COMMERCE CON CONAWAY CONDOLEEZZA CONDOLEEZZA RICE CONEAZ CONG CONGO CONGRINT CONS CONSULAR CONTROL CONTROLS CORRUPTION COSI COUNTER COUNTER TERRORISM COUNTERTERRORISM COUNTRY COUNTRYCLEARANCE CP CPA CPAS CPC CPCTC CPPT CPUOS CQ CR CRIM CRIME CRIMES CRISTINA CRM CROATIA CROS CRS CRUZ CS CSCE CSEP CSIS CSW CT CTBT CTER CTERR CTM CTR CTRYCLR CU CUCO CUIS CUL CUSTODIO CV CVIA CVIC CVIS CVISU CVPR CVR CW CWC CWCM CWG CX CY CYNTHIA CYP CYPRUSARMS CZ DA DAC DAFR DAN DANFUNG DANIEL DAO DARFR DARFUR DAVID DAVID LEE HOWES DAVID WELCH DAVID WILLIAM RAY DB DC DCDG DCG DCHA DCI DCM DCOM DCRM DE DEA DEAX DEFENSE DEFENSEREFORM DELTAVIOLENCE DEM DEMARCHE DEMARCHES DEMETRIOS DEMOCRATIC DENNIS DEOC DEPORTATION DEPT DEPT FOR DS COMMAND CENTER DESI DHA DHLAKAMA DHLS DHRF DHS DHSX DIEZ DIPLOMACY DISENGAGEMENT DJ DK DKEM DMIN DMINE DO DOC DOD DOE DOJ DOMC DOMESTIC DOMESTICPOLITICS DONALD RUMSFELD DOT DPAO DPKO DPM DPOL DPRK DR DRC DRIP DRL DS DSR DSS DTFN DTRA DTRO DU DUNCAN CAMERON DVC DY EAC EAD EADI EADM EAG EAGER EAGR EAI EAIC EAID EAIDB EAIDCIN EAIDEGZ EAIDMG EAIDNI EAIF EAIG EAIO EAIR EAIS EAIT EAOD EAP EAPC EAR EARI EASS EATO EAUD EAVI EB EBEXP EBRD EBUD EC ECA ECCP ECCT ECE ECHEVARRIA ECIN ECIP ECLAC ECN ECOIN ECOM ECON ECONCS ECONEGE ECONOMIC ECONOMICS ECONOMY ECONOMY AND FINANCE ECOR ECOS ECOSOC ECOWAS ECPC ECPN ECPO ECPS ECPSN ECRM ECTRD ECUN ED EDA EDEV EDRC EDU EDUARDO EDUC EE EEB EEC EENG EENV EEOC EET EETC EFI EFIC EFIM EFIN EFIS EFLU EFN EFND EFNI EFQ EFTA EG EGAD EGAR EGEN EGHG EGOV EGOVSY EH EI EIAD EIAID EIAR EIB EICN EID EIDE EIDN EIFN EIN EIND EINDIR EINF EING EINN EINO EINR EINT EINV EINZ EIPR EIQ EISL EISNLN EITC EITI EIVN EK EL ELA ELAB ELAD ELAINE ELAM ELAN ELAP ELB ELBA ELBR ELEC ELECTIONS ELF ELIN ELN ELND ELNT ELTD ELTM ELTN ELTRN EMAIL EMED EMI EMIN EMN EMS EMW EN END ENDURING ENEG ENER ENERG ENERGY ENFR ENG ENGR ENGRD ENGRG ENGY ENIV ENLT ENNP ENR ENRC ENRG ENRL ENTG ENV ENVI ENVIRONMENT ENVR ENVT EON EOXC EP EPA EPAT EPCS EPE EPEC EPECO EPET EPIN EPIT EPPD EPRT EPSC EPTE EPTED EPWR EQ EQRD ER ERA ERD EREL ERGR ERICKSON ERIN ERTD ES ESA ESCAP ESCI ESDP ESENV ESF ESLCO ESOC ESOCI ESPS ESS ESSO ESTH ESTN ESTRADA ET ETA ETAD ETC ETCC ETD ETDR ETEL ETER ETEX ETFN ETIC ETIO ETLN ETMIN ETR ETRA ETRAD ETRB ETRC ETRD ETRDECD ETRG ETRK ETRN ETRO ETRP ETT ETTC ETTD ETTF ETTN ETTR ETTRD ETTW ETZ EU EUC EUCOM EUE EUEAID EUFOR EUM EUMEM EUN EUR EUREM EURM EURN EV EVENTS EVN EWRG EWT EWTR EWWT EX EXBS EXEC EXIM EXO EXPORT EXTERNAL EZ FA FAA FAC FAGR FAO FARC FARM FAS FATAH FBI FCC FCS FCSC FCSCEG FCUL FDA FDIC FEDULOV FEMA FERNANDO FGM FI FIGUEROA FIN FINANCE FINE FINR FINREF FINV FIR FISO FJ FK FKFLO FKLU FLU FM FMC FMGT FMLN FMS FO FOI FOOKS FOR FORCE FORCES FOREIGN FORWHA FP FPC FR FRA FRANCIS FRANCISCO RODENAS RUIZ FRANCISCO VILLA URBALEJO FRAZER FRB FREDOM FREEDOM FRELIMO FRIED FRN FRU FSC FSI FT FTA FTAA FWS GA GAERC GAMES GANGS GAO GARCIA GASPAR GATES GATT GAZA GAZPROM GB GBSLE GC GCC GCCC GE GEF GEORGE GERARD GESKE GF GG GH GI GIPNC GIWI GJ GKGIC GL GLOBAL GM GN GO GOG GOI GOMEZ GON GOVPOI GPGOV GPI GPOI GPOV GR GREGG RENE WALTER GRQ GS GT GTIP GTMO GTREFTEL GU GUAM GUANTANAMO GUIDANCE GUILLERMO GUTIERREZ GV GWI GY GZ GZIS HA HAMID KARZAI HARRIET HARRY HAWZ HCOPIL HDP HE HEAVEN HEBRON HECTOR HELGERSON HERCEGOVINA HG HHS HI HIGHLIGHTS HIJAZI HILARY HILLARY HILLEN HIPC HIV HIZ HK HKSX HL HLSX HN HNCHR HO HOA HOSTAGES HPKO HR HRC HRCS HRICTY HRIGHTS HRKSTC HSI HSTC HSWG HT HTCG HTSC HU HUD HUM HUMAN HUMANITARIAN HUMANR HUMANRIGHTS HUMOR HUMRIT HUNRC HURI HURRICANE HYDE HYLAND HYMPSK HZ IA IACHR IACI IACO IACW IADB IAEA IAES IAHRC IAIE IAII IASA IATTC IAZ IBB IBD IBET IBPCA IBRB IBRD IC ICAC ICAO ICC ICCAT ICCROM ICES ICJ ICRC ICRS ICSCA ICTR ICTY ID IDA IDB IDLI IDLO IDP IDR IE IEA IEAB IEF IF IFAD IFC IFIN IFM IFO IFR IFRC IG IGAD IGF IHO IICA IINS IIP IK IL ILAB ILC ILEA ILO IMC IMET IMF IMMIGRATION IMO IMSO IMTS IN INAUGURATION INCB IND INDO INF INFLUENZA INL INMARSAT INNP INPFC INR INRA INRB INRD INRO INRPAZ INS INSC INT INTEL INTELLECTUAL INTELSAT INTERNAL INTERPOL INV INVI IO IOC IOM IP IPET IPGRI IPK IPPC IPR IPROP IQ IQNV IR IRAN IRAQ IRAQI IRAQI FREEDOM IRC IRCE IRDB IRE IRL IRLE IRM IRMO IRNB IRPE IRQEGION IRS IS ISA ISAAC ISAF ISCA ISCON ISLAMISTS ISLE ISN ISNV ISO ISPA ISPL ISRAEL ISRAEL RELATIONS ISRAELI ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS ISSUES ISTC IT ITA ITALIAN ITALY ITECIP ITEIND ITELTN ITER ITF ITIA ITRA ITRD ITU IUCN IV IVIANNA IWC IWI IX IZ IZAORC JA JABER JAM JAMES JAPAN JAT JAWAD JCIC JE JEAN-PIERRE BEMBA JEFFERY JEFFREY JENDAYI JHR JI JIMENEZ JIMENEZ CHILDREN JK JKUS JM JN JO JOHANNS JOHN JOHN BOEHNER JOHNNIE JONATHAN CHAMAN JOSE ANGEL ALZUGUREN PERURENA JOSE NEY MILA ESPINOSA JOSE RAMOS HORTA JOSEPH BIDEN JP JS JSRP JUAN JULIAN RENE KIRCHOFF JUS JY KA KACP KACT KACW KADM KAID KALM KALR KANSOU KAPO KARIM WADE KATRINA KAUST KAWC KAWK KAWL KAWS KAWX KAYLA KBCT KBDS KBEM KBIO KBNC KBTC KBTR KBTS KBWG KCCP KCEM KCERS KCFC KCFE KCGC KCHG KCIP KCIS KCM KCMA KCMR KCOG KCOM KCOR KCPS KCRCM KCRI KCRIM KCRM KCRN KCRO KCROM KCROR KCRP KCRS KCRT KCSA KCSI KCSY KCUL KCUM KCVM KCWI KDCM KDDEM KDDG KDE KDEM KDEN KDET KDEV KDGOV KDGR KDHS KDM KDMR KDP KDRG KDRL KDTB KDUM KE KEAI KEANE KEBG KECF KEDEM KEDM KEDU KEIM KEM KEMPI KEMR KEMS KEN KENV KERF KERG KESO KESP KESS KEVIN KFAM KFCE KFE KFEM KFGM KFIN KFIU KFLD KFLO KFLU KFOR KFPC KFRD KFRP KFSC KFTFN KFTN KG KGCC KGCN KGHA KGHG KGIC KGICKS KGIT KGIV KGKG KGLB KGOR KGOV KH KHDP KHGH KHIB KHIV KHJUS KHLS KHMN KHOURY KHPD KHSA KHSL KHUM KI KIBL KICA KICC KICCPUR KICR KICT KID KIDE KIF KIFR KIIC KIIP KIL KILS KIMMITT KIMT KIND KINF KINL KINP KINR KINT KIPR KIPT KIRC KIRD KIRF KIRL KIRP KIS KISC KISK KISL KISM KISR KITA KIVP KIVR KJAN KJRE KJU KJUS KJUST KJWC KK KKIV KKNP KKOR KKPO KLAB KLAP KLBO KLEG KLFLO KLFU KLHS KLIG KLIP KLPM KLSO KLTN KM KMAC KMAR KMCA KMCC KMCR KMDR KMEPI KMFO KMGT KMIG KMNP KMOC KMPF KMPI KMPIO KMPL KMPP KMPT KMRD KMRS KMSG KMVP KMWN KN KNAO KNAP KNAR KNDP KNEI KNEP KNET KNMP KNN KNNA KNNB KNNC KNNF KNNO KNNP KNNR KNOP KNP KNPP KNPPIS KNPR KNPT KNRG KNRV KNSD KNUC KNUP KO KOC KOCI KOCM KOEM KOGL KOLY KOM KOMC KOMCCO KOMCSG KOMH KOMO KOMS KOR KOSOVO KOUYATE KPA KPAD KPAI KPAK KPAL KPALAOIS KPAM KPAO KPAS KPBT KPDD KPEM KPEO KPER KPET KPIN KPIR KPKO KPKP KPLS KPMI KPMO KPO KPOA KPOKO KPOL KPOP KPOV KPOW KPPAO KPPD KPRD KPRM KPRO KPROG KPRP KPRV KPSC KPTD KPTS KPWG KPWR KQ KQM KQRDQ KR KRAD KRAL KRCIM KRCM KRCS KRD KRDP KREC KREF KREISLER KREL KRF KRFD KRFR KRG KRGY KRIC KRIF KRIM KRKO KRM KRMS KRV KRVC KS KSA KSAC KSAF KSCA KSCI KSCS KSCT KSEAO KSEC KSEI KSEO KSEP KSI KSIA KSKN KSLG KSMT KSOC KSOCI KSPA KSPR KSRE KSTC KSTCC KSTCPL KSTH KSTS KSTT KSUM KSUP KT KTAO KTBD KTBT KTCRE KTDB KTDD KTDM KTER KTEX KTFIN KTFM KTFN KTFR KTFS KTIA KTIP KTLA KTNBT KTNF KTPN KTRD KTRF KTSC KTSD KTTB KTTC KTTP KU KUAE KUIR KUM KUNA KUNC KUNH KUNP KUNR KUS KUWAIT KV KVBL KVIP KVIR KVIS KVPR KVRC KVRP KW KWAC KWAK KWAWC KWBC KWBG KWBW KWCI KWCR KWGB KWHG KWIC KWIM KWIR KWKN KWM KWMJN KWMM KWMN KWN KWNM KWNN KWOMN KWPA KWPB KWPG KWPR KWRC KWRF KWRG KWUN KWWT KWWW KX KY KZ LA LAB LABOR LANSANA LANTERN LARREA LARS LAS LAURA LAVIN LAW LB LBAR LBY LE LEAGUE LEB LEBIK LEGAT LEGATT LEIS LEON LEVINE LEW LG LGAT LH LI LIB LICC LIMA LINE LK LMS LN LO LOG LOPEZ LORAN LOTT LOVE LR LS LT LTG LTTE LU LV LVPR LY LZ MA MAAR MACEDONIA MACP MANUEL MANUEL SERGIO GONZALEZ MAP MAPP MAPS MAR MARAD MARANTIS MARIA MARIE MARINO MARITIME MARK MARQUEZ MARR MARS MARTIN MARV MAS MASC MASS MATT MAYA MB MBM MC MCA MCAP MCAPARR MCAPN MCAPP MCAPS MCAT MCC MCCAIN MCCONNELL MCCP MCGRAW MCRM MCTRE MD MDA MDC MDO ME MEA MED MEDIA MEETINGS MENDIETA MEP MEPI MEPN MEPP MERCOSUR MESUR MEX MF MFA MFO MG MGL MGMT MGOV MGT MGTA MH MHUC MI MIAH MIC MICHAEL MICHEL MIGUEL FELIPE CANAHUATI YACAMAN MIGUEL VARGAS MALDONADO MIK MIKE MIL MILI MILITANTS MILITARY MILLENNIUM MINURSO MINUSTAH MITCHELL MJ MK ML MLS MMAR MMED MN MNLF MNNC MNNUC MNU MNUC MNUCH MNUCWA MNUM MNUN MNUR MNUS MNVC MO MOHAMAD MOHAMED HESHAM ELDIN YOUSSEF MOHAMMAD MOLINA MONTENEGRO MONUC MONY MOOPS MOP MOPP MOPPS MOPS MORALES MORG MOROCCO MORS MOS MOTO MOTT MP MPOL MPOS MPP MPS MQADHAFI MR MRCRE MRRR MRS MRSEC MS MSG MSIG MT MTAA MTAG MTCAE MTCR MTCRA MTCRE MTRCE MTRE MTRRE MTS MU MUC MUCN MUKASEY MULLEN MUNC MURAD MURRAY MV MW MX MY MZ NA NAC NACB NADIA NAFTA NAM NAMSA NANCY NAR NARC NARCOTICS NARR NAS NASA NAT NATEU NATGAS NATIONAL NATO NATOAFGHAN NATOBALKANS NATOIRAQ NATOOPS NATOPOLICY NATSIOS NAVO NB NBTS NBU NC NCCC NCD NCT NCTC NDI NDP NE NEA NEC NEGROPONTE NEI NELSON NEPAD NERG NET NEW NFATC NFMS NFSO NG NGO NGUYEN NH NI NICHOLAS NICOLE NIH NIPP NK NKWG NL NLD NLIAEA NLO NMFS NMNUC NMUC NNPT NO NOAA NOI NOK NON NONE NORAD NOTAG NOVO NP NPA NPG NPT NR NRC NRG NRR NRRC NS NSC NSF NSFO NSG NSSP NT NTDB NTSB NTTC NU NUC NUIN NV NW NZ NZUS OA OAO OARC OAS OASC OASCC OASS OAU OBAMA OBS OBSP OCBD OCEA OCED OCHA OCII OCRA OCS OCSE ODAG ODC ODIP ODPC OECD OECS OECV OES OESC OEXC OEXP OF OFDA OFDC OFDP OFDPQIS OFFICIALS OFPD OFSO OGAC OGIV OHCHR OHI OHIP OI OIC OICCO OIE OIF OIG OIIP OIL OIM OLY OLYAIR OLYMPICS OM OMAR OMB OMIG OMS ON ONA OPAD OPBAT OPC OPCD OPCR OPCW OPDAT OPDC OPDP OPEC OPET OPIC OPID OPOC OPPC OPRC OPREC OPREP OPS OPSC OPVIP ORA ORC ORCA ORECD ORED OREG OREP ORGANIZED ORP ORTA ORUE OSAC OSCE OSCI OSD OSEC OSHA OSIC OSTA OSTRA OTA OTAR OTHER OTHERSASNEEDED OTP OTR OTRA OTRABL OTRAO OTRAZ OTRC OTRD OUALI OVIP OVP OXEC OXEM OZ PA PAARM PAC PACE PAGE PAGR PAHO PAIGH PAK PAL PALESTINIAN PAMQ PAN PANAM PAO PAR PARALYMPIC PARCA PAREL PARK PARLIAMENT PARM PARMS PARN PARP PARR PARTIES PARTM PARTY PAS PASS PATRICK WARREN MAHURIN PATTY PAUL PAUM PB PBGT PBIO PBK PBOV PBPTS PBS PBST PBT PBTS PCI PCON PCOR PCRM PCUL PD PDA PDD PDEM PDIP PDOV PDRG PE PEACE PEACEKEEPINGFORCES PEDRO PEL PELOSI PEMEX PENA PENV PEPFAR PEPR PER PEREZ PERL PERM PERSONS PET PETER PETERS PETR PETRAEUS PETROL PF PFIN PFLP PFOR PFOV PG PGGOC PGIC PGIV PGKV PGO PGOC PGOF PGOG PGON PGOR PGOT PGOV PGOVE PGOVQL PGPV PGREL PGREV PGV PH PHALANAGE PHARM PHAS PHEM PHIM PHM PHSA PHU PHUH PHUM PHUMHUPPS PHUN PHUS PHYTRP PI PIA PICES PIF PIN PINB PIND PINER PINF PING PINL PINO PINOCHET PINR PINS PINT PINV PIR PIRF PIRN PJUS PK PKAO PKBL PKFK PKISL PKK PKMN PKNP PKO PKPA PKPAL PKPO PKPRP PKST PL PLAB PLAN PLEC PLN PLO PLUM PM PMAR PMAT PMDL PMIG PMIL PMIN PMR PMUC PN PNAT PNET PNG PNIR PNNL PNR PNRG PNS PNUC PNUK PNUM PO PODC POG POGV POINS POL POLG POLI POLICY POLINT POLITICAL POLITICS POLM POLMIL POLS POLUN POREL PORG POSTS POTUS POUS POV POWELL PP PPA PPAO PPD PPEF PPEL PPKO PPOL PQL PQM PRC PRE PREC PRED PREF PREG PREJ PREK PREL PRELEVU PRELM PRELPLS PRELTBIOBA PREM PREO PREP PRER PRES PRESIDENT PRESL PREV PREZ PRF PRFE PRFL PRGO PRGOV PRIL PRIVATIZATION PRL PRLE PRM PRO PROB PROCESS PROG PROL PROLIFERATION PROP PROPERTY PROTECTION PROTESTS PROV PROVE PRT PRTER PRWL PS PSA PSCE PSEC PSEPC PSHA PSI PSNR PSO PSOC PSOCI PSOE PT PTBS PTE PTEL PTEP PTER PTGOV PTIA PTR PTRD PU PUAS PUBLIC PUNE PUNR PUOS PV PVIP PVOV PVPR PVTS PWBG PWMN PY QA QADRI QEL QI QIZ QM QT QU QUAN QUOC RA RAED RAFAEL RAID RAMON RAMONTEIJELO RAS RATIFICATION RAY GUEVARA MILTON RBI RCA RCMP RE REA REACTION REALTIONS RECIN REF REFORM REFPAN REFUGEE REFUGEES REGION REGIONAL REID REIN REINEMEYER REL RELAM RELATIONS RELFREE RELIGIOUS REMON RENAMO RENE PREVAL REO REPORT REUBEN RF RFE RFIN RFREEDOM RGOV RGY RHUM RI RICE RICHARD RIGHTS RIGHTSPOLMIL RIMC RIVERA RL RLA RM RMA RO ROBERT ROBERT JOSEPH RODHAM RODRIGUEZ ROK ROME ROOD ROSS ROW ROY RP RPEL RPTS RQ RR RRB RREL RS RSO RSOX RSP RSZ RTT RU RUEHZO RV RW RWANDA SA SAAD SAARC SABAH SACU SADC SAFE SAIR SAIS SALOPEK SAMA SAN SANC SANR SAO SARB SARGSIAN SARS SASC SASEC SASIAIN SB SBA SC SCA SCCC SCE SCENESETTER SCHUL SCI SCIENCE SCNV SCOI SCOL SCOM SCPR SCRM SCRS SCRSERD SCUL SCVL SD SE SEC SECDEF SECI SECRET SECRETARY SECSTATE SECTOR SECURITY SEMAAN GABY EID SEN SENC SENG SENS SENU SENV SENVQGR SENVSPL SENVSXE SEP SERBIA SERZH SETTLEMENTS SEVN SEXP SF SFNV SG SGNV SGWI SH SHANNON SHI SHUM SI SILVASANDE SIMS SIPDI SIPDIS SIPR SIPRNET SIPRS SIUK SK SKCA SKEP SKI SKSAF SL SLM SLOVAK SM SMAR SMI SMIG SMIL SMIT SMITH SMRT SN SNA SNAP SNAR SNUC SO SOC SOCI SOCIA SOCIETY SOCIO SOCIS SOCISZX SOCR SOCY SOE SOFA SOI SOIC SOLI SOLIC SOM SOMALIA SOPN SORT SOSI SOVIET SOWGC SP SPAS SPC SPCE SPCVIS SPECI SPECIALIST SPILL SPP SPSTATE SR SREF SRIT SRS SRYI SSA SSH ST STAG START STATE STC STEINBERG STEPHEN HADLEY STET STP STR STUDENT SU SUCCESSION SUFFRAGE SULLIVAN SUMMIT SUR SUSAN SV SW SWHO SWMN SX SXG SY SYAI SYMBOL SYR SYRIA SYSI SYTH SZ TA TAGS TALAL TAUSCHER TAX TB TBI TBID TBIO TBIOZK TBKIO TBO TC TCOR TCSENV TD TDA TE TECH TECHNOLOGY TER TERAA TERFIN TERR TERROR TERRORISM TF TFIN TG TGRY TH THANH THE THERESE THIRDTERM THKSJA THOMAS THOMAS THOMMA THPY TI TIA TIBO TIFA TINT TIO TIP TITI TIUZ TJ TK TL TM TN TNDG TNGD TO TOPEC TORRIJOS TOURISM TP TPHY TPKO TPP TPSA TPSL TR TRAD TRADE TRAFFICKING TRBIO TRBY TRD TREAS TREASURY TREATY TREL TRG TRGV TRGY TRIO TRSY TRT TRV TRY TRYG TRYS TS TSA TSLP TSPA TSPL TSRL TSRY TSY TT TTFN TU TURKEY TV TVBIO TW TWRO TX TY TZ TZBY UA UAE UAID UAM UB UDEM UE UEU UG UGA UK UKR UKRAINE UM UMIK UN UNA UNAF UNAIDS UNAMA UNAMSIL UNAORC UNAUS UNBRO UNC UNCC UNCDF UNCDN UNCHC UNCHR UNCHS UNCITRAL UNCND UNCOPUOS UNCRED UNCRIME UNCSD UNCSW UNCTAD UNDC UNDEF UNDOF UNDP UNECE UNEF UNEP UNESCO UNFA UNFC UNFCYP UNFF UNFICYP UNFIYCP UNFPA UNGA UNGAPL UNGO UNHCR UNHRC UNICEF UNIDCP UNIDO UNIDROIT UNIFEM UNIFIL UNION UNKIK UNM UNMEE UNMIC UNMIK UNMIKI UNMIKV UNMIL UNMIN UNMOVIC UNO UNODC UNOMIG UNOPS UNP UNPAR UNPUOS UNRCCA UNRCR UNREST UNRWA UNSC UNSCAPU UNSCD UNSCE UNSCER UNSCR UNSCS UNSD UNSE UNTAC UNTERR UNTZ UNUS UNVIE UNYI UP UPU UPUO UR US USAID USAU USCC USCG USDA USDELFESTTWO USEU USG USGS USMS USNC USOAS USOP USPS USPTO USSC USTA USTDA USTR USTRD USTRIT USTRPS 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Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
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06CARACAS2740 | OAS AMB. VALERO NAMED MFA VICE MINISTER FOR NORTH [...] (C) Summary. The BRV announced on September 5 that Jorge Valero, Venezuela's Ambassador to the OAS, will be the new MFA Vice Minister for North America. Valero replaces the self-professed Bolivarian "revolutionary" Mary Pili Hernandez. USOAS will have more up-to-date impressions of Valero, [...] | 2006-09-08 18:03:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE |
06CARACAS2742 | VENEZUELANS TO CHAVEZ ON MURDER OF CUBANS: "WHAT [...] No summary [...] | 2006-09-08 19:54:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
06CARACAS2758 | VENEZUELANS TO CHAVEZ ON MURDER OF CUBANS: "WHAT [...] (SBU) The September 2 murder of Cuban doctor Raquel de los Angeles Perez Ramirez in a Caracas barrio struck a raw nerve with President Chavez. With his administration currently criticized for not being tough on crime, the murder of a Cuban doctor somehow provoked a reaction in Chavez that t [...] | 2006-09-11 17:42:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
06CARACAS2762 | GUILTY RULING IN "CASO KENNEDY" - BRV TRIES TO [...] (C) One of Caracas' more controversial criminal cases, the 2005 murder of three university students at a police roadblock, reached its pre-appellate conclusion August 31 with the sentencing of 24 police officers. The case epitomizes Venezuela's security problem, police corruption and resulti [...] | 2006-09-11 20:17:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS2799 | BRV: 61ST UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY: HIGH-LEVEL [...] (C) As of 12 September, Post's Consular Diplomatic Window has received 213 applications for visas to travel to the 61st UN General Assembly. The 213 applications can be broken down as follows: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 42; Ministry of Defense, 138; Ministry of Communications, 32; and Min [...] | 2006-09-13 20:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL OTRA OVIP KSEP UNGA VE |
06CARACAS28 | CHAVEZ MEDDLING CAUSES PERU TO WITHDRAW AMBASSADOR [...] (C) On January 3, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez pledged his support for leftist Peruvian presidential candidate Ollanta Humala, a move that prompted the GOP to withdra7 )43-"!33!$/2 4/ -%.%:5%,! &/2#/.35,4!4)/.3). ,)-!. ^5-!,!-!$% ! 3urprise appearance at a ceremony honoring the visit of [...] | 2006-01-05 21:40:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS2817 | BRV: DEMARCHE ON UN PEACEKEEPING FORCE IN DARFUR [...] No summary [...] | 2006-09-15 13:15:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PHUM PINS KPKO UNSC KDEM PGOV VE |
06CARACAS2825 | BITS AND PIECES FROM THE HYDROCARBON SECTOR [...] (C) SUMMARY: PDVSA's books continue to be in complete disarray due to problems with tax authorities and the state petrochemical company. The BRV is pressing PDVSA to act as a central bank. PDVSA's recent shabby treatment of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has come back to [...] | 2006-09-15 19:35:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG EPET EINV VE |
06CARACAS2826 | VENEZUELA POLITICAL PROSECUTIONS: SIMONOVIS, [...] (C) On September 6, Poloffs attended the ongoing trial of former Caracas Metropolitan Police officials Ivan Simonovis, Henry Vivas, and Lazarro Forero, and eight other police officers, who are being charged as accomplices to murder for events related to the civil disturbances and the temporary [...] | 2006-09-15 19:46:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS2827 | ELECTION VIOLENCE: CHAVISTAS ATTACK ROSALES MARCHES [...] (C) Summary. While Venezuela has generally been less prone to electoral violence than its Andean neighbors, President Chavez may be starting to re-write Venezuela's unwritten election rules. Chavista rock-and-bottle attacks on Rosales campaign events in Vargas and in Caracas September 5 and [...] | 2006-09-15 20:02:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM VE |
06CARACAS2829 | THE OUTSIDERS: BRV RECRUITMENT OF ROGUE STATES [...] (C) President Chavez' September 5-7 meeting with Belarussian government officials provides another example of the BRV's strategic partnerships with the most troublesome of bedfellows. In part through his extensive international travel schedule, Chavez has strengthened ties around the globe to [...] | 2006-09-15 20:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
06CARACAS2830 | CHAVEZ AND THE GLOBAL CHESSBOARD [...] (U) With his eye towards increasing his international stature and gaining a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC),President Chavez is literally traveling to all ends of the earth. As a part of this strategy, and in addition to his visits and signing of multiple b [...] | 2006-09-15 20:39:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE |
06CARACAS2831 | INFLATION GOING UP, UP, AND AWAY IN THE BRV [...] (SBU) Inflation rose 2.2 percent in August, reaching a total of 10.4 percent for 2006 and implying an annual rate exceeding 15 percent. The BRV is now incapable of meeting its inflation target for 2006 of 10 percent and recent statements by Chavez and senior BRV officials demonstrate that the [...] | 2006-09-15 21:21:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN ECON PGOV VE |
06CARACAS2832 | VENEZUELA REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE ELECTED MEXICAN [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez announced publicly September 12 that Venezuela does not yet recognize the elected Calderon government in Mexico. Chavez also criticized EU observer missions as having been excessively lax in Mexico and severe in Venezuela. Mexico and Venezuela, which downgraded [...] | 2006-09-15 21:30:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE MX |
06CARACAS2845 | THE CHAVEZ CAMPAIGN: VICTORY, AT ANY COST? [...] (C) Summary. President Hugo Chavez' re-election campaign is a disturbing mix of retrograde authoritarian tactics and creeping totalitarian tendencies. Chavez and his close campaign team exercise tight control over a formidable, country-wide grassroots electoral organization and an administra [...] | 2006-09-18 20:32:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
06CARACAS2852 | DIPLOMATIC CARGO IMPOUNDED [...] (C) The Venezuelan National Guard (GN) seized and opened part of an inbound U.S. Military Group (MILGP) shipment on August 23. The seized cargo consists of household effects (HHE) and commissary rations. A shipment of FMS materials ordered and purchased by the BRV and consisting of ejection [...] | 2006-09-18 21:30:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ADPM MARR MASS PGOV PREL VE |
06CARACAS2877 | BRV ATTACKS ON A FREE PRESS CONTINUE UNABATED [...] (U) SUMMARY. This cable updates the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's (BRV) efforts to restrict freedom of press. As indicated in reftels, the BRV employs a variety of mechanisms - legal, economic, regulatory, judicial, and rhetorical - to harass the private media, inducing self-censorship [...] | 2006-09-19 17:28:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM SCUL KDEM VE |
06CARACAS288 | CHAVEZ MEETS WITH JEWISH LEADERS, OFFERS TO [...] (C) President Hugo Chavez met with Venezuelan Jewish community leaders January 31 in response to recent allegations of anti-Semitism against Chavez. Jewish leaders complained of anti-Semitic statements in official media; proposed legal punishments for anti-Semitic attacks; and expressed conce [...] | 2006-02-03 19:52:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KIRF KDEM VE IR |
06CARACAS2881 | CNPC'S VIEWS ON THE VENEZUELAN HYDROCARBON SECTOR [...] (C) SUMMARY: CNPC executives are frustrated with the migration of their former Operating Service Agreement (OSA) fields to joint ventures. They do not believe that CNPC is receiving any special treatment from the BRV and argued instead that they are in worse shape than a major American compa [...] | 2006-09-20 14:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG EPET EINV VE |
06CARACAS289 | UNHCR CONCERNED ABOUT REFUGEE SITUATION AT [...] (U) Over the last few years, the expansion and intensification of Colombia's conflict has forced an increasing number of Colombians to flee their homes in search of protection in neighboring countries. In Venezuela, officials estimate there are currently two to three million Colombian migrant [...] | 2006-02-03 20:01:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PREF VE |
06CARACAS2900 | CHAVEZ HOSTSAHMADINEJAD: BRV FORGING EVER CLOSER [...] (C Summary. President Chavez hosted Iranian Presidet Ahmadinejad for a September 17-18 red carpet vsit to Venezuela, a follow-on to Chavez' July 29August 1 state visit to Iran. The two leaders reortedly signed 34, mostly commercial, accords aspart of a "strategic alliance" against American m [...] | 2006-09-21 17:40:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON VE IR |
06CARACAS2911 | MEETING WITH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DEPUTY CALIXTO [...] (C) Summary. MVR National Assembly Deputy and Chavez Campaign Coordinator in Maracaibo Calixto Ortega told PolCouns September 8 that President Chavez and his campaign team are remobilizing their nation-wide political machine and are confident of victory on December 3. PolCouns raised concern [...] | 2006-09-22 12:37:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
06CARACAS298 | CHAVEZ CELEBRATES SEVEN YEARS IN POWER, GOES FOR [...] (C) In a six-hour presentation celebrating his seventh year in office on February 2, President Hugo Chavez enjoyed musical performances, conferred several awards, summarized his administration's accomplishments, announced the expulsion of the US Naval Attache, warned the Embassy against futur [...] | 2006-02-06 19:15:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM ECON ELAB SOCI VE |
06CARACAS2980 | GOLF COURSE EXPROPRIATION UPDATE [...] (C) One month after Caracas Municipal Mayor Barreto's expropriation decree, the two golf courses affected are preparing to submit their legal defense. The directors of the Valle Arriba Golf Club and the Caracas Country Club are confident the BRV will not move on the decrees until after the e [...] | 2006-09-29 19:56:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON EINV PGOV VE |
06CARACAS2983 | POLLS SHOW ROSALES ADVANCING, BUT ABSTENTIONISM [...] (C) Pollster Alfredo Keller told PolCouns September 20 that while his latest poll indicates hard-core opposition support (32 percent) outranks that of hard-core Chavismo (25 percent),continued distrust in the electoral system will result in high abstention rates that will almost certainly al [...] | 2006-09-29 21:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS2990 | MINERS MASSACRED; MILITARY IMPLICATED [...] (C) SUMMARY. Military forces killed at least six miners in the La Paragua area of Bolivar state on September 22. The killings quickly elevated to a massacre in the public eye, and the number of killed miners could be as high as two dozen. Defense Minister Baduel's initial reaction was to [...] | 2006-09-29 21:37:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
06CARACAS2991 | BRV TARGETS ROSALES ADVISOR [...] (C) Attorney General Isaias Rodriguez announced September 18 the re-opening of a 20-year-old police shooting case against Henry Lopez Sisco, a long-time confidant of opposition candidate Manuel Rosales. Sisco is a former DISIP Commander who allegedly participated in the 1986 shooting deaths [...] | 2006-09-29 21:44:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM VE |
06CARACAS2998 | MONAGAS STATE: THE CHAVEZ MACHINE VS. STRUGGLING [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez dominates the political landscape of the eastern plains state of Monagas and at this stage appears likely to carry the state of over 480,000 registered voters by a wide majority. Chavez' pet infrastructure projects and social programs in the state are having onl [...] | 2006-10-02 17:06:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
06CARACAS3018 | CHAVEZ CAMPAIGN TACTICS: MORE VIOLENCE, MORE [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez and his supporters continue to use coercive tools in the run-up to the December 3 presidential election. Chavistas attacked consensus opposition candidate Rosales' campaign events three times in the last two weeks of September, in addition to two previously repo [...] | 2006-10-04 20:37:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ELAB VE |
06CARACAS3037 | THE BRV SOAPBOX: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY ADOPTS THREE [...] (C) Summary. The National Assembly has passed three foreign policy resolutions in the last two weeks to lend political support to the Chavez administration's ever more radical foreign policy. On September 26, the National Assembly passed both a resolution praising President Chavez' September [...] | 2006-10-06 20:01:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE |
06CARACAS3038 | PPT SECRETARY GENERAL: "ONE PARTY IS UN-DEMOCRATIC" [...] (C) Summary. During a September 26 meeting with PolCouns and Poloff, pro-Chavez Patria Para Todos (PPT) Secretary General and National Assembly Deputy Jose Albornoz criticized both the Chavez and Rosales campaigns, but expressed confidence that President Chavez would be re-elected. He accuse [...] | 2006-10-06 20:16:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
06CARACAS3041 | PDVSA RELEASES 2005 FINANCIALS [...] (U) SUMMARY: PDVSA released its 2005 financial results on October 3. According to a presentation by PDVSA President and Minister of Energy and Petroleum (MEP) Rafael Ramirez, PDVSA had worldwide revenues of USD 85.73 billion in 2005 and USD 6.483 billion in profits. These results shed a lit [...] | 2006-10-06 20:58:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ENRG EPET EINV VE |
06CARACAS3042 | VENEZUELAN IMPORTS SURGING AS ECONOMIC POLICIES [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: With implicit BRV blessing, the Commission for the Administration of Foreign Exchange (CADIVI) has significantly increased foreign exchange authorizations in recent weeks, much of which have gone to fuel the on-going import binge in Venezuela. These purchases seem to contradi [...] | 2006-10-06 21:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PGOV VE |
06CARACAS3066 | EVEN VENEZUELA CONDEMNS NORTH KOREAN NUCLEAR TEST [...] (SBU) Embassy conveyed Ref A points regarding North Korea's nuclear test plans to MFA North American Affairs Director Yaneth Arocha prior to North Korea's October 8 announcement of a nuclear weapons test. In addition, Ambassador spoke on the phone with MFA Vice Minister for Asia and the Middl [...] | 2006-10-11 14:29:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM KNNP VE KN |
06CARACAS3068 | CHAVEZ ANNOUNCES INTENTION TO CREATE A SINGLE [...] (C) Summary. During his September 9 campaign rally in Caracas, President Chavez announced his intention to hold a party conference in early 2007 to create a unified revolutionary party. Chavez has reiterated the need for such a single party at more recent campaign events. Leaders of parties [...] | 2006-10-11 17:58:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
06CARACAS3069 | ROSALES RALLY GIVES OPPOSITION A BOOST [...] (C) Summary. Opposition candidate Manuel Rosales, October 8 "Avalanche" Rally in Caracas, the biggest opposition event since the 2004 presidential recall referendum, put some new life into Rosales' long-shot campaign. The opposition also demonstrated that it retains residual "street power" a [...] | 2006-10-11 17:59:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PREL VE |
06CARACAS307 | ATTORNEY WARNS EMBASSY OF SPY CHARGES [...] (C) The attorney for five Venezuelan naval officers accused of espionage on behalf of the USG described to Poloff the details of the case being developed against his clients. Bastidas said the Bolivarian Government accessed e-mail accounts of the defendants and altered messages, including ones [...] | 2006-02-07 20:13:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
06CARACAS3082 | MEETING WITH VENEZUELAN CIVAIR AUTHORITIES [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: On October 10, Econoffs met with the president and representatives of the National Civil Aviation Institute (INAC) to discuss various pending aviation issues. The group discussed formalizing a Federal Air Marshals program in Venezuela, rumors about Caracas-Tehran-Damascus flight [...] | 2006-10-13 13:15:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR ECON VE |
06CARACAS3131 | MEP PRESENTS TERMS FOR STRATEGIC ASSOCIATION [...] (C/NF) Chevron Latin America Upstream President Ali Moshiri (strictly protect throughout) and ExxonMobil Venezuela (XM) President Tim Cutt (strictly protect throughout) paid separate calls on the Ambassador the week of September 29 to update him on the upcoming forced migration of the Faja st [...] | 2006-10-17 20:09:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG EPET VE |
06CARACAS3164 | MVR DEPUTY: CHAVEZ CAMPAIGN MOVING TO "NEXT PHASE" [...] (C) Summary. Francisco Torrealba, MVR National Assembly Deputy and member of Chavez' national campaign team, told PolCounselor and Poloff October 17 that the organization of Chavez' grass-roots supporters is now "90 percent" complete. Torrealba attributed a recent softening of the tone of the [...] | 2006-10-19 21:23:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ELAB VE |
06CARACAS3171 | SUMATE PREPARES FOR PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION [...] (C) Summary - Ambassador met October 10 with the subdued, but determined leadership of election NGO Sumate to discuss the upcoming December 3 presidential election. Despite the ongoing threat of political persecution, Sumate is teaming up with the opposition to mount an ambitious election obs [...] | 2006-10-20 16:51:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PREL VE |
06CARACAS3173 | INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS CONDEMN BRV'S RECORD [...] (U) SUMMARY. The Inter American Press Association sharply criticized Venezuela's track record on press freedom during its 62nd General Assembly, convened September 29 in Mexico City. Separately, on October 12, the Office of the OAS Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression of the Inter- [...] | 2006-10-20 20:01:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM VE |
06CARACAS3174 | MILITARY CLASHES WITH FISHERMEN, LEAVES NINE [...] (U) SUMMARY Violent clashes in the port of Guiria in Sucre state left nine fishermen injured on October 19. Fishermen took control of the port in early October, protesting the awarding of a contract to a new port administrator. Police and military forces, accompanied by state governor Ramo [...] | 2006-10-20 21:39:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
06CARACAS3175 | OPPOSITION CANDIDATE MANUEL ROSALES' INNER CIRCLE [...] (C) Summary. While consensus opposition candidate Manuel Rosales continues to work with the "big tent" campaign team he announced on August 18, he relies more heavily on a smaller, less visible "kitchen cabinet" from his home state of Zulia. Former Zulia Governor Omar Barboza, for example, i [...] | 2006-10-20 21:47:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR VE |
06CARACAS3194 | STAFFDEL MEACHAM BREAKFAST WITH DIPLOMATS [...] (C) Summary. Visiting Senate Staff Member Carl Meacham, accompanied by Ambassador and DCM, met October 23 with diplomats from Chile, Mexico, the UK, and Canada. The diplomats predicted President Chavez will win the December 3 presidential election, but said Rosales is running a strong campai [...] | 2006-10-24 17:25:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNSC VE |
06CARACAS3214 | ROSALES ADVISOR: "WE'RE PULLING EVEN" [...] (C) Summary. Angel Emiro Vera, close advisor to consensus opposition candidate Manuel Rosales, told the DCM October 24 that the Rosales campaign is gaining momentum and could defeat President Chavez in a free and fair election. The Rosales campaign is focused on trying to win the December 3 [...] | 2006-10-26 14:46:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
06CARACAS3224 | RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN THE HYDROCARBON SECTOR [...] (C/NF) SUMMARY: ConocoPhillips received a term sheet on the strategic association migration at roughly the same time as Exxon Mobil and Chevron. The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum (MEP) has made it clear that it does not want state owned oil company PDVSA to operate the strategic associati [...] | 2006-10-26 20:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG EPET EINV VE |
06CARACAS3231 | AMBASSADOR VISITS ANZOATEGUI STATE [...] SUMMARY: (U) With an eye to highlight USG-related activities and institutions in eastern Venezuela, Ambassador Brownfield visited the state of Anzoategui on October 19-20, 2006. When BRV meddling prohibited visits to U.S. business plants in the Jose industrial complex, he met with Exxon Mobi [...] | 2006-10-27 17:28:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL ECON VE |
06CARACAS3238 | KEY BRV ADVISOR ON UNSC RACE, POSSIBLE CABINET [...] (C) Ambassador and DCM met on October 27 with Rene Arreaza of the vice president's office, about our only reliable contact within the BRV. Arreaza said that the BRV had concluded it could not win a UNSC seat, and so was aiming at a seat-sharing arrangement with Guatemala. This would be an [...] | 2006-10-27 21:33:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE GT UN |
06CARACAS3239 | ELECTORAL LOGISTICS CONTINUE TO FAVOR CHAVEZ [...] (C) The National Electoral Council's (CNE) preparations for the December 3 presidential election give President Chavez a significant electoral advantage. Four of the five CNE directors are pro-Chavez. The directors have consistently denied opposition requests, such as eliminating fingerprin [...] | 2006-10-27 21:39:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS3240 | STAFFDEL MEACHAM MEETS SUMATE LEADERS [...] (C) Visiting Senate Foreign Relations Committee Staff Member Carl Meacham, accompanied by USAID officer and poloff, met October 23 with the leadership of the electoral NGO Sumate. Sumate leaders predicted Chavez would likely win the December 3 presidential election through a combination of f [...] | 2006-10-27 21:52:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS3241 | STAFFDEL MEACHAM MEETS WITH CIVIL SOCIETY [...] (U) Carl Meacham, visiting Staffer for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, visited Caracas October 22-24. This cable addresses Meacham's meetings with several members of Venezuelan civil society, with whom he discussed the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's ongoing global study on the [...] | 2006-10-27 21:58:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
06CARACAS3257 | CHAVEZ' DOLLAR DIPLOMACY: SPREADING WEALTH AND [...] (C) Since 2005, President Chavez has verbally pledged over USD 90 billion for bilateral agreements, regional initiatives, government contracts, binational funds, donations, investments and joint ventures involving foreign countries. The total figure is approximately one third of combined GDP [...] | 2006-10-31 18:54:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON EAID PREL VE IR |
06CARACAS3259 | CTV WORKING FOR ROSALES [...] (C) Summary. The Venezuelan Workers Confederation (CTV) is bucking the abstentionist policy of its patron party, Accion Democratica (AD),and supporting the presidential campaign of consensus opposition candidate Manuel Rosales. The CTV can help staff Rosales' voter mobilization and poll watc [...] | 2006-10-31 19:44:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ELAB VE |
06CARACAS3284 | CHAVEZ DEMANDS MILITARY LOYALTY -- AND WARNS [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez' televised October 31 speech to a large group of senior military officials appeared to be a very public effort to cement the military's loyalty prior to the December 3 presidential election. Chavez accused the opposition of trying to conspire with unidentified m [...] | 2006-11-01 21:58:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
06CARACAS3296 | COMPETING ECONOMIC PLANS: CHAVEZ AND ROSALES [...] (U) Consensus opposition candidate Manuel Rosales released his "Proposal for Change toward a New Social Democracy" on October 25. This platform details his populist economic plans for distributing the country's oil wealth to the neediest through "Mi Negra" debit cards, respect for private pro [...] | 2006-11-02 15:53:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON PGOV PREL VE |
06CARACAS330 | VENEZUELAN AGRARIAN LAND "REFORM": AMBITIOUS [...] (C) Venezuelan President HugoChavez' unrealistic goals for agrarian land refom--including the redistribution of 1.5 million hctares in 2006--are a smokescreen. It appears that the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Veneuela (BRV) has no plan to achieve its stated aims. Demand for rural [...] | 2006-02-08 19:46:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SENV VE |
06CARACAS3311 | CHEVRON'S CRYSTAL BALL [...] (C) SUMMARY: Econ Counselor and Petroleum Attache (Petatt) met with Chevron Latin America President Ali Moshiri (strictly protect throughout) on October 31 to discuss a variety of issues in the hydrocarbon sector. Moshiri believes the BRV will face serious problems in 2008 as a result of a de [...] | 2006-11-06 13:17:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG EPET EINV VE |
06CARACAS3313 | ROSALES FOREIGN POLICY PLATFORM - CHIDING CHAVEZ [...] (C) Summary. Consensus opposition candidate Manuel Rosales has prepared a written foreign policy platform. It is a moderate and savvy alternative to President Chavez' anti-American foreign policy. Rosales pledges to prioritize relations with Latin America and "normalize" relations with the [...] | 2006-11-06 16:33:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER ETRD VE |
06CARACAS3316 | BRV RELEASES 2007 NATIONAL BUDGET [...] (U) SUMMARY: The Minister of Finance delivered the proposed 2007 budget for Venezuela to the National Assembly (AN) on October 17, 2006. The budget calls for spending 115.2 trillion Bolivars (USD 53.6 billion) in 2007. The proposal assumes an exchange rate of 2150 Bs/USD, an average oil exp [...] | 2006-11-06 20:29:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN VE |
06CARACAS3318 | UNSC DEFEAT: CHAVEZ TRYING TO SAVE FACE [...] (C) Summary. After publicly predicting that Venezuela would definitely win a rotational seat on the UN Security Council, President Chavez has been forced to backtrack systematically as Venezuela subsequently lost 46 (and tied one) UNGA ballots to Guatemala. Chavez and BRV officials are lamel [...] | 2006-11-06 21:39:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE |
06CARACAS3319 | ROSALES CAMPAIGN ON THE MARCH [...] (C) Summary. While he still faces an uphill struggle to defeat President Chavez' electoral machine, consensus opposition candidate Manuel Rosales continues to campaign hard and intelligently. Rosales' November 4 city-wide Caracas march attracted several hundred thousand participants and his [...] | 2006-11-06 22:11:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ELAB VE |
06CARACAS332 | CHAVEZ CONVOKES MEGA-MARCH, TARGETS "THE EMPIRE" [...] (C) President Chavez convoked a march of more than a million supporters February 4 to commemorate the anniversary of his failed 1992 coup. During his march speech and the following day's Alo Presidente broadcast, Chavez called on his supporters to unite and prepare themselves for what he pr [...] | 2006-02-08 20:52:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM SOCI VE |
06CARACAS3345 | THE VENEZUELA-IRAN ECONOMIC RELATIONSHIP [...] (SBU) In the last two years, Venezuela and Iran have signed at least 61 agreements, respective presidents have visited each other at least four times, and trade between both countries has increased exponentially in percentage terms. However, the number of joint ventures in operation on the g [...] | 2006-11-08 12:59:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD PGOV PREL EFIN VE IR |
06CARACAS3346 | BRV: DEMARCHE ON UNSCR 1718 OBLIGATIONS ON DRPK [...] No summary [...] | 2006-11-08 14:15:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM XX VE |
06CARACAS335 | CARACAS URBAN EXPROPRIATIONS SPURS WAVE OF [...] (SBU) After the Mayor of Caracas announced the expropriation of thirteen (mostly vacant or under construction) residential buildings on Jan 5 to provide housing for those displaced by heavy rains, a wave of illegal occupations swept through the city. The occupations were aided directly by po [...] | 2006-02-09 16:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON PGOV VE |
06CARACAS3350 | OPPOSITION RAISES DETENTION OF EX-GOVEROR LAPI AS [...] (U) SUMMARY. Eduardo Lapi, former opposition governor of Yaracuy state, remains in jail five months after his arrest for mismanagement of government funds (reftel). As Lapi faces prolonged pre-trial incarceration inconsistent with the treatment of other officials facing similar charges, op [...] | 2006-11-08 16:35:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM VE |
06CARACAS3351 | NO LETTING UP: THREATS TO A FREE PRESS CONTINUE [...] (U) SUMMARY. This cable updates the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's (BRV) continuing efforts to stifle the media and to restrict freedom of press. As indicated in reftels, the BRV employs a variety of mechanisms - legal, economic, regulatory, judicial, and rhetorical - to harass the priv [...] | 2006-11-08 17:03:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
06CARACAS3353 | BRV: DEMARCHE ON COUNTRY SPECIFIC HUMAN RIGHTS [...] (C) Poloff verbally delivered points contained in ref a to Yaneth Arocha, Office Director of North American and Multilateral Affairs, on November 6. No substantive response is expected. BROWNFIELD [...] | 2006-11-08 21:35:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KTIA UN VE |
06CARACAS3356 | USAID/OTI PROGRAMMATIC SUPPORT FOR COUNTRY TEAM 5 [...] (S) During his 8 years in power, President Chavez has systematically dismantled the institutions of democracy and governance. The USAID/OTI program objectives in Venezuela focus on strengthening democratic institutions and spaces through non-partisan cooperation with many sectors of Venezue [...] | 2006-11-09 15:03:00 | Embassy Caracas | SECRET | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
06CARACAS337 | CATHOLIC RECTOR SAYS OPPOSITION MUST PLAY CHAVEZ' [...] (C) Catholic University Rector Luis Ugalde told A/Polcouns February 7 the opposition must see the presidential elections through despite the obstacles President Hugo Chavez is sure to throw up. Ugalde said Chavez' recent dialogues with the church and private sector are an obvious ruse designed [...] | 2006-02-09 16:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KIRF KDEM VE |
06CARACAS3374 | VENEZUELA LAUNCHES UNREALISTIC ETHANOL PLAN AGAIN [...] (SBU) On October 26, PDVSA unveiled their Ethanol Agro-Energy Development Project, designed to produce over 10 million barrels of ethanol per year by 2012. The plan differs very little from previous PDVSA ethanol plans in scope, but incorporates new social development models. The ethanol wi [...] | 2006-11-13 14:49:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ENRG EPET EINV VE |
06CARACAS3375 | BRV TO ISSUE BONOS DEL SUR [...] (U) SUMMARY: The Ministry of Finance (MF) announced the imminent issuance of the long-awaited "Bonos del Sur" on November 7. The bonds, issued jointly by Venezuela and Argentina, will be worth USD 1 billion and are expected to start trading the week of November 13. The bonds will likely be [...] | 2006-11-13 15:28:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN VE |
06CARACAS339 | SUMATE DIRECTORS HARASSED, FACING POSSIBLE [...] (C) SUMMARY. The case of four directors of Sumate accused of conspiracy for having accepted a US$30,000-grant from National Endowment for Democracy (NED) entered a dramatic new phase on February 7 when, after months of delays, a Caracas judge initiated the trial. In the clearly orchestrated [...] | 2006-02-09 16:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
06CARACAS340 | SUMATE TRIAL: RECOMMENDED NEXT STEPS [...] (U) This is an action request. See paragraph 6. 2. (C) SUMMARY. Unlike in the past, the current process against the NGO Sumate's leadership may result in their going to jail. Here in Caracas, we are in regular contact with Sumate, monitoring the hearings, engaging the press, and pressi [...] | 2006-02-09 16:25:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
06CARACAS3402 | SERVICE COMPANIES FACE A NEW GAME: JOINT VENTURES [...] (C) SUMMARY: The BRV and PDVSA have announced in very vague terms that it expects service companies to enter into joint ventures in order to provide goods and services to PDVSA. It appears that the joint ventures will be limited to individual downstream projects at this point, but service com [...] | 2006-11-15 14:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG EPET EINV VE |
06CARACAS3411 | SAVING FOR A RAINY DAY? BRV ACCUMULATES CASH [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Embassy estimates are that the BRV currently has between USD 40 and 50 billion in available funds, apart from the USD 35 billion in foreign exchange reserves, distributed between the Central Bank (BCV) and private and public sector banks. These funds represent "excess" oil rev [...] | 2006-11-15 19:52:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN VE |
06CARACAS3412 | ELECTION RUMOR MILL IN HIGH GEAR [...] (C) Summary. Venezuela, a country with a tradition of conspiracy theories, is rife with election rumors. At least five different major themes are circulating in the rumor mill in Venezuela right now suggesting that President Chavez, opposition candidate Manuel Rosales, or the military will d [...] | 2006-11-15 21:40:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
06CARACAS3413 | LULA BACKS CHAVEZ, CNE DIRECTOR AND OPPOSITION BALK [...] (U) During the inauguration of a second bridge connecting Venezuela and Brazil across the Orinoco River on November 13, Brazilian President Lula gave his strongest endorsement of President Chavez in years. Lula proclaimed that the same people that had elected him and the Presidents of Argent [...] | 2006-11-15 22:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
06CARACAS3414 | INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY FROM THE REVOLUTIONARY [...] (SBU) The BRV's Autonomous Intellectual Property Service (SAPI) held a conference on November 3-4 to discuss intellectual property from the ALBA (Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas) perspective. The event brought together government officials, Cuban regime panelists, and members of left [...] | 2006-11-16 12:15:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KIPR ECON ETRD WIPO VE |
06CARACAS3425 | FOREIGN MINISTER MADURO BLASTS PERUVIAN COUNTERPART [...] (C) Summary. Venezuelan Foreign Minister Maduro lashed out at the Peruvian government in the wake of Peruvian Foreign Minister Garcia Belaunde's reported reference to Venezuela's unsuccessful bid to secure a rotational UNSC seat. Maduro told reporters November 11 that his Peruvian counterpar [...] | 2006-11-17 18:41:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE |
06CARACAS3426 | OAS AND EU EOMS SET, BUT PROSPECTS FOR ROBUST [...] (C) Summary. The BRV's deliberate policy of delay has successfully impeded effective, impartial international observation of the December 3 presidential election. After receiving an invitation to observe in June, the EU was not able to sign an MOU with the National Electoral Council (CNE) unt [...] | 2006-11-17 18:52:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS3427 | ELECTION UPDATE: ROSALES INROADS, STILL UPHILL [...] (C) Summary. Consensus opposition candidate Manuel Rosales continues to wage a strong, credible campaign against President Chavez. Rosales' political strength is now greater than the sum of the parts of the opposition that united behind him in August, and recent endorsements of his candidac [...] | 2006-11-17 19:15:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
06CARACAS3433 | DEMARCHE ON EMERGENCY SPECIAL SESSION OF UNGA [...] No summary [...] | 2006-11-20 14:25:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL UNGA IS VE |
06CARACAS3434 | PARALLEL RATE SPIKES AS DEMAND FOR DOLLARS GROWS [...] (U) SUMMARY: The recently-issued Bonos del Sur (see reftel A) were being re-sold in Venezuela at a rate in excess of 3400Bs/USD this week as Venezuelans are increasingly demanding dollars. The demand is driven by continued excess liquidity, problems with the Commission for the Administration [...] | 2006-11-20 15:30:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN VE |
06CARACAS3437 | DEMARCHE ON CHEMICAL WEAPONS CONVENTION NATIONAL [...] No summary [...] | 2006-11-20 21:21:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PARM PREL CBW BWC CWC OPCW VE |
06CARACAS3448 | THE MILITARY'S INCREASINGLY RED ROLE IN THE [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez and his hand-picked military leaders are coordinating the armed forces' efforts to provide Election Day security in ways that are likely to intimidate some opposition voters. Under the auspices of "Plan Republica," the Venezuelan National Armed Forces (FAN) will [...] | 2006-11-21 21:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PREL KDEM MARR VE |
06CARACAS3456 | ROSALES' PLANS TO DETER/DETECT ELECTORAL FRAUD [...] (C) Summary. The Rosales campaign is preparing what appears to be well-organized and sophisticated electoral monitoring operations to deter and detect government fraud. Rosales' witnesses at election tables will be asked to help ensure that voting machines are not corrupted as well as transmi [...] | 2006-11-22 22:07:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS3462 | BARINAS STATE: OPPOSITION UNABLE TO CAPITALIZE ON [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez' campaign team announced that Chavez will hold one of his last major campaign rallies in his native state of Barinas. Chavez is an odds-on favorite to carry the western plains state of Barinas, but he is not running as strong as might be expected in a state wher [...] | 2006-11-24 18:53:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS3465 | CANDIDATE CHAVEZ CONTINUES TO THREATEN PRESS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: This press freedom report focuses on President Chavez's threats to Venezuela's independent media related to the December 3 presidential election. In response to media reporting of Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez's threats to PDVSA managers to support the Chavez re-election ca [...] | 2006-11-24 20:53:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
06CARACAS3466 | ELECTION UPDATE: CAMPAIGN HEADS INTO THE FINAL [...] (C) With less than two weeks before the presidential election, both President Chavez and opposition candidate Rosales are trying to shore up their bases as well as attract undecided voters. President Chavez has considerable inherent advantages as he continues to inaugurate ambitious public wo [...] | 2006-11-24 21:20:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS3476 | CHAVEZ AND ROSALES MOBILIZE HUGE CROWDS IN FINAL [...] (C) Summary. Opposition candidate Manuel Rosales and President Chavez both held their last major campaign rallies in Caracas November 25 and 26, respectively. Rosales delivered a milestone stump speech November 25 to hundreds of thousands of supporters, easily his biggest campaign rally to d [...] | 2006-11-27 21:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS3477 | VENEZUELAN ELECTION UPDATE: SIX DAYS OUT [...] (C) Both opposition candidate Manuel Rosales and President Hugo Chavez took advantage of the last weekend of campaigning before the December 3 elections to stage some of the largest rallies seen in Venezuela in recent years. The OAS and EU electoral observation missions met with electoral offi [...] | 2006-11-27 22:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM VE |
06CARACAS3483 | VENEZUELAN ELECTION UPDATE: FIVE DAYS OUT [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez continues to travel widely in Venezuela and open major public works projects during the final days of campaigning. Opposition candidate Manuel Rosales met November 27 with members of the European Union's Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) and publicly urged th [...] | 2006-11-28 20:46:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM VE |
06CARACAS3493 | SHOW TRIAL RESUMES AMIDST ELECTION SEASON [...] (U) The trial of opposition mayor Henrique Capriles Radonski resumed November 27. The timing of the trial's resumption occurred as the country's attention is universally focused on the December 3 presidential elections. The case has languished in the BRV judicial system for over four years [...] | 2006-11-29 21:20:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
06CARACAS3495 | CARABOBO STATE: ROSALES AND CHAVEZ CAMPAIGNS SEE [...] (C) Both the Chavez and Rosales campaigns claim they will win in the hotly-contested state of Carabobo, the state with the fourth largest number of voters. The Chavez campaign is focusing on its grassroots get-out-the-vote efforts to woo an estimated 30 percent of voters planning to abstain f [...] | 2006-11-29 22:09:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS3500 | STOCKING UP FOR THE HOLIDAYS [...] (U) SUMMARY: Economic inefficiencies, coupled with retrograde government policies, future uncertainty, and record-high consumer spending are making shortages an increasing part of life in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Recent weeks have seen recurring shortages of sugar and milk and m [...] | 2006-11-30 15:21:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EAGR VE |
06CARACAS3501 | ROSALES READIES ELECTORAL MACHINE FOR SUNDAY [...] (C) Summary. As the December 3 presidential vote nears, the Manuel Rosales campaign is still struggling to get its organization in place. Senior campaign officials insist their vote tabulation network will work faster than the National Electoral Council (CNE) on election day, though there ar [...] | 2006-11-30 20:21:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
06CARACAS3505 | AN OVERVIEW OF THE BRV'S 24 MISSIONS [...] (SBU) According to the Ministry of Finance, since 2003, President Chavez has spent USD 12.9 billion to create 24 "missions" - government funded social programs - in a variety of areas. The first missions focused on basic needs of the poorest sectors of society. Chavez then took advantage of [...] | 2006-11-30 21:28:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON VE |
06CARACAS3507 | CHAVEZ DIRTY TRICKS, THE ROSALES "BUBBLE," AND THE [...] (C) Summary. Apart from a few rock-throwing attacks by Chavistas, the Rosales and Chavez campaigns have to date largely stayed away from each other. However, the December 3 presidential election will inevitably put ardent activists of both camps in close proximity. Both the Chavez and Rosale [...] | 2006-11-30 22:05:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM ASEC VE |
06CARACAS3513 | STATE OF VENEZUELAN ELECTORAL OBSERVATION EFFORTS [...] (C) Summary. The electoral observation missions (EOMs) have missed most of the key "lead-up" events in the electoral preparation process and have had to scale back previously planned activities. Post believes it to be very unlikely that they will be able to mount a comprehensive observation e [...] | 2006-12-01 16:45:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE PREL |
06CARACAS3516 | VENEZUELAN ELECTION UPDATE: TWO DAYS OUT [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez and opposition candidate Manuel Rosales officially concluded their campaigns November 30 with press events and final rallies. Chavez claimed without proof that his government recently foiled an assassination attempt against Rosales aimed at discrediting Chavez. [...] | 2006-12-01 17:05:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM VE |
06CARACAS3518 | CORRECTED COPY: STATE OF VENEZUELAN ELECTORAL [...] (C) Summary. The electoral observation missions (EOMs) have missed most of the key "lead-up" events in the electoral preparation process and have had to scale back previously planned activities. It will be very difficult for them to mount a comprehensive observation effort. In effect, they w [...] | 2006-12-01 20:30:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE PREL |
06CARACAS3527 | JOE Q. VOTER'S DECEMBER 3 EXPERIENCE [...] (U) On December 3, approximately sixteen million Venezuelans will be registered to vote for the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's (BRV) next President. Using one of approximately 33,000 voting machines at about one of 11,000 voting centers, the voters will go through a fairly convoluted el [...] | 2006-12-01 22:37:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS3529 | CHEVRON'S TAKE ON VENEZUELA [...] (C) SUMMARY: The BRV is serious about maintaining OPEC production cuts. PDVSA owes Chevron USD 800 million in operating expenses for the Boscan field and seems incapable of paying operators of the joint ventures in a systematic way. Chevron has met with Rosales advisors and given advice on hy [...] | 2006-12-03 18:07:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG EPET EINV VE |
06CARACAS3530 | VENEZUELAN ELECTION UPDATE - NOON (EST) [...] (SBU) Summary. Opposition candidate Manuel Rosales told the media that he is concerned that voting delays are occurring disproportionately in traditional opposition strongholds. Rosales nevertheless said that voting was occurring with "a certain degree of normality." A relaxed President Cha [...] | 2006-12-03 18:31:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
06CARACAS3531 | ELECTION UPDATE - DEC 3, CLOSE OF POLLS [...] (C) Summary. While the Venezuelan presidential election was conducted December 3 without major incidents, both the Chavez and Rosales campaigns have access to widely varying exit polls. We do not place much faith in any of these polls at this point. The National Electoral Council (CNE) is e [...] | 2006-12-03 23:27:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
06CARACAS3532 | USAID/OTI VENEZUELA ELECTION RELATED ACTIVITIES [...] (C) During President Chavez' launch of his reelection campaign in February this year he stated that the real opposition was the Empire and not its Venezuelan lackeys, a position he has maintained throughout the campaign. In this environment, USAID/OTI has prudentially kept a low profile, av [...] | 2006-12-04 14:17:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
06CARACAS3547 | TIME TO REDOUBLE OUR PRO-DEMOCRACY EFFORTS IN [...] (C) Summary. We understand the Deputies Committee asked in November whether Embassy has the needed resources to promote our country team strategy. We waited until after the Venezuelan presidential election to respond. The answer is that we are grateful for all resources made available, but i [...] | 2006-12-05 17:16:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID KDEM VE |
06CARACAS3548 | VIEWS ON BARRIO ADENTRO FROM CUBAN DOCTORS [...] (C) Since August 2006, when DHS created the Significant Public Benefit Parole for Cuban Medical Personnel Program, over 80 Cuban doctors have applied for parole in Caracas. Over half filled out an anonymous, completely voluntary, written survey answering questions about Barrio Adentro (BA),t [...] | 2006-12-05 17:29:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON VE |
06CARACAS3557 | CHAVEZ WELCOMES NICARAGUAN PRESIDENT-ELECT ORTEGA [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez received Nicaraguan President-Elect Daniel Ortega at Maiquetia International Airport December 5. Ortega is the first foreign leader to visit Venezuela after Chavez was re-elected December 3, albeit for a visit of less than 24 hours. In brief remarks to the pres [...] | 2006-12-07 15:18:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE |
06CARACAS3558 | WORKING FOR THE MAN IN MARACAIBO [...] (C) SUMMARY: International oil company (IOC) executives paint a uniformly dismal picture of life as a partner with PDVSA in western Venezuela. Production at joint venture fields appears to be falling as costs escalate rapidly, private companies refuse to invest due to a lack of reimbursemen [...] | 2006-12-07 15:21:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG EPET EINV VE |
06CARACAS3559 | MIXED BAG FOR SERVICE COMPANIES [...] (C) SUMMARY: Service company representatives in western Venezuela present a mixed picture when it comes to dealing with PDVSA. Companies that provide services report payment problems and administrative arrangements straight from the pages of Kafka. However, equipment companies frequently be [...] | 2006-12-07 17:26:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG EPET EINV VE |
06CARACAS3561 | BRAZILIAN FIRMS SAMBA ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Venezuelan-Brazilian trade is expected to reach USD 4 billion this year, representing a 60 percent increase over 2005. This increase is consistent with Venezuela's import boom and with the growing relationship between the two countries. Brazilian firms also seem to be winning [...] | 2006-12-07 18:52:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD VE |
06CARACAS3571 | VENEZUELAN ELECTIONS WRAP UP: OBSERVERS ENDORSE [...] (C) The OAS, EU, and domestic NGO Ojo Electoral observation missions released on December 4 and 5 their preliminary assessments of the presidential election. All congratulated the National Electoral Council (CNE) for providing adequate electoral conditions and abiding by its agreements, desp [...] | 2006-12-08 14:47:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS3572 | PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: WINNERS AND LOSERS [...] (C) Summary. The National Electoral Council (CNE) officially declared President Chavez the winner of the December 3 election on December 5; he was re-elected for six more years. While the presidential election did not usher in any tectonic shifts, it did reveal some clear winners and losers. [...] | 2006-12-08 15:01:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PREL VE |
06CARACAS3585 | A NEW DIRECTION IN THE CAPRILES TRIAL? [...] (C) SUMMARY The trial of outspoken opposition mayor of Baruta (a Caracas municipality) Henrique Capriles Radonski resumed on December 6. Capriles is accused of unlawful entry and violation of international principles for his role in the events of April 12, 2002, at the Cuban Embassy. Polof [...] | 2006-12-08 18:38:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PGOV PHUM VE |
06CARACAS3598 | VENEZUELAN ELECTIONS: ISSUES FOR FUTURE [...] (C) A comparison of the 2005 EU and OAS electoral observation missions' (EOM) reports and the 2006 missions' preliminary observations reveals the BRV has resolved less than half of the issues singled out last year. Some of the so-called improvements, such as the naming of a new National Elec [...] | 2006-12-11 14:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS3604 | POST-ELECTION: CAN ROSALES STAY THE COURSE? [...] (C) SUMMARY Although he lost to President Chavez by a substantial margin on December 3, Zulia Governor Manuel Rosales emerged from the presidential election as Venezuela's preeminent opposition leader. It remains to be seen whether the momentum Rosales enjoyed as a candidate will continue. [...] | 2006-12-12 20:37:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PGOV PREL VE |
06CARACAS3609 | VENEZUELAN ELECTIONS: THE EMBASSY'S TAKE ON VOTING [...] (C) Post sent out roughly 40 observers to seven states and Caracas for the December 3 presidential election. Although they did not have official observer credentials, Embassy observers were able to enter approximately 75 percent of the roughly 120 voting centers visited. Emboffs were thus ab [...] | 2006-12-13 13:51:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS3617 | NO PLANES, SOME TRAINS AND MANY, MANY AUTOMOBILES [...] (U) Caracas roads and highways are congested like never before, leading to massive gridlock and huge productivity losses. A result of insufficient infrastructure and over a 100 percent increase in car sales during the past two years, the plight of Caracas residents seems unlikely to be resolve [...] | 2006-12-13 19:44:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON SOCI VE |
06CARACAS3621 | POST-ELECTION SCENESETTER FOR CODEL DELAHUNT/MEEKS [...] (SBU) Representatives Delahunt and Meeks are already very familiar with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV). They will be the first congressional visitors to come to Caracas since their April 23-24 visit, and this visit comes on the heels of President Chavez's re-election on December 3. [...] | 2006-12-14 18:09:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV VE |
06CARACAS3628 | VENEZUELAN ELECTION SEASON MORE PEACEFUL THAN [...] (SBU) Before the December 3 presidential elections, isolated attacks on opposition challenger Manuel Rosales' campaign rallies in September and October suggested the likelihood of an increasing spiral of electoral violence (reftels). President Chavez' campaign tried to blame the opposition f [...] | 2006-12-15 16:41:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS3633 | OPPOSITION LEADER ROSALES PLANNING US VISIT [...] (C) The Ambassador spoke by phone December 14 with Zulia Governor Manuel Rosales, their first conversation since before Rosales' four-month campaign for the presidency as the opposition's consensus candidate. The Ambassador congratulated Rosales on a hard fought and skillful campaign. He als [...] | 2006-12-15 21:15:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE |
06CARACAS3646 | CAPRILES ACQUITTED ON ALL CHARGES [...] (C) SUMMARY After four years and eight months, Baruta Mayor Henrique Capriles Radonski was acquitted December 15 of all charges stemming from incidents at the Cuban Embassy on April 12, 2002. The opposition mayor of Baruta municipality (a metropolitan Caracas borough where the U.S. Embassy [...] | 2006-12-18 21:49:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
06CARACAS3652 | CAF PRESIDENT DISCUSSES INSTITUTION'S GROWING ROLE [...] (C) SUMMARY: The President for the Andean Development Corporation (CAF) Enrique Garcia detailed recent successes and plans for the future at a meeting with Econoffs on December 13. Garcia noted the significant increase in CAF funding and its prominent development role in Latin America. Garcia [...] | 2006-12-19 20:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN VE |
06CARACAS3653 | VENEZUELA: THE BEST IS YET TO COME [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Two days after the Presidential election, the BRV instituted several changes to customs and currency control regulations. The measures included a 15 percent luxury tariff, price controls on construction materials, and changes to the list of goods which qualify for foreign exch [...] | 2006-12-19 21:27:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN VE |
06CARACAS3667 | MEETING WITH VENEZUELAN DEVELOPMENT BANK PRESIDENT [...] (SBU) At a November 29 meeting with EconCouns, Vice Minister of Finance and President of the Bank for Economic and Social Development (BANDES) Edgar Behrens outlined BANDES's operations in Venezuela and abroad and detailed future plans to fund the development of Venezuela through promoting coo [...] | 2006-12-21 18:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON EFIN VE |
06CARACAS3670 | TWO YEARS AND LITTLE RESOLUTION IN DANILO ANDERSON [...] (C) Summary. After two years of searching for the intellectual authors of prosecutor Danilo Anderson's November 2004 murder, Attorney General Isaias Rodriguez' December 14 announcement of the so-called conclusive findings indicated the BRV is no closer to discovering the masterminds. Rodrigu [...] | 2006-12-21 20:10:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS3671 | THE DO-NOTHING NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF 2006 POISED TO [...] (C) Summary. The National Assembly, although composed entirely of pro-Chavez party members after the opposition boycotted the December 2005 parliamentary election, passed little important legislation in 2006. Among the more memorable National Assembly "Bolivarian accomplishments" of 2006 are [...] | 2006-12-21 20:15:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON PHUM PREL VE |
06CARACAS3688 | ECUADORIAN PRESIDENT-ELECT CORREA'S VISIT TO [...] (SBU) Summary. President Hugo Chavez hosted Ecuadorian president-elect Rafael Correa December 20-21. Both Chavez and Correa pledged to enhance bilateral economic integration, particularly energy cooperation. Chavez also said he would consider the request of Correa and Bolivian President Mora [...] | 2006-12-27 17:13:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SNAR ETRD VE EC |
06CARACAS374 | CHAVEZ BASHES BLAIR [...] (C) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez launched into one of his customary tirades on February 8 after British Prime Minister Tony Blair offered measured criticism of his government. Chavez' diatribe against Blair is the latest example of Chavez' increasing tendency to provoke leaders in the i [...] | 2006-02-10 18:36:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
06CARACAS39 | VENEZUELA BLAMES USG FOR DELAYED ANTI-DRUG [...] (C) Venezuelan Interior Minister Jesse Chacon blamed the USG January 4 for delays in normalizing the U.S.-Venezuelan counternarcotics relationship. Chacon complained that the accord had been hard to settle because "the DEA keeps modifying its text." (Note: the USG and GOV already have a b [...] | 2006-01-06 16:03:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KCRM VE |
06CARACAS394 | CURRENT STATUS OF OSA MIGRATIONS: NOT VERY PRETTY [...] (C) SUMMARY: Progress on negotiations on the migration from operating service agreement (OSA) to joint venture companies continues to be bogged down over basic issues such as block reserves certification and value assessment, the formula for valuing crude production, and royalty calculations [...] | 2006-02-14 15:26:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV VE |
06CARACAS397 | VENEZUELA: BOSTON GROUP FUTURE MURKY [...] (C) With the current climate of bilateral relations, post is not optimistic about the future of the US-Venezuelan bipartisan legislative forum, known as the Boston Group (BG). Even before President Chavez' February 2 and 4 speeches (ref a and b),post was unable to secure meetings with Natio [...] | 2006-02-14 18:22:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS399 | OPPOSITION MAYOR LOPEZ HELD FOR TWO HOURS BY GUNMEN [...] (C) On February 10, 20 armed gunmen forced their way into a college seminar at the University of Carabobo in which Chacao Mayor Leopoldo Lopez was speaking and threatened the mayor for nearly two hours. Government officials refused to respond, citing legal prohibitions from entering college [...] | 2006-02-14 20:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS444 | VENEZUELA WAKES UP AND SMELLS THE COFFEE [...] (U) After the BRV doubled the price roasters had to pay farmers for raw coffee beans, and fixed the price of ground coffee below cost, a nationwide shortage of ground coffee took effect in late December 2005. Roasters refused to sell their product at a loss and hoarded it in an attempt to pr [...] | 2006-02-16 20:56:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EAGR VE |
06CARACAS445 | PROJECT PROPOSALS: NGOS TAKE ON TIPS [...] (U) Per reftel instructions, Embassy is submitting a proposal by the NGO Association for the Well-being and Reciprocal Assistance for Women (AMBAR) for funding consideration. A description of a backup proposal submitted by UNICEF is included in paragraph 5 should Washington decide not to fun [...] | 2006-02-16 20:59:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM SMIG KCRM KWMN ELAB EAID VE |
06CARACAS457 | AMBASSADOR URGES EU/LATAM SUPPORT FOR SUMATE [...] (C) Ambassador convened a meeting of European and Latin American diplomats February 10 to discuss diplomatic steps to support the four Sumate directors charged with conspiracy, after it appeared some of the defendants might be detained pending the outcome of the trial. Ambassador reviewed USG [...] | 2006-02-17 19:23:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM VE |
06CARACAS458 | IRANIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION VISITS VENEZUELA [...] (U) On February 14, the Venezuelan National Assembly received a delegation of Iranian legislators, including the President of the Iranian Parliament Gholamali Haddad Adel. Adel emphasized that the governments of Venezuela and Iran were united in the fight against imperialism and committed to s [...] | 2006-02-17 19:38:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
06CARACAS459 | CARACAS BRIDGE CLOSURE: WEEK SIX [...] (SBU) Six weeks after the Caracas-La Guaira bridge closure, transportation remains cumbersome and important sectors of the greater Caracas-area economy continue to be affected. BRV plans for a February 26 opening of the bypass road will not restore pre-closure traffic volume. U.S. airlines [...] | 2006-02-17 20:53:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ELTN EAIR ETRD KDEM PGOV ASECVE VE |
06CARACAS460 | BRV ON DEFENSIVE AFTER SECRETARY'S REMARKS [...] (C) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called U.S. officials "crazy" in response to Secretary Rice's criticism of the BRV on February 16. Suggesting that USG policy was inconsistent, he said the Secretary's remarks came after a "good conversation" between Assistant Secretary Shannon and Venez [...] | 2006-02-17 21:11:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
06CARACAS461 | SUMATE REPRIEVE MAY BE BRIEF INDEED [...] (C) A Caracas appeals court accepted on February 9 a motion by lawyers for the four Sumate directors that vacates the entire process to date, and requires a new trial to be initiated. That new trial may not kick off until sometime between May and August, however Sumate's lawyers warned Polcoun [...] | 2006-02-17 23:45:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM VE |
06CARACAS473 | WHAT TO EXPECT FROM CHAVEZ' PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN [...] (C) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez' history of dirty campaigning and his announcement that he is running against President Bush have several implications for how he will prepare for Venezuela's December 3, 2006 presidential election. Many of these actions violate the letter and spirit of [...] | 2006-02-21 18:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
06CARACAS480 | NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TAKES UP CNE REPLACEMENT [...] (C) On February 7, the National Assembly (AN) began the process of appointing a new National Electoral Council (CNE) by naming 11 AN deputies to the candidate selection committee. The committee is currently receiving nominations for the committee's remaining 10 civil society members, who ar [...] | 2006-02-21 20:44:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS484 | NEW TRIBES MISSION COMPLYING WITH WITHDRAWAL ORDER [...] (C) The New Tribes Mission (NTM) has removed all of its personnel from indigenous tribal areas in compliance with the February 12 deadline given by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV). The Supreme Court (TSJ) on February 3 denied NTM's request for a stay of the Interior Ministry's Nove [...] | 2006-02-22 19:07:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KIRF KDEM CACS VE |
06CARACAS485 | THE CENTRAL BANK: THE BRV'S ELEPHANT BRIGADE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Central Bank (BCV) Director Domingo Felipe Maza Zavala told Econoffs February 15 that the BCV's primary role these days is to mitigate/accommodate the monetary affects of the BRV's "enormous" fiscal expenditures. The always understated and professorial Maza maintained that the [...] | 2006-02-22 19:10:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN ECON PGOV VE |
06CARACAS486 | 2006 SPECIAL 301 RECOMMENDATION - KEEP VENZUELA [...] (SBU) The BRV continues to exhibit lackluster performance in protection and enforcemnt of intellectual property rights. In the pastyear, little has been done to strengthen an alredy weak enforcement regime. The market for legiimate music CDs is minuscule, and CD, DVD, and software piracy re [...] | 2006-02-22 19:10:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | KIPR VE |
06CARACAS492 | AMBASSADOR DELIVERS IRAN DEMARCHE TO BRV MFA [...] (C) Ambassador delivered reftel points on Iran's nuclear program to Vice Foreign Minister for Asia, the Middle East and the Pacific Alcides Rondon on February 10. Rondon said the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) saw no evidence of non-peaceful purposes for Iran's nuclear program and cha [...] | 2006-02-22 20:53:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM VE |
06CARACAS493 | BRV OFFICIALS DEMAND RESPECT FROM VISITING WHA/AND [...] (C) During an orientation visit by WHA/AND Director, Deputy Director, and Desk Officer, senior Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) officials echoed the common theme of wanting improved bilateral relations based on respect for sovereignty. Rene Arreaza, chief of staff to Vice President Rang [...] | 2006-02-22 20:53:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM VE |
06CARACAS494 | CHAVEZ NATURALIZES COLOMBIANS TO GET VOTES [...] (C) In an effort to reach President Chavez' goal of obtaining 10 million votes in December's presidential elections, the BRV is using the tried and true method of stuffing the voter registry by naturalizing migrants and handing out identification cards through its Mision Identidad (Mission I [...] | 2006-02-22 21:09:00 | Embassy Caracas | SECRET | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS495 | CARACAS ARCHBISHOP RAISED TO CARDINAL [...] (U) The Vatican announced February 21 that Caracas Archbishop Jorge Urosa had been nominated by Pope Benedict XVI as Cardinal. Press reports said Urosa would be formally installed at a meeting of cardinals in the Vatican on March 24. Urosa, 63, is one of 15 new cardinals to be appointed in [...] | 2006-02-23 10:56:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM VE |
06CARACAS510 | CHAVEZ PUSHES A STEP CLOSER TO PRESIDENT FOR LIFE [...] (C) During his weekly Alo Presidente television show President Chavez warned that if the opposition decided not to participate in the December 3 presidential election, he would convoke a referendum on whether he should run for re-election in 2013. If approved, Chavez could overturn the const [...] | 2006-02-24 13:10:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS512 | BRV CONTINUS TO FIGHT EXCESS LIQUIDITY [...] (SBU) The BRV continues to struggle with rapidly increasing money supply resulting from xpansionary fiscal policy, booming oil revenues, and foreign exchange restrictions. The money suply (M2) increased by 52.7 percent in 2005 and ha grown approximately 260 percent since the BRV iplemented [...] | 2006-02-24 15:42:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN PGOV PINR VE |
06CARACAS514 | VENEZUELAN CORRUPTION CRACKDOWN: A DAY LATE, A [...] (C) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is making corruption a campaign issue, according to Presidential speeches and MVR strategy documents. National Assembly deputies have prioritized the passage of at least five laws dealing with corruption. The Venezuelan Government, however, has a poor r [...] | 2006-02-24 16:54:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KCRM VE |
06CARACAS520 | FREEDOM HOUSE - CATALYST FOR AN EMERGING HUMAN [...] (C) The Freedom House USAID project began operations in Venezuela in late 2004, in an environment of reported increases in human rights abuses and judicial impunity. The community of human rights organizations in Venezuela continues to be ill-equipped to deal with the unfolding scenario and [...] | 2006-02-24 18:45:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PGOV PHUM VE |
06CARACAS532 | CHAVEZ RESHUFFLES CABINET MINISTERS [...] (C) On February 24, President Chavez swore in six new members of his cabinet, including the Minister of Light Industry and Commerce, Minister of Land and Agriculture, Minister of Labor, Minister of the People's Economy, the Minister of Food, and the newly created Minister of the Secretariat [...] | 2006-03-02 16:24:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS535 | AMBASSADOR HOSTS LUNCHEON FOR UNIVERSITY DIRECTORS [...] (C) The Ambassador hosted a luncheon on February 9 for administrators of several Venezuelan universities. In addition to expressing their eagerness for greater educational exchanges between Venezuelan and American universities, representatives also expressed concern that a proposed education [...] | 2006-03-02 18:24:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
06CARACAS536 | NOOSE TIGHTENS AROUND VENEZUELAN PRESS [...] (C) The government stepped up its actions against the Venezuelan press recently in a concerted bid to muzzle the opposition media during this election year. Following a January 23 court ruling that severely limited the media's ability to report on the case of assassinated prosecutor Danilo And [...] | 2006-03-02 18:25:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KPAO KDEM VE |
06CARACAS573 | CIVAIR VENEZUELA: ENGAGING WITH INAC AND VP CHIEF [...] (SBU) On March 1, EconCouns met with the President of Venezuela's National Civil Aviation Institute (INAC) to deliver talking points (Ref A),underscoring that the USG objected to the unilateral restrictions on U.S. air carrier frequencies and that we had no political agenda regarding air saf [...] | 2006-03-03 11:09:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR VE |
06CARACAS581 | EMBASSY SAYS NIGERIA'S SUPPORT FOR BRV'S UNSC BID [...] (U) Venezuela's Vice-Minister for Africa Reinaldo Bolivar met February 24 with Nigeria,s Ambassador to Venezuela Samson Ayodole Adepoju. Following the meeting, the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported Adepoju saying he believed Venezuela would be accepted as a non-permanent member [...] | 2006-03-03 19:03:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
06CARACAS595 | BRV COMMUNIQUES CONDEMN U.S. POLICY [...] (C) The Embassy received two written communiques from Venezuelan government officials the week of February 20, both condemning U.S. policy in Venezuela and demanding the cessation of U.S. "imperialist aggression." On February 7, the National Assembly passed a resolution condemning the expulsio [...] | 2006-03-06 18:20:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
06CARACAS598 | VIVA ZULIA - CHAVEZ AGAIN HITS ROSALES [...] (C) Chavez accused the U.S. government March 5 of working behind the scenes to create a secessionist movement in Zulia to gain control of the state's rich oil industry. Chavez implicated the state's governor Manuel Rosales with the group and threatened Rosales with jail time if his accusations [...] | 2006-03-07 15:11:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
06CARACAS614 | BRV REQUESTS SUPPORT FOR ITU COUNCIL CANDIDACY [...] (U) This is an action request. Post requests Department guidance to respond to the BRV diplomatic note No. 269 in para (2) dated January 25, 2006 requesting USG support Venezuela's candidacy for re-election as a member of the International Telecommunications Union council. A copy of the note [...] | 2006-03-08 13:40:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | ECPS VE |
06CARACAS630 | UPDATE ON CARACAS AVIAN INFLUENZA CONTINGENCY [...] (SBU) On January 19, Post Emergency Action Committee (EAC) Avian Influenza (AI) Subcommittee met with the Regional Medical Officer (RMO) to discuss Post preparedness. The Subcommittee then held a follow-up meeting on January 26 to review the preparedness checklist as it pertains to Post oper [...] | 2006-03-08 20:43:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | AEMR AMGT ASEC CASC AMED KFLO VE |
06CARACAS631 | JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF VENEZUELA DISTANCES FROM [...] (SBU) Recently, the president of Junior Achievement Venezuela visited the Embassy to convey his organization's decision to cancel a planned annual reception for supporters which was to be held at the Ambassador's residence. The decision was the result of a split vote by their board of director [...] | 2006-03-08 20:49:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KDEM KPAO VE |
06CARACAS632 | BRV DEBT MANAGEMENT STRATEGY [...] (U) SUMMARY: Since Chavez assumed office in 1999, BRV debt stock increased 70 percent, to USD 46.6 billion at the end of 2005. In 2005, debt stock grew by USD 5.4 billion, despite an estimated 2005 total central government fiscal surplus of approximately USD 3 billion. Despite the increase [...] | 2006-03-08 20:50:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN ECON PGOV VE |
06CARACAS633 | COUNTRY CLEARANCE APPROVAL FOR US DELEGATION TO [...] The Embassy grants country clearances for the visit to Venezuela of T. March Bell, Mark Mittelhauser, Pedro Moreno, Stacy D. Williams, and Carla Menares Bury from Monday, March 13 through Saturday, March 18. This approval is granted on the condition that the travelers will be utilizing an off [...] | 2006-03-08 20:52:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | ASEC EAGR ECON KCRM KFRD OAS AMGT APER VE |
06CARACAS656 | CHAVEZ USES INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY FOR EMBASSY [...] (C) An estimated 2,500 protesters, supported by prominent Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) officials, staged a demonstration at the Embassy on March 8 to protest the U.S. government's policies in Iraq. The group's leadership, National Assembly deputies Celia Flores and Desiree Santos, p [...] | 2006-03-10 18:15:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ASEC VE |
06CARACAS659 | CORRUPTION IN BRV ARGENTINE BONDS TRANSACTIONS [...] (C/NF) SUMMARY. On March 3, 2006, Nelson Ortiz, the Caracas Stock Exchange (BVC) President, outlined the BRV mechanism undertaken for the purchase and re-sale of Argentine bonds. The BRV has reportedly sold USD 1.1 billion, of a reported USD 2.8 billion in Argentine bonds originally purchase [...] | 2006-03-10 18:33:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | EFIN ECON PGOV VE |
06CARACAS66 | VENEZUELAN MILITARY MORALE DECLINING? [...] No summary [...] | 2006-01-11 17:06:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV MARR VE |
06CARACAS661 | TAMPING DOWN IRANIAN URANIUM RUMORS IN VENEZUELA [...] No summary [...] | 2006-03-13 11:04:00 | Embassy Caracas | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PREL MASS PARM VE IR |
06CARACAS662 | BRV BACKS OFF ZULIAN SEPARATIST ALLEGATIONS "FOR [...] (C) Zulia state governor Manuel Rosales came out swinging March 7 against the separatist allegations launched against him by President Chavez on March 5. On his weekly television program "Alo Presidente", Chavez accused Rosales of working hand in hand with the United States to create a secessio [...] | 2006-03-13 11:04:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM VE |
06CARACAS663 | CHAVEZ APPOINTS NEW COMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION [...] (C) In a press conference on March 9, Communications and Information Minister Yuri Pimentel announced that he would be replaced by current National Assembly Deputy and major player in the Movimienta Quinta Republica (MVR),Willian Lara. Lara said his ministry would be open to the media, but [...] | 2006-03-13 13:07:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS664 | JOURNALIST IMPRISONED PENDING CORRUPTION CHARGES [...] (C) Talk show host Gustavo Azocar was arrested March 6 in connection with a corruption investigation against him for allegedly defrauding the Tachira state lottery in 2000. A Tachira state court March 7 sustained the prosecution's argument that Azocar posed a flight risk because of his suppose [...] | 2006-03-13 18:59:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KPAO KDEM VE |
06CARACAS666 | CHAVEZ VS. BUSH 2006 [...] (C) An apparently authentic 2006 campaign plan for President Chavez's political party, the Movimiento Quinta Republica (MVR),has been circulating on the internet and reported on by the press. The plan includes campaign themes and objectives as well as strategies for communication and party [...] | 2006-03-13 20:02:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS688 | VENEZUELA'S NEW CARDINAL: CAUTIOUSLY [...] (C) On March 10, the Ambassador met with Archbishop (and Cardinal-designate) Jorge Urosa and the Papal Nuncio Giacinto Berlocco at the Nunciature in Caracas to discuss the current situation in Venezuela, as well as ways the Embassy and the Church might cooperate in the future. The Ambassador [...] | 2006-03-14 20:50:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS698 | ANOTHER TRANSPORTISTA PROTEST OUTSIDE EMBASSY [...] (U) The transport workers held a small peaceful demonstration on March 15 outside the Embassy. This, like the February 23 demonstration (ref a),was likely organized by the BRV. At about 1 pm roughly two dozen almost empty buses arrived at the Embassy. The caravan had been driving around t [...] | 2006-03-16 11:59:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC KDEM PGOV VE |
06CARACAS702 | COPEI LEADERSHIP STEPS DOWN [...] (C) COPEI (Christian Democracy) President Eduardo Fernandez and Secretary General Cesar Perez Vivas resigned from their positions March 10 after the board rejected the party's annual report, according to press reports. Fernandez, a popular but figurehead leader, was gracious in his resignation [...] | 2006-03-16 12:02:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM VE |
06CARACAS703 | VENEZUELAN ADVENTISTS ALSO UNDER BRV SUSPICION [...] (C) The Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Church is depicted in a government training film for "Ribas Mission" students as a fanatical religious sect that spreads terror among indigenous tribes and spies for the CIA, according a video shown to Emboffs by SDA officials February 21. SDA officials thou [...] | 2006-03-16 12:02:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KIRF KDEM VE |
06CARACAS704 | VENEZUELA MACROECONOMIC UPDATE [...] (SBU) Venezuela,s strong economic growth performance will most certainly continue through 2006 given the continued high oil price scenario and profligate BRV spending this election year, which is fueling a consumption boom. We also expect the state to continue to consolidate its role in th [...] | 2006-03-16 12:03:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN PGOV VE |
06CARACAS717 | BRV PUMMELS THE PRESS AGAIN [...] (C) The BRV moved again against the opposition media, implicating a total of six journalists in legal actions in the past week. Two columnists at Caracas daily El Nacional and four local radio announcers at an Anzoategui state radio station were caught up in the latest sweep. The move follows [...] | 2006-03-17 14:47:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KPAO KDEM VE |
06CARACAS718 | VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION DEBATES BETWEEN CONDITIONS [...] (C) Since early January, the opposition has debated whether and how to unite forces for the December 3 presidential election. The current dilemma over whether to focus solely on securing transparent electoral conditions or to also choose a single opposition candidate has resulted in three pr [...] | 2006-03-17 15:16:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS719 | BRV REACTS TO EU OBSERVERS FINAL REPORT [...] (SBU) The EU international observation mission released its final report in Caracas on March 15. Observers met with government officials in advance to prepare them for the report. Government response has been relatively positive, although National Electoral Council President Jorge Rodriguez [...] | 2006-03-17 15:34:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS720 | URUGUAY PRESIDENT'S STATE VISIT TO VENEZUELA [...] (C) During his state visit to Venezuela March 14-15, Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez and President Chavez signed 12 cooperative agreements, discussed the revitalization of MERCOSUR, and held a joint press conference on free trade. The two also toured a shoe-manufacturing cooperative and [...] | 2006-03-17 16:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD KDEM PGOV VE |
06CARACAS723 | VENEZUELA CIVAIR UPDATE [...] (SBU) On March 15, EconCouns met with INAC General Manager for Air Transport, who stood firm on the March 30 deadline to cancel U.S. carrier flights if the FAA hadn't sent an IASA team by then, despite an informal agreement with FAA for an April 17 visit. Blanco also pushed for a meeting bet [...] | 2006-03-17 17:29:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR VE |
06CARACAS735 | NATIONAL RESISTANCE COMMAND READIES ABSTENTIONIST [...] (C) The opposition group National Resistance Command (CNR) is organizing nationwide to force a political crisis related to the December presidential elections, according to CNR leaders. If demands for transparent elections are not met by June 3 (at which time election law would require closure [...] | 2006-03-20 18:42:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM VE |
06CARACAS742 | CARACAS-LA GUAIRA BRIDGE COLLAPSES [...] (SBU) On March 19, the closed bridge linking Caracas and its international air and sea ports collapsed. Chavez and the Ministry of Infrastructure (MINFRA) both stated that the BRV had knowledge of the imminent collapse and were planning to demolish the bridge, but that they didn't release thi [...] | 2006-03-21 15:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EAIR ETRD KDEM PGOV ASEC VE |
06CARACAS744 | MAYOR CAPRILES -- THIS MAY BE MY LAST TRIP [...] (C) The Ambassador and PolCouns met with Baruta Mayor Henrique Capriles Radonski to discuss the Mayor's late March trip to Washington. Capriles had initially planned to travel later in the Spring, but the government has re-instituted criminal charges against him related to the April 12, 2002 [...] | 2006-03-21 16:42:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM VE |
06CARACAS751 | CHAVEZ' ANGER-BASED LEADERSHIP [...] (C) President Hugo Chavez currently faces the conundrum of whether he can maintain a leadership style of exploiting resentment among Venezuela's poor while extolling the benefits of a seven-year revolution, according to anti-Chavez psychiatrist Roberto de Vries. De Vries describes Venezuelans' emot [...] | 2006-03-22 14:22:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM VE |
06CARACAS756 | TWO IVLP CANDIDATES DROP OUT AMIDST BOLIVARIAN [...] (C) A labor leader from the Confederation of Venezuelan Workers (CTV) and one from the National Workers Union (UNT) withdrew suddenly from the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) after one of them received threats from the government. CTV Executive Secretary Antonio Suarez said he [...] | 2006-03-22 21:06:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM SCUL VE |
06CARACAS757 | SUMATE'S ALEJANDRO PLAZ REVIEWS ONGOING PROJECTS, [...] (C) PolCouns met with electoral NGO Sumate President Alejandro Plaz March 21 to discuss the progress of Sumate's audit of the electoral registry and his recent trip to Peru and the United States. Their temporary reprieve from trial is allowing them to re-focus on their electoral activities. [...] | 2006-03-23 10:53:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM OAS VE |
06CARACAS76 | MAJOR CARACAS HIGHWAY SHUTS DOWN AS RESIDENTS [...] (SBU) On January 9, residents of "El Chupulun" in the municipality of Baruta staged protests on the Prados del Este highway, a major Caracas thoroughfare, shutting it down for two and half hours and causing major traffic congestion. The residents were demanding that the mayor of Baruta take [...] | 2006-01-12 18:28:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS776 | CARRIER VISIT TO BENEFIT US POLICY TOWARD VENEZUELA [...] (U) See Ambassador's comment para 9. 2. (S) Post supports Southcom's planned "Partnership of the Americas" maritime surge to the Caribbean to be led by the aircraft carrier U.S.S. George Washington. The deployment will help us to counter President Hugo Chavez' courtship of Caribbean co [...] | 2006-03-23 19:26:00 | Embassy Caracas | SECRET | PGOV MOPS MASS VE |
06CARACAS779 | CHAVEZ ALLY AND FOE NOMINATED AS USUN PERM REP [...] (C) On March 21, President Chavez nominated Francisco Arias Cardenas as Venezuela's Permanent Representative to the United Nations. Arias was a comrade-in-arms of Chavez during the failed 1992 military coup against then President Carlos Andres Perez. Arias later split ways with Chavez accus [...] | 2006-03-24 16:50:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS78 | VENEZUELAN MILITARY MORALE DECLINING? [...] (C) Because of the unreliability of its sources, Post cannot assess with certainty the state of Venezuelan military morale. Nonetheless, Post has received over the last six to nine months more credible indications that military morale is declining. The most convincing reports concern disgr [...] | 2006-01-12 19:02:00 | Embassy Caracas | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV MARR VE |
06CARACAS784 | LOOMING OSA DEADLINE INCREASES UNCERTAINTY [...] (C) SUMMARY: The BRV has stated that companies with Operating Service Agreements (OSA) must sign MOUs which commit them to sign joint venture agreements by April 1. Key issues still remain unresolved and it appears companies would waive rights if they signed the MOU. The BRV has stated it [...] | 2006-03-24 21:01:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV VE |
06CARACAS785 | AMBASSADOR GETS DELAYED BY PROTESTERS IN GUARICO [...] (C) Ambassador Brownfield and Emboffs were tracked by an aggressive and ultimately violent group of protesters on March 22 during an outreach trip to the state of Guarico (though there were no injuries to Embassy personnel). A noon-hour press conference and lunch at a local club dragged into [...] | 2006-03-27 10:40:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM SCUL EAID ASEC VE |
06CARACAS80 | GOV GRANTED OBSERVER STATUS IN AU [...] (U) Vice-Minister for Africa Reinaldo Bolivar announced December 23 that the African Union (AU) had approved Venezuela's May 2005 request for observer status. Venezuela is now one of 23 non-African states, including Cuba, granted observer status since the AU established guidelines for their p [...] | 2006-01-12 20:08:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL VE |
06CARACAS808 | VENEZUELAN URBAN AND RURAL EXPROPRIATIONS CONTINUE [...] (SBU) On March 6, President Chavez signed a Presidential Decree declaring a "housing emergency." The decree makes it easier to import construction materials and allows for further expropriations, stating only that they will occur "without violation of the law." The BRV has fallen short of pro [...] | 2006-03-27 15:42:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON PGOV VE |
06CARACAS839 | BRV OFFICIALS TRADE CORRUPTION ACCUSATIONS [...] (C) Venezuelan officials are beginning to turn on each other as the government's pre-election anticorruption campaign heats up (REFTEL). Interior Minister Jesse Chacon has demanded an investigation of the Supreme Court's anticorruption crusader, Justice Luis Velazquez Alvaray, for public pu [...] | 2006-03-27 18:50:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KCRM VE |
06CARACAS840 | HIGHLIGHTS FROM OAS TIP MEETING [...] (U) On March 14-17, the Organization of American States (OAS) held its first Meeting of the National Authorities on Trafficking In Person (TIP) on Margarita Island, Venezuela. During their opening remarks, Attorney General, Isaias Rodriguez, and Venezuela'a Deputy Permanent Representative to t [...] | 2006-03-27 21:15:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
06CARACAS854 | BOLIVARIAN DOLLAR DIPLOMACY [...] (U) SUMMARY: During the past year President Chavez has undertaken an extensive dollar-diplomacy campaign to win friends and influence countries in the region and beyond. Two recent studies, drawn from Chavez' announcements, place BRV public commitments of support (donations, discounts, gover [...] | 2006-03-29 16:52:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EAID PREL VE |
06CARACAS872 | VICE MINISTER FOR NORTH AMERICA SANCTIONED AND [...] (C) On March 27, Venezuela's Supreme Court decided to lift a stay on a Comptroller General sanction against Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for North America and International Organizations Mari Pili Hernandez for mishandling public funds. The Comptroller sanctions, if applied, would requi [...] | 2006-03-30 16:59:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS874 | VENEZUELA'S NEW LABOR MINISTER A LOYAL PROFESSIONAL [...] (C) In a rare departure for Venezuelan ministerial appointments, new Labor Minister Ricardo Dorado is a qualified and experienced expert in his field. Dorado most recently served as Vice Minister of Labor, often representing Venezuela at International Labor Organization (ILO) meetings. Thoug [...] | 2006-03-30 17:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB PINR VE |
06CARACAS879 | AMBASSADOR DELIVERS ESF FUNDING TO LOCAL NGO [...] No summary [...] | 2006-03-30 20:55:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SNAR VE |
06CARACAS880 | AMBASSADOR DELIVERS ESF FUNDING TO LOCAL NGO [...] (U) In accordance with the Economic Support Fund (ESF) grant approved by the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, the Ambassador delivered on March 29 a check in the amount of USD 129,375 to Venezuelan NGO Women's Association for Well-Being and Reciprocal Assistance (AMBAR). ( [...] | 2006-03-31 14:02:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SNAR VE |
06CARACAS882 | ZULIA GOVERNOR PROBES FOR USG SUPPORT TO [...] (C) Zulia Governor and possible presidential candidate Manuel Rosales asked the Ambassador March 30 what kind of support the USG was willing to give to the opposition given President Hugo Chavez' overwhelming advantage in the December 3 presidential elections. The Ambassador outlined Embassy [...] | 2006-03-31 15:20:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM SCUL VE |
06CARACAS903 | TO BE OR NOT TO BE: INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS IN [...] (C) We have carefully considered whether or not it makes sense for the USG to advocate (and possibly substantially fund) an international election observation mission (EOM) for the December presidential elections. While an EOM would likely act as a brake on Bolivarian electoral excesses, we [...] | 2006-04-03 16:37:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM SCUL VE |
06CARACAS904 | NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL TO REGULATE NGO [...] (C) The National Assembly's Permanent Committee on Foreign Policy has put forth a proposal to regulate the activities of NGOs within Venezuela. It comes on the heels of another proposal in 2005 which surprised the NGOs, who technically have observer status on the committee. The previous pr [...] | 2006-04-03 18:07:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
06CARACAS905 | VENEZUELAN OIL PRODUCTION AND OUTLOOK [...] (C) SUMMARY: A number of private sector contacts believe that Venezuelan crude production has dropped to 2.3 million barrels per day. Conventional wisdom had placed production at 2.4 to 2.6 million barrels per day. PVDVSA has substantially increased its number of rigs but it does not appea [...] | 2006-04-03 18:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV VE |
06CARACAS909 | LOOMING OSA DEADLINE INCREASES UNCERTAINTY [...] No summary [...] | 2006-04-03 21:54:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV VE |
06CARACAS910 | OIL COMPANIES SIGN OSA CONVERSION MOU [...] (C) SUMMARY: Representatives from sixteen oil companies signed memorandums of understanding converting their operating service agreements (OSA) to joint ventures in a televised ceremony on March 31. ENI (Italy) and Total (France) did not sign a MOU and PDVSA has taken control of their fields. [...] | 2006-04-03 23:21:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV VE |
06CARACAS911 | CHAVEZ'S MEDIA WAR WAGES ON [...] (C) The first quarter of this year saw another BRV offensive against the media -- one of the few remaining independent democratic institutions in Venezuela. The BRV launched a new series of high profile legal attacks targeting members of the opposition press, a Caracas court ruled in favor of [...] | 2006-04-03 23:31:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM KPAO VE |
06CARACAS913 | BETTER LATE THAN NEVER: RUSSIAN CHOPPERS ARRIVE [...] (U) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez presided over the formal handover of three Russian MI-17 helicopters to the Venezuelan Army's helicopter battalion in Yaracuy State on April 3. The three aircraft, which arrived in Venezuela unassembled on February 21, are part of a contract Chavez annou [...] | 2006-04-04 12:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV MASS VE |
06CARACAS939 | PROTESTS BREAK OUT OVER YOUTH SLAYINGS [...] (U) Venezuelans were shocked by the April 4 discovery of the slain bodies of three young brothers and their driver who had been kidnapped in Caracas 41 days before. The kidnappers, alleged publicly to be Caracas Metropolitan Police officers, demanded a US$4.5 million ransom from the children' [...] | 2006-04-06 10:49:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM SCUL VE |
06CARACAS942 | CHILD SLAYINGS DEMONSTRATIONS CONTINUE FOR SECOND [...] (C) The government has begun reacting to the spontaneous public outcry over the murder of three kidnapped children and their driver (Reftel). Venezuelan Interior Minister Jesse Chacon expressed his government's condolences late April 5 for the deaths amidst widespread pot-banging protests. [...] | 2006-04-06 18:57:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM SCUL VE |
06CARACAS944 | VENEZUELA URBAN AND RURAL EXPROPRIATIONS CONTINUE [...] (SBU) Threats of rural land expropriations continue in Venezuela. The private agricultural landholders are suffering, as squatters occupy and destroy land under the complicit eye of authorities. The National Assembly also passed legislation allowing seizure of agricultural stockpiles in cas [...] | 2006-04-06 20:59:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON PGOV VE |
06CARACAS958 | EXPLAINING VENEZUELA'S COZINESS WITH IRAN, [...] (S//NF) Manifest in the public rhetoric of both countries, a shared hatred for the USG is the driving factor in the budding relationship between Iran and Venezuela. The BRV is favoring Iran with petroleum deals and other contracts that appear to make little commercial sense. Although rumors of [...] | 2006-04-07 20:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV MASS PARM VE |
06CARACAS959 | MURDER PROTESTS DIE DOWN IN VENEZUELA [...] (C) After three days of mourning and protests over the tragic kidnap/murders of three Venezuelan-Canadian youths, Venezuela appears to be returning to normal. This latest spate of protests was unconventional in that it stemmed from social unrest rather than traditional political strife and th [...] | 2006-04-07 20:55:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM SCUL VE |
06CARACAS960 | OSA CONVERSION: DUST STILL SETTLING [...] (C) SUMMARY: Companies are still negotiating significant provisions of their joint venture contracts. It is not clear if additional companies will drop out of the process. Negotiations on the signing of the conversion MOUs were down to the last minute. Vice Minister Mommer has stated his go [...] | 2006-04-10 11:05:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV VE |
06COLOMBO1661 | SRI LANKA CONTINUES TO SUPPORT GUATEMALA FOR UNSC [...] No summary [...] | 2006-10-10 12:40:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC UNGA GT VE CE |
06COLOMBO1739 | SRI LANKA AFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR GUATEMALA UNSC SEAT [...] No summary [...] | 2006-10-20 08:43:00 | Embassy Colombo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNGA UNSC GT VE CE |
06COPENHAGEN1414 | DANES FIRM IN SUPPORT OF GUATEMALAN UNSC BID [...] No summary [...] | 2006-10-19 08:28:00 | Embassy Copenhagen | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC GT VE DA |
06DAKAR1746 | SENEGAL PLANS TO TACKLE ONGOING ENERGY CRISIS [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Government of Senegal (GOS) recently hosted a three-day workshop in the coastal town of Saly to diagnose the current energy crisis in the wake of the ongoing world market price increases that continue to negatively affect the Senegalese economy. The workshop featured energy [...] | 2006-07-20 13:45:00 | Embassy Dakar | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG EAID ECON EPET SG CH VE IR |
06DAKAR2476 | GUINEA-BISSAU: ENCOURAGING BUT NON-COMMITAL [...] (C) PolOff delivered reftel demarche to Bissau-Guinean Foreign Minister Antonio Isaac Monteiro on Oct. 13. The Foreign Minister was receptive and acknowledged the previous conversations he had with the Ambassador, Charge and PolOff on this topic. Monteiro understood the urgency of the matter [...] | 2006-10-13 12:49:00 | Embassy Dakar | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC GT VE PU |
06DAKAR2507 | UNSC ELECTION: SENEGAL STILL SUPPORTING GUATEMALA; [...] (C) On October 17, Charge called Senegalese Acting Foreign Minister Claude Absa Diallo and requested that Senegal continue to support Guatemala in the contest for the Latin American Security Council seat. Ambassador Diallo assured Charge of continuing support and said that she would follow u [...] | 2006-10-17 11:26:00 | Embassy Dakar | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC GT VE SG PU |
06DAKAR441 | UNDECIDED ON UNSYG AND ON VENEZUELAN CANDIDACY FOR [...] (C) On February 22, Charge made Ref A demarche to Acting Foreign Minister Claude Absa Diallo. While Ambassador Diallo appreciated U.S. interest in Senegal,s candidacy, she said that, after lengthy consultations, the Government of Senegal has decided not to present its candidacy for the new P [...] | 2006-02-23 12:07:00 | Embassy Dakar | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPKO UN UNSC SG GT VE |
06DARESSALAAM1246 | TANZANIA SUPPORT FOR GUATEMALA'S GRULAC BID ALL [...] (C) If the contest for the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries (GRULAC) seat on the UN Security Council is between just Guatemala and Venezuela, the Government of Tanzania would support Guatemala, but this decision has not been sanctioned at the highest level within the GOT. Amba [...] | 2006-07-26 10:18:00 | Embassy Dar Es Salaam | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC UNGA GT VE EC TZ |
06DARESSALAAM311 | TANZANIA NON-COMMITTAL RE GRULAC UNSC SEAT [...] No summary [...] | 2006-02-16 14:03:00 | Embassy Dar Es Salaam | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL GT VE TZ UN UNSC |
06DARESSALAAM450 | TANZANIA STILL NON-COMMITTAL ON GRULAC UNSC SEAT [...] (C) Charge delivered reftel demarche to Ambassador Liberatta Mulamula, Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Multilateral Division, on March 9, 2006. Mulamula said the Government of Tanzania (GOT) usually leaves the countries of Latin America to decide which country occupies the GRULAC [...] | 2006-03-10 09:23:00 | Embassy Dar Es Salaam | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL GT VE TZ UNAUS UNSC |
06DUBLIN206 | IRELAND/UN: VENEZUELA, THE PEACEBUILDING [...] (C) Like the United States, Ireland believes that Venezuela would bring neither strength nor diplomatic credentials to the 2007-2008 Latin America non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, according to John Deady and Brian Cahalane, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Counselor and First [...] | 2006-02-28 09:14:00 | Embassy Dublin | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPKO UNSC GT VE EI |
06DUBLIN216 | IRELAND: TO DEFER TO EU PRESIDENCY FOR VENEZUELAN [...] No summary [...] | 2006-03-01 08:19:00 | Embassy Dublin | CONFIDENTIAL | EU PGOV PHUM PREL VE EI |
06DUBLIN718 | GOI CONCERNED ABOUT VENEZUELAN NGOS [...] No summary [...] | 2006-06-21 09:56:00 | Embassy Dublin | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KDEM PGOV VE EI EAID |
06DUSHANBE499 | TAJIKISTAN: DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON DEFEATING VENEZUELA IN [...] (U) Post delivered talking points per reftel on defeating Venezuela in the 2006 election for non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council to Tajikistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2. (C) The government of Tajikistan has not discussed the vote with Venezuela or Guatemala and has not yet [...] | 2006-03-15 11:07:00 | Embassy Dushanbe | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UN UNSC GT VE TI |
06EFTOCARACAS2252 | MEETING WITH FINANCE COMMITTEE PRESIDENT RODRIGO [...] (SBU) Summary: EconCouns, accompanied by Econ Specialist, met July 12 with Rodrigo Cabezas and Ricardo Sanguino, President and Vice President, respectively, of the National Assembly's Finance Committee. During a 90-minute tour d' horizon, Cabezas said reform of the banking law was still und [...] | 2006-07-31 14:56:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN PGOV VE |
06EFTOCARACAS943 | FONDEN: A BLACKBOX [...] (SBU) Created by the July 2005 Central Bank Reform Law, the National Development Fund (FONDEN) is the BRV's multibillion dollar off-budget fund. Established to pay for the foreign component of investment projects, pay down foreign debt, and pay for other special projects, FONDEN, as of March [...] | 2006-04-06 20:44:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN ECON PGOV VE |
06FREETOWN702 | SIERRA LEONE STILL UNDECIDED ON UNSC VOTE, BUT [...] (C) On August 24, PolOff met with Director General of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Umaru Wurie. Wurie said that he is expecting a Venezuelan envoy to arrive on September 3 to discuss his country's candidacy for the UN Security Council. Wurie said Sierra Leone's permanent representative to the UN [...] | 2006-08-28 09:06:00 | Embassy Freetown | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC UNGA SL GT VE |
06FREETOWN803 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: VENEZUELA UNSC RACE [...] (C) On September 28, during a meeting with Sierra Leone President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah, Ambassador raised U.S. concerns about Venezuela's UNSC candidacy and the behavior of President Chavez, as requested reftel. Both the Foreign Minister and the Vice President are currently out of the country. [...] | 2006-09-28 18:05:00 | Embassy Freetown | CONFIDENTIAL | UNSC GT VE SL |
06GEORGETOWN1039 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: VENEZUELA'S GREATEST HITS [...] (C) Ambassador delivered reftel talking points on October 4 to Minister of Foreign Affairs Rudy Insanally. 2. (C) Insanally considered Chavez' UN speech "far too much," and said he appreciated Congressman Rangel's reported response to it. However, he indicated that Guyana would support Ven [...] | 2006-10-04 20:07:00 | Embassy Georgetown | CONFIDENTIAL | UNSC GT VE GY |
06GEORGETOWN1049 | MONUMENT FOR CUBANA BOMBING VICTIMS PLANNED [...] (U) Cuban Ambassador Merchante Castellanos, Minister of Foreign Affairs Rudy Insanally, and Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green spoke at a ceremony on Friday afternoon marking the 30th anniversary of the 1976 Cubana C.U. 455 bombing. Seventy-three people, including eleven Guyanese, were kille [...] | 2006-10-10 13:58:00 | Embassy Georgetown | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PTER EAIR KPAO CU VE GY |
06GEORGETOWN191 | GUYANA FM LIKES GUATEMALA FOR UNSC [...] (C) Ambassador met with Foreign Minister (and UN PermRep) Rudy Insanally February 27 to deliver demarche regarding the candidates for the 2007-2008 Latin America non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). 2. (C) Insanally said that he has discussed the matter with Gua [...] | 2006-02-27 17:47:00 | Embassy Georgetown | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL GT VE GY UNSC UN |
06GEORGETOWN365 | Venezuela and the Caribbean [...] Following is text of the editorial in today's Stabroek News newspaper, Guyana's leading independent newspaper. The editorial is a good reflection of the Guyanese thinking man's view of Venezuela, Chavez, and the 160 year-old boundary dispute. 2. BEGIN TEXT: It was columnist Mr. Reggie D [...] | 2006-04-21 14:21:00 | Embassy Georgetown | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PBTS ECIN EINV EPET EAID XL VE GY |
06GEORGETOWN679 | (C) FUZZY MATH: JAGDEO SAYS UNSC VOTE ALL ABOUT [...] (U) Action request see para 5. 2. (C) President Jadgeo told Ambassador July 11 that CARICOM has made a condition on its support for Venezuela's UNSC seat candidacy -- that Venezuela must make a public statement that it will not use the UNSC seat to further the cause of its border issue. In [...] | 2006-07-12 20:55:00 | Embassy Georgetown | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC CARICOM VE GY |
06GUATEMALA99 | VENEZUELAN INTRIGUE IN THE GUATEMALAN OIL MARKET? [...] (C) Summary: The Franco-US oil company KLP Industries has contacted the Embassy repeatedly alleging that it is the victim of a plot to revoke an exploration contract it won from the Government of Guatemala (GOG). The contract has, in fact, been revoked by the GOG. KLP believes that it has be [...] | 2006-01-19 19:55:00 | Embassy Guatemala | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG EPET ETRD EINV ECON PGOV PINR GT VE |
06HANOI2642 | VIETNAM REACHING OUT TO VENEZUELA AND CUBA ON ENERGY [...] (SBU) Summary and Comment: Recent news reports have indicated that Vietnam has signed a series of energy deals with Venezuela and Cuba. According to a GVN official, such Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) are in line with the GVN's policy to seek more oil resources and partners outside of Vietn [...] | 2006-10-16 09:26:00 | Embassy Hanoi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ENRG OVIP EINV VE VM |
06HANOI290 | VENEZUELA'S UNSC ASPIRATIONS: VIETNAM YE TO STAKE A POSITION [...] No summary [...] | 2006-02-10 09:13:00 | Embassy Hanoi | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL UN UNSC VM VE |
06HANOI680 | Vietnam: Officially Still Undecided on Venezuela [...] No summary [...] | 2006-03-24 06:51:00 | Embassy Hanoi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL UN UNSC GT VE VM |
06HANOI896 | UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL, UNSC, NEXT SECRETARY- [...] (SBU) The DCM met April 19 with MFA International Organizations Department Acting Director General Vu Anh Quang to deliver reftel's points and letter from the Secretary to Foreign Minister Nguyen Dzy Nien. Quang said SIPDIS that the MFA values U.S. viewpoints on multilateral issues such as [...] | 2006-04-20 10:11:00 | Embassy Hanoi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV UN UNSC KUNR PHUM GT VE VM |
06HAVANA16137 | REGIME IMAGES: CASTRO PASSES TORCH TO CHAVEZ [...] (C) Cuban state media on August 14 released still images, and then a video, of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's bedside visit with Fidel Castro a day earlier. Photographic images charged with symbolic meaning are among the hallmarks of Castro's reign; the latest images symbolize Castro's e [...] | 2006-08-15 20:01:00 | US Interests Section Havana | CONFIDENTIAL | PINR PGOV PREL VE CU |
06HELSINKI1037 | DAS PEKALA,S OCTOBER 4 MEETINGS WITH FINNISH MFA [...] (SBU) EUR DAS Mark Pekala visited Helsinki October 4-6 to participate in the Nordic-Baltic Chiefs of Mission Conference and to consult with Finnish officials on bilateral and transatlantic issues. In separate meetings with Finnish Political Director Pilvi-Sisko Vierros-Villeneuve and Director [...] | 2006-10-12 08:45:00 | Embassy Helsinki | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SENV ENRG ECON FI AF GT VE RS GG |
06JAKARTA12542 | FINAL PUSH BEFORE GUATEMALA-VENEZUELA VOTE [...] (C) Pursuant to reftel A, PolCouns called on the Directorate of International Security and International Affairs of the Department of Foreign Affairs and requested reconfirmation of Indonesia's support for Guatemala as expressed to the Secretary on September 26 (ref. B). PolCouns's request was [...] | 2006-10-13 09:18:00 | Embassy Jakarta | CONFIDENTIAL | UNSC GT VE ID |
06JAKARTA12730 | BREAKING THE GUATEMALA-VENEZUELA IMPASSE [...] No summary [...] | 2006-10-19 09:38:00 | Embassy Jakarta | CONFIDENTIAL | UNSC GT VE ID |
06JEDDAH545 | AMBASSADOR URGES SAG TO SUPPORT GUATEMALA'S UNSC [...] (S) Ambassador Oberwetter renewed USG concerns with Venezuela's candidacy for Latin America's open UNSC seat during an August 15 meeting with FM Saud al-Faisal. The Ambassador raised Ref A points, adding that President Chavez had vowed to support Iran "at any time and under any conditions" d [...] | 2006-08-16 06:56:00 | Consulate Jeddah | SECRET | PREL UNSC GT VE SA |
06KATHMANDU2731 | GUATEMALA-VENEZUELA DEMARCHE DELIVERED [...] No summary [...] | 2006-10-13 11:20:00 | Embassy Kathmandu | CONFIDENTIAL | UNSC GT VE NP |
06KATHMANDU2790 | GUATEMALA-VENEZUELA: NEPAL WILL SUPPORT GUATEMALA [...] No summary [...] | 2006-10-19 12:25:00 | Embassy Kathmandu | CONFIDENTIAL | UNSC GT VE NP |
06KATHMANDU408 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: DEFEATING VENEZUELA FOR [...] (C) On February 10 the Ambassador urged Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey to consider Guatemala's candidacy for the UN Security Council, keeping in mind the negative consequences of Venezuela's membership in the Security Council, per reftel. Pandey was curious about what type of governments [...] | 2006-02-10 12:51:00 | Embassy Kathmandu | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN UNSC GT VE NP |
06KHARTOUM2490 | SUDAN HAS NOT BEEN APPROACHED BY GUATEMALA ON [...] (SBU) Charge d'Affairs Cameron Hume delivered the demarche on Guatemala's candidacy for the UNSC (refs A and B) to State Minister for Foreign Affairs Ali Ahmed Karti on October 10. Karti responded that no one from Guatemala had approached Sudan regarding Security Council membership. Hume ex [...] | 2006-10-12 06:36:00 | Embassy Khartoum | CONFIDENTIAL | UNSC GT VE SU |
06KIEV1561 | UKRAINE: DEMARCHE ON VENEZUELA'S UN SECURITY [...] (C) We discussed Venezuela's bid for a seat on the UN Security Council with Andriy Beshta from the MFA United Nations directorate April 18, reiterating ref C demarche points and drawing on information from ref A. Beshta said that his office had used our previous demarche to formulate a propos [...] | 2006-04-18 13:45:00 | Embassy Kyiv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER UNSC VE GT UP |
06KIEV3751 | UKRAINE: POTENTIAL SALE OF CIVIL AIRCRAFT TO [...] (C) On September 28, we met with MFA Arms Control and Military Technical Cooperation Department Director General Volodymyr Belashov and Counselors Igor Kyzym and Oles Belakoles at Belashov's request. Belashov thanked us for the briefing on USG policy on arms transfers to Venezuela (ref A). H [...] | 2006-09-28 13:31:00 | Embassy Kyiv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PARM MARR MASS ETTC VE UP |
06KIGALI653 | GOR SOLICITED ON SUPPORT FOR GUATEMALA [...] On 30 June, poloff discussed talking points (reftel) with Daniel Mutezintare, the focal point for UN issues in the Minstry of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Mutezintare said that the GOR was currently not committed to supporting either Guatemala or Venezuela, but he would brief Foreign Minister Muriga [...] | 2006-07-06 11:39:00 | Embassy Kigali | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL UNSC UNGA GT VE RW |
06KIGALI987 | RWANDA STILL UNDECIDED ON GUATEMALA [...] (C) This is an action request for A/S Frazer. Please see paragraph 3. 2. (C) On 13 October Charge delivered demarche (ref B) to Foreign Minister Murigande emphasizing that the USG considered the vote to be one of the most important decisions the UNGA would make this year. Murigande noted [...] | 2006-10-13 12:00:00 | Embassy Kigali | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC VE GT |
06KINGSTON1592 | VENEZUELA/JAMAICA: USD 563 MILLION ASSISTANCE [...] (SBU) On August 14, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, accompanied by Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro and Energy and Petroleum Minister Raphael Ramirez, made a one-day stop in Jamaica during which he signed agreements with the GOJ totaling USD 563.3 million. Of that figure, USD 290 million pur [...] | 2006-08-15 19:47:00 | Embassy Kingston | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID ECON EPET PGOV PREL JM VE |
06KINGSTON1605 | UNSC VOTE: MIXED SIGNALS FROM JAMAICA [...] No summary [...] | 2006-08-17 15:18:00 | Embassy Kingston | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL JM VE |
06KINGSTON1624 | UNSC VOTE: JAMAICA "UNDECIDED"? [...] (C) On August 18, Poloff met with XXXXXXXXXXXX, Deputy Director of the International Organizations Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT),who reported that Jamaica was "undecided" regarding the UNSC seat vote and that Jamaica would make its decision based on "national in [...] | 2006-08-18 18:27:00 | Embassy Kingston | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL JM VE |
06KINGSTON1978 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED RE: UNSC RACE [...] (SBU) On October 4, PolOff met with and conveyed reftel points to Angella Brown, Deputy Director, International Organizations Department, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT),and left a copy of the Non-Paper on President Chavez' Statements. 2. (SBU) Brown stated tha [...] | 2006-10-04 20:35:00 | Embassy Kingston | CONFIDENTIAL | UNSC GT VE JM |
06KINGSTON393 | DEMARCHE: DEFEATING VENEZUELA IN THE 2006 [...] No summary [...] | 2006-02-27 18:28:00 | Embassy Kingston | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC VE JM |
06KINGSTON558 | DEMARCHE FORWARDED: OAS COUNTERTERRORISM [...] No summary [...] | 2006-03-20 20:43:00 | Embassy Kingston | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PTER ECON MARR MASS CVIS OAS VE JM |
06KINSHASA373 | DRC: DEMARCHES ON SECURITY COUNCIL, SECRETARY [...] (SBU) PolOff met March 3 with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chief of Staff Jacques Djoli to discuss a variety of subjects, including the upcoming elections of new members to the UN Security Council (reftel A) and of a new UN Secretary General (reftel B). Djoli said in light of Guatemala's contri [...] | 2006-03-06 10:33:00 | Embassy Kinshasa | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL UN UNSC GT VE CG |
06KUALALUMPUR1618 | COUNTERING CHAVEZ'S UNSC LOBBYING IN MALAYSIA [...] (C) As Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez conducted a state visit to Malaysia (below),Polcouns delivered reftel demarche August 28 on countering Venezuela's UNSC lobbying to the Malaysian Foreign Ministry's Acting Under Secretary for American Affairs Khairi Omar. We particularly highlighted V [...] | 2006-08-28 09:19:00 | Embassy Kuala Lumpur | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KDEM UNSC VE MY |
06KUALALUMPUR1634 | MALAYSIA CONFIRMS SUPPORT FOR VENEZUELA'S UNSC BID [...] (C) Polcouns met August 30 with Bala Chandran Tharman, Principal Assistant Secretary, Multilateral Political Division/UN Affairs at the Malaysian Foreign Ministry, and reiterated ref B demarche regarding Venezuela's lobbying for a UNSC seat. We asked whether President Chavez's repeated publi [...] | 2006-08-30 08:59:00 | Embassy Kuala Lumpur | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KDEM UNSC VE GT MY |
06KUALALUMPUR2196 | DCM RAISES VENEZUELA, AMCITS' DETENTION WITH NEW [...] (C) The DCM and polchief paid an introductory call on the Malaysian Foreign Ministry's new Under Secretary for the Americas, Ambassador Ramlan Ibrahim, on November 30. Ramlan said he saw opportunities to further strengthen ties with the U.S. based on the strong personal relationship between [...] | 2006-11-30 08:24:00 | Embassy Kuala Lumpur | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV CASC ASEC VE MY |
06KYIV4196 | UKRAINE: POTENTIAL SALE OF CIVILIAN AIRCRAFT TO [...] (U) This is an action request. See para 4. 2. (C) We provided ref A talking points November 6 to MFA Arms Control and Military Technical Cooperation Department Counselor Igor Kyzym, who said the information was timely since he would be able to relay the USG position to the interagency Pres [...] | 2006-11-06 16:27:00 | Embassy Kyiv | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ETTC EAIR ETRD PARM MARR MASS VE UP |
06LAPAZ2222 | UNCERTAINTY REGARDING ALLEGED DEAL WITH IRAN [...] (C/NF) Press reports from Tehran state that Bolivian Minister of Economic Development Celinda Sosa signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Iran (GOI) for the expansion of industrial and mineral cooperation, but GOB officials could not confirm the signing for Embassy offici [...] | 2006-08-17 20:19:00 | Embassy La Paz | SECRET//NOFORN | ECON PGOV PREL BL IR VE |
06LAPAZ2506 | VENEZUELAN AND CUBAN INFLUENCE GROWING [...] (C) Two social sector leaders, Rufo Calle and Hugo Vega (protect),independently told poloff September 14 that Venezuela and Cuba are increasingly involved in Bolivian social organizations. Rufo Calle, president of a national indigenous/labor organization (CSUTCB),said the MAS is intensifyin [...] | 2006-09-15 19:17:00 | Embassy La Paz | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL BL CU VE |
06LAPAZ3294 | GOB ON IRAN-- MIXED SIGNALS [...] (SBU) Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) Deputy Javier Zabaleta announced in early November that Bolivia would support Iran's nuclear activities and oppose U.S. policy on Iran. Zabaleta criticized the United States' "double edged" policy and said the matter should be resolved via peaceful means [...] | 2006-12-06 12:28:00 | Embassy La Paz | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PREL KNNP MNUC PARM BL VE IR |
06LIBREVILLE548 | VENEZUELAN VICE FOREIGN MINISTER VISITS GABON, SAO [...] (U) On August 21, 2006, Venezuela's Vice Foreign Minister, Reinaldo Bolivar, visited Libreville and called on Gabonese President Omar Bongo Ondimba. According to press reports, he expressed President Chavez' firm commitment to strengthen the two countries' friendship and cooperation. Specific [...] | 2006-08-24 06:02:00 | Embassy Libreville | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC VE GB |
06LIMA1443 | DEMARCHE: VENEZUELA'S IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR ON [...] (C) Dep PolCouns delivered the demarche on Venezuela's irresponsible behavior on counter terrorism (Ref A) to the Director of Multilateral Affairs Julio Garro on 4/11. On 4/12 Garro thanked Poloff for the information in the demarche and said he had not/not yet received a readout from the Peruvi [...] | 2006-04-12 20:46:00 | Embassy Lima | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC VE UN PE |
06LIMA1681 | CHAVEZ FUELS MORE CONTRETEMPS WITH PERU [...] (C) Over May Day weekend, Hugo Chavez continued to lobby verbal salvos, first at Alan Garcia, and then at Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo. In response, Peru has recalled its Ambassador to Caracas. President Toledo on May 1 announced that he would expel Venezuela,s Ambassador if the BRV [...] | 2006-05-02 22:24:00 | Embassy Lima | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PE VE |
06LIMA1752 | FOREIGN MINISTER MAURTUA'S MESSAGE TO OAS MEMBER [...] (C) Foreign Minister Maurtua on May 4 convoked Ambassadors from OAS member states (except Venezuela) to brief them on the Chavez Government,s interference in Peru,s Presidential elections. Echoing the presentation Peru made to the OAS Permanent Council the day before, Maurtua emphasized that: [...] | 2006-05-05 22:02:00 | Embassy Lima | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL OAS PE VE |
06LIMA1809 | COBALT-60 STORY FROM THE LIMA END [...] (C) Summary: On May 8, NAS Director and DepEconCouns met with Alfonso Paredes, manager of Caddin, operator of Rapiscan's GaRDS system in Peru. Paredes described an accidental transfer, by a Caddin engineer (supposedly trained by Rapiscan),of the Cobalt-60 capsule from its storage canister to [...] | 2006-05-10 16:07:00 | Embassy Lima | CONFIDENTIAL | SNAR PREL KSAF TRGY ENRG TSPL ASEC KNNP VE PE |
06LIMA1924 | PERUVIANS CONCLUDE INVESTIGATION OF COBALT-60 [...] (U) Summary: After exhaustive interviews, investigators from GOP nuclear regulator IPEN believe that a poorly trained Caddin employee removed the Co-60 source in Lima without realizing it. IPEN, Caddin and Rapiscan officials discounted the possibility that the Co-60 removal was a malicious act [...] | 2006-05-17 16:06:00 | Embassy Lima | CONFIDENTIAL | SNAR PREL KSAF TRGY ENRG TSPL ASEC KNNP VE PE |
06LIMA2885 | HUMALA A HAS-BEEN, SAYS FORMER ADVISOR, NOW [...] (C) Former radical, anti-system presidential candidate for the Union por el Peru (UPP) and Peruvian Nationalist (PNP) parties Ollanta Humala will neither be able to control the 43-person Congressional bloc elected with him nor will he succeed in electing political allies in November's regional [...] | 2006-07-25 19:37:00 | Embassy Lima | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PHUM VE PE |
06LIMA30 | CHAVEZ, EVO MORALES BACK HUMALA AT CARACAS MEETING [...] (C) SUMMARY: Peruvian anti-system presidential candidate Ollanta Humala made a surprise appearance in Caracas on 1/3, attending a televised ceremony held by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to honor Bolivian President-elect Evo Morales. Both Chavez and Morales had high praise for Ollanta, who [...] | 2006-01-04 20:26:00 | Embassy Lima | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PE VE BL |
06LIMA3014 | PERUVIANS PRAGMATIC ON CASTRO'S ILLNESS [...] (U) Pronouncements by Peru's leaders on the situation in Cuba have been guarded and pragmatic. --After lamenting Castro's deteriorating health, Peruvian Prime Minister and long-time advisor to President Alan Garcia told Radio Programs of Peru on 8/1 that the international community should p [...] | 2006-08-02 22:17:00 | Embassy Lima | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR PHUM VE PE |
06LIMA3015 | PERU ON CUBA: OFFICIALS/JOURNALISTS SEE CHANGE [...] (C) Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Garcia Belaunde maintains that Fidel Castro's condition is more serious than reported and foresees change in Cuba as a result of the Cuban dictator's illness. Well-connected Peruvian journalists agree that Raul Castro could not maintain the communist regime [...] | 2006-08-02 22:46:00 | Embassy Lima | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PHUM VE PE |
06LIMA3104 | SECRETARY GUTIERREZ MEETS PRESIDENT ALAN GARCIA [...] (U) President Alan Garcia met privately for 20 minutes with Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez following the inauguration ceremony on July 28. The President was accompanied by Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde. Ambassador Struble joined the Secretary. 2. (C) Secretary Gutie [...] | 2006-08-08 19:18:00 | Embassy Lima | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PHUM VE PE |
06LIMA3579 | HUMALA'S HEADACHES: FROM ALMOST PRESIDENT TO [...] (C) Summary: In three months, Ollanta Humala has gone from nearly winning the June 4 presidential election to wrestling with a divided and increasingly rebellious congressional bloc and becoming a defendant in a serious human rights case. While Humala's wounds are largely self-inflicted, his [...] | 2006-09-08 19:09:00 | Embassy Lima | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PHUM VE PE |
06LIMA3825 | CHAVEZ' CHARGE OF FRAUD FURTHER STRAINS [...] (SBU) Summary: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez' public allegation that Alan Garcia won Peru's recent elections by resorting to fraud has generated strong public and official repudiations here. This latest exchange has further strained an already testy bilateral relationship, and with luck wi [...] | 2006-09-27 19:54:00 | Embassy Lima | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PHUM UNGA UNSC VE PE |
06LIMA4009 | PERU'S CONGRESS: OPPOSITION DIVIDED, TAME (SO FAR) [...] (C) Summary: Concerns that the Garcia government would face an obstreperous congress dominated by the opposition have proven unfounded. Instead, Humala's UPP/PNP coalition has unraveled while Unidad Nacional (UN),the pro-Fujimori bloc and other smaller parties have provisionally allied them [...] | 2006-10-10 14:20:00 | Embassy Lima | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PHUM VE PE |
06LIMA4046 | EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS CARVE OUT POLITICAL SPACE [...] (SBU) Peru's Evangelical Protestants constitute a rising, pro-US, anti-radical force that helped Alan Garcia defeat Ollanta Humala in Peru's 6/4 presidential race (Ref A-D). Garcia showed his gratitude when he attended a post-inaugural Evangelical "Thanksgiving" service held in his honor. The [...] | 2006-10-12 18:36:00 | Embassy Lima | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR PHUM VE PE |
06LIMA4246 | NEW HORIZONS A SUCCESS [...] Ambassador Struble traveled on 9/15 with government Ministers, Congresspersons and local leaders to close the bilateral New Horizons Humanitarian Exercises in Lambayeque Province. The group visited a medical readiness site, a school, and a well drilling project, all built compliments of New [...] | 2006-10-31 19:52:00 | Embassy Lima | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PHUM VE PE |
06LIMA4325 | ATPDEA LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUSH FROM ANDEAN [...] Post received the following letter thanking President Bush for his efforts to extend the Andean Trade Promotion and Drug Eradication Act (ATPDEA) from Bolivian President Evo Morales, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe, Ecuadorian President Alfredo Palacio and Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Antoni [...] | 2006-11-09 19:21:00 | Embassy Lima | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PINR PHUM VE CO BL PE |
06LIMA4366 | REGIONAL/MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS: APATHY, LOCALISM [...] (SBU) Regional and municipal elections have failed to spark much enthusiasm in the key southern regions of Arequipa and Ayacucho, where voters appear stricken with "election fatigue." A plethora of local movements and candidates pursuing often narrow regional and local platforms predominates [...] | 2006-11-14 22:16:00 | Embassy Lima | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR PHUM VE PE |
06LIMA4451 | REGIONAL ELECTIONS: APRA DOWN AND HUMALA OUT AMID [...] (U) Independent local groups won the majority of regional presidencies and mayorships in Peru's 11/19 elections. Former presidential candidate Ollanta Humala's Peruvian Nationalist Party was all but wiped out and APRA lost significant ground, holding on to only three Regional Presidencies. T [...] | 2006-11-21 22:29:00 | Embassy Lima | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PINR PHUM VE PE |
06LIMA55 | PERU RECALLS ITS AMBASSADOR FROM VENEZUELA IN [...] The Peruvian Government recalled its Ambassador to Caracas, Carlos Urrutia, for consultations in response to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's virtual endorsement of Peruvian presidential candidate Ollanta Humala at an event honoring visiting Bolivian President-elect Evo Morales on 1/3 (Reft [...] | 2006-01-05 22:13:00 | Embassy Lima | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PE VE |
06LINSK1234 | LUKASHENKO'S NEW FOREIGN POLICY: A METHOD TO THE [...] No summary [...] | 2006-12-01 14:03:00 | Embassy Minsk | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON CH VE AJ IR BO |
06LISBON1244 | PORTUGAL WITH EU CONCENSUS ON VENEZUELAN ANTI-NGO [...] No summary [...] | 2006-06-23 10:37:00 | Embassy Lisbon | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PREL EAID VE PT |
06LISBON1572 | PORTUGUESE FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES HUGO CHAVEZ [...] (C) The Ambassador met with Foreign Minister Luis Amado to get a readout of Prime Minister Socrates's July 23 meeting with Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, which occurred during the latter's refueling stopover at the Lisbon Airport. The Ambassador expressed strong concern about Venezuela's mil [...] | 2006-07-28 16:03:00 | Embassy Lisbon | CONFIDENTIAL | PO VE |
06LISBON1593 | CHAVEZ PLANS OFFICIAL VISIT TO PORTUGAL [...] (C) Summary: On July 28, local daily "Diario de Noticias" reported Venezuelan Ambassador to Portugal, Lucas Rincon Romero's comments that President Hugo Chavez is making plans to travel to Portugal on an official visit sometime before the end of October. Pol/Econ Officer paid a call MFA Latin [...] | 2006-08-02 15:50:00 | Embassy Lisbon | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE PO |
06LISBON1921 | AMBASSADOR - FOREIGN MINISTER TOUR D'HORIZON [...] (S/NF) Ambassador Hoffman's meeting with Foreign Minister Amado on September 8 covered the waterfront of issues. The Minister said that he would push hard with the Prime Minister to allow Lajes to be used as a transit point in repatriating Guantanamo detainees (ref a). During recent closed testimon [...] | 2006-09-08 16:57:00 | Embassy Lisbon | SECRET | MOPS PREL PTER PO US VE |
06LISBON2160 | PORTUGUESE REACTION TO VENEZUELA'S CAMPAIGN USE OF [...] (U) The Portuguese press was dominated September 28 by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez,s billboard campaign in Caracas, which uses a photo of Chavez together with Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, above the Venezuelan and Portuguese flags. Under the title, "Breaking the Blockade, Vene [...] | 2006-09-28 14:25:00 | Embassy Lisbon | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL VE PO |
06LISBON2244 | PORTUGUESE SUPPORT TO PRESSURE MOZAMBIQUE ON UNSC [...] (C) Portugal's Deputy Foreign Minister, Professor Joao Gomes Cravinho, told us it is an inopportune time for Portugal to pressure Mozambique regarding the latter's vote in the upcoming United Nations Security Council (UNSC) election between Venezuela and Guatemala. Portugal and Mozambique, Go [...] | 2006-10-10 14:25:00 | Embassy Lisbon | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MZ VE PO |
06LISBON2406 | PORTUGAL: VENEZUELA SPECIAL COORDINATOR DISCUSSES [...] (C) Summary: In an October 3 meeting with WHA Special Coordinator for Venezuela Deborah McCarthy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Latin America Director Helena Coutinho stressed Portugal's commitment to a fair Venezuelan presidential campaign with a viable opposition to prevent Chavez from [...] | 2006-10-25 16:08:00 | Embassy Lisbon | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE BR PO |
06LJUBLJANA244 | SLOVENIA DOES NOT SUPPORT VENEZUELA'S UNSC [...] (C) Polecon Chief spoke with Bojana Cipot of the MFA's UN division in the Directorate of Multilateral Affairs. Cipot agreed that Venezuela's latest behavior was cause for serious concern. She said the GOS did not believe Venezuela was a good candidate for the UNSC and the GOS would not supp [...] | 2006-04-21 05:28:00 | Embassy Ljubljana | CONFIDENTIAL | UNSC PREL VE SI |
06LONDON6591 | UK AGREES TO LIMITED LOBBYING FOR GUATEMALA'S UNSC [...] (C) The FCO agreed to our request to lobby Ghana, Kenya, Namibia and Singapore in support of Guatemala's bid for the Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC) seat on the UN Security Council. FCO Director for International Security Stephen Pattison told DCM September 9 that the UK supported [...] | 2006-09-12 13:30:00 | Embassy London | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC GT VE UK |
06MADRID002583ZFR2585 | SPAIN: VISIT OF VENEZUELA COORDINATOR DEBORAH [...] No summary [...] | 2006-10-13 14:24:00 | Embassy Madrid | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SNAR UNSC SP VE |
06MADRID2583 | SPAIN: VISIT OF VENEZUELA COORDINATOR DEBORAH [...] (C) SUMMARY: Special Coordinator for Venezuela Deborah McCarthy met with representatives of the Spanish Foreign Ministry and National Security Council on October 4 to discuss U.S. policy on Venezuela and Latin America. McCarthy also conducted interviews with two Spanish media outlets and on [...] | 2006-10-13 14:24:00 | Embassy Madrid | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SNAR UNSC SP VE |
06MADRID2584 | SPAIN: VISIT OF VENEZUELA COORDINATOR DEBORAH [...] (C) SUMMARY: Special Coordinator for Venezuela Deborah McCarthy met with representatives of the Spanish Foreign Ministry and National Security Council on October 4 to discuss U.S. policy on Venezuela and Latin America. McCarthy also conducted interviews with two Spanish media outlets and on [...] | 2006-10-13 15:21:00 | Embassy Madrid | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SNAR UNSC SP VE |
06MADRID2908 | DEMARCHE ON IRAN AIR'S ATTEMPT TO ACQUIRE 30 [...] (S//NF) Ambassador raised reftel demarche during a November 17 meeting with Spanish FM Moratinos. (Note: Other meeting topics are covered septel. End Note.) Moratinos stated he was completely unaware of any such deal, but noted that Iberia was a private commercial enterprise with no government inte [...] | 2006-11-17 17:13:00 | Embassy Madrid | SECRET | EAIR ETRD ETTC PARM PREL IT VE KTFN SP |
06MADRID2938 | DEMARCHE ON IRAN AIR'S ATTEMPT TO ACQUIRE 30 [...] (S/NF) As promised in Reftel A, FM Moratinos called the Ambassador back to say that he had looked into the potential Iberia-Iran Air deal and that it would not happen. The Ambassador referred to the possible use of shell companies and the Foreign Minister reiterated that the deal would not happen b [...] | 2006-11-22 13:51:00 | Embassy Madrid | SECRET | EAIR ETRD ETTC PARM PREL IT VE KTFN SP |
06MANAGUA1079 | VENEZUELAN FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO NICARAGUA,S FSLN [...] (S/NF) SUMMARY/BACKGROUND: Although Post possesses no specific numbers on the level of support Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is providing to Sandinista (FSLN) candidate Daniel Ortega, we are certain that Chavez' direct and indirect assistance to Ortega is substantial, could well reach the [...] | 2006-05-17 14:26:00 | Embassy Managua | SECRET//NOFORN | PINR ENRG EFIN PGOV NU PREL SOCI VE EPET EAGR |
06MANAGUA390 | GON PUSHING FOR CENTAM UNITY BEHIND GUATEMALA TO [...] No summary [...] | 2006-02-17 21:25:00 | Embassy Managua | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN UNSC GT VE DR NU |
06MANAGUA514 | NICARAGUA SUPPORTS "FRIENDS GROUP" TO PROMOTE [...] No summary [...] | 2006-03-08 17:49:00 | Embassy Managua | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN UNSC GT VE DR NU |
06MANAGUA841 | VENEZUELA NOW USING FERTILIZER TO GROW SUPPORT FOR [...] (SBU) Summary: In only the latest example of Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) efforts to bolster the Sandinista Front Party (FSLN) in Nicaragua's 2006 national elections, 11,260 metric tons of urea have been sent for distribution by a Sandinista Cooperative to the rural poor as part of an [...] | 2006-04-17 21:26:00 | Embassy Managua | SECRET | ECON ENRG EFIN PGOV NU PREL SOCI VE CU EPET |
06MANAGUA851 | NICARAGUA AND SUSPENSION OF TITLE III OF THE [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Government of Nicaragua (GON) remains responsive to U.S. efforts in favor of a democratic transition in Cuba and maintains frank communication with the Embassy on Cuba-related policies and issues. Nicaraguan-Cuban trade and mutual investment are statistically insignificant. [...] | 2006-04-18 21:09:00 | Embassy Managua | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ETTC PREL CU VE NU |
06MANAGUA883 | NICARAGUA BOLSTERS CENTAM SUPPORT FOR GUATEMALA [...] No summary [...] | 2006-04-21 23:45:00 | Embassy Managua | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN UNSC GT VE DR PM NU |
06MANAGUA884 | NICARAGUA SHARES U.S. CONDEMNATION OF VENEZUELAN [...] (C) On April 20, Ambassador shared with Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Norman Caldera the pattern of harassment directed by the Venezuelan government against U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela, William R. Brownfield, most recently when Ambassador Brownfield was donating baseball equipment to a Little [...] | 2006-04-21 23:59:00 | Embassy Managua | CONFIDENTIAL | OVIP PGOV PTER PREL VE NU |
06MANAMA1065 | BAHRAIN: BUILDING SUPPORT FOR GUATEMALA IN [...] No summary [...] | 2006-06-14 11:21:00 | Embassy Manama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC BA GT VE ROW |
06MANAMA1779 | BAHRAIN: DEMARCHE IN ADVANCE OF OCTOBER 16 UNSC [...] (C) Pol/Econ Chief October 10 delivered Ref A demarche concerning the October 16 election for the open GRULAC seat on the UN Security Council to MFA Director for International Organization Affairs Ghassan Shaikho. Shaikho replied that Foreign Minister Shaikh Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and NE [...] | 2006-10-12 12:03:00 | Embassy Manama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC BA GT VE ROW |
06MANAMA1807 | BAHRAIN: BREAKING THE GUATEMALA-VENEZUELA IMPASSE [...] No summary [...] | 2006-10-19 10:16:00 | Embassy Manama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC BA GT VE ROW |
06MAPUTO785 | MOZAMBIQUE: BUILDING SUPPORT FOR GUATEMALA IN [...] (C) On June 30, Charge delivered reftel demarche to Elias Jaime Zimba, the Foreign Ministry's Director for the Americas and Europe. Charge noted that former Ambassador La Lime had raised this issue twice (note: before Zimba's recent assumption of his position) with Minister Abreu, who was well [...] | 2006-06-30 12:54:00 | Embassy Maputo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC UNGA GT VE MZ |
06MASERU140 | UNSC ELECTIONS (GRULAC) [...] (SBU) Per reftel, Ambassador raised points on Venezuela and Guatemala as contenders for the GRULAC seat for the UN Security Council (2007-2008) during March 16 discussions with the GOL Foreign Minister. 2. (SBU) Venezuela's troubling disruption of international events, including the disru [...] | 2006-03-17 14:19:00 | Embassy Maseru | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL UN UNSC GT VE LT |
06MASERU310 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: BUILDING SUPPORT FOR GUATEMALA IN [...] (C) Ambassador delivered points in Ref A to Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Ntsinyi June 30 following her return from out of town. The Minister was not familiar with the issue, therefore, Ambassador reiterated information contained in Ref B noting that Foreign Minister Moleleki had stated [...] | 2006-06-30 12:30:00 | Embassy Maseru | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC UNGA GT VE LT |
06MASERU322 | LESOTHO: BUILDING SUPPORT FOR GUATEMALA IN AFRICA [...] (C) Following last week's discussion with the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs (Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment),Ambassador followed up with Foreign Minister Moleleki to seek confirmation of Lesotho's support for Guatemala in the United Nations Security Council. As indicated r [...] | 2006-07-10 12:03:00 | Embassy Maseru | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC UNGA GT VE LT |
06MASERU493 | GOL ON VENEZUELA/UNGA AND SUDAN [...] (C) On October 2, Ambassador discussed points regarding Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's UNGA speech (reftel) with Lesotho's Foreign Minister, Monyane Moleleki. The FOMIN called the speech "outrageous" and uncivilized. He decried the use of the UN platform to deliver such an "unacceptable" [...] | 2006-10-03 14:56:00 | Embassy Maseru | CONFIDENTIAL | UNSC PREL PHUM PGOV SU GT VE LT |
06MASERU513 | UNSC SEAT: LESOTHO AFFIRMS SUPPORT FOR GUATEMALA [...] (C) Charge spoke on October 13 with Pitso Makosholo, acting Principle Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to urge Lesotho's continued support for Guatemala as a non-permanent member of the UNSC during the first round ballot on October 16, and through all subsequent balloting, even if [...] | 2006-10-13 11:08:00 | Embassy Maseru | CONFIDENTIAL | UNSC GT VE LT |
06MASERU88 | DEMARCHE ON GRULAC SEAT ON UN SECURITY COUNCIL [...] (C) On February 10, CAI delivered the talking points in ref to Minister of Foreign Affairs Monyane Moleleki. The Minister was receptive to the USG position, and expressed appreciation for us raising this issue in ample time before the UNGA vote. This would permit him to consult fully with the [...] | 2006-02-13 09:26:00 | Embassy Maseru | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN UNSC GT VE LT |
06MEXICO7055 | AMBASSADOR MAISTO CALLS ON SRE OFFICIALS [...] (C) Summary: During a brief visit to Mexico City December 13-14, USOAS Ambassador John Maisto met separately with outgoing SRE Undersecretary for Latin America Jorge Chen Charpentier and his successor, Geronimo Gutierrez Fernandez. Chen offered a readout of the recent South American summit in [...] | 2006-12-22 19:15:00 | Embassy Mexico | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV OAS MX VE CI BR BL CU NI |
06MINSK1234 | LUKASHENKO'S NEW FOREIGN POLICY: A METHOD TO THE [...] (C) Belarus' rocky relationship with Russia has forced the isolated country to pursue a different course in its foreign policy. The GOB has ratcheted up its efforts to strengthen ties with countries like Iran, Venezuela, Azerbaijan, and China over the past year. Belarus is attempting to div [...] | 2006-12-01 14:03:00 | Embassy Minsk | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON CH VE AJ IR BO |
06MINSK787 | LUKASHENKO FINDS A NEW FRIEND IN HUGO CHAVEZ [...] Summary: On July 23-25, Lukashenko hosted Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in Minsk, marking the first official visit of a Latin American leader in Belarus' history. During the series of meetings and ceremonies, the leaders lauded each other's political and economic policies and occasionally [...] | 2006-07-27 10:57:00 | Embassy Minsk | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV ETRD VE BO |
06MONTEVIDEO936 | URUGUAY ON UNSC RACE [...] (C) On September 29, per instructions reftel, PolCouns delivered UNSC demarche to the MFA's Director for Multilateral Affairs Gustavo Alvarez and his deputy Beatriz Nunez. Both listened attentively to the points and visibly cringed at the contents of the non-paper quoting excerpts from Preside [...] | 2006-10-02 16:08:00 | Embassy Montevideo | CONFIDENTIAL | UNSC VE GT UY |
06MONTEVIDEO951 | URUGUAY ON UNSC RACE [...] (C) This message supplements information provided in Ref A. 2. (C) Ref B indicated that Venezuela is unlikely to pull out of the race before the October 16 UNGA vote that will decide the contested Latin American seat on the UNSC for 2007-2008. However, on October 4 (without any prompting o [...] | 2006-10-05 17:20:00 | Embassy Montevideo | CONFIDENTIAL | UNSC PREL GT VE UY |
06MOSCOW1433 | MOSCOW DEFERS TO GRULAC CONSENSUS ON NEXT UNSC REP [...] No summary [...] | 2006-02-14 14:21:00 | Embassy Moscow | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UN UNSC GT VE RS |
06MUSCAT230 | DEFEATING VENEZUELA FOR NON-PERMANENT UNSC SEAT: [...] No summary [...] | 2006-02-19 12:47:00 | Embassy Muscat | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL GT VE MU |
06NASSAU1050 | BAHAMAS CLAIMS NO FINAL DECISION FOR VENEZUELA ON [...] No summary [...] | 2006-07-11 20:20:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC VE BF |
06NASSAU365 | BAHAMAS RECEPTIVE TO GUATEMALA'S UNSC BID [...] (C) Ambassador delivered reftel talking points supporting Guatemala's candidacy for the UN Security Council and opposing that of Venezuela, to Foreign Minister Fred Mitchell on February 24. Mitchell indicated that The Bahamas has not yet focused on the issue. He was receptive to U.S. concern [...] | 2006-03-02 18:27:00 | Embassy Nassau | CONFIDENTIAL | UNSC PREL VE BF |
06NASSAU673 | IMPROVED RELATIONS WITH U.S. ERODE CARICOM SUPPORT [...] DCM discussed Venezuela's candidacy for the UN Security Council with Marilyn Zonicle, MFA Acting Permanent Secretary, on April 19, conveying reftel points on Venezuela's unsuitability for a UNSC seat. Zonicle reported that the Caribbean Community's foreign minister group, COFCOR, had not mad [...] | 2006-04-19 21:53:00 | Embassy Nassau | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL UNSC VE BF |
06NDJAMENA1238 | CHAD: SECURITY COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP VOTE [...] (SBU) Charge made points in reftel B to Djinna Moussa Outman, Chad Minister Delegue (Deputy Foreign Minister) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on October 13, 2006. Outman informed Charge that Chad shared the U.S. view that the election was an important one but made no other comment on the c [...] | 2006-10-13 14:53:00 | Embassy Ndjamena | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | UNSC GT VE PREL CD |
06NEWDELHI1851 | DEMARCHE ON ELECTION FOR NON-PERMANENT SECURITY [...] (C) Using a March 16 meeting with Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma to follow up on an earlier letter, Charge shared reftel USG concerns on the upcoming election for a non-permanent UN Security Council seat between Venezuela and Guatemala, pointing out Venezuela's disruptive [...] | 2006-03-17 12:26:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC IN GT VE |
06NEWDELHI2151 | BHUTAN HINTS AT QUID PRO QUO FOR VENEZUELA UNSC [...] (C) PolCouns delivered reftel demarche asking Bhutan to support Guatemala's candidacy to represent GRULAC in the 2007-2008 UNSC and detailed our concerns about Venezuela. Bhutanese Ambassador Tshering responded that he would forward the message to Thimphu. 2. (C) Tshering noted that the Ro [...] | 2006-03-30 10:44:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN UNSC PREF GT VE IN |
06NEWDELHI4824 | GOI STILL UNDECIDED IN UNSC VOTE BUT SEES [...] (C) The DCM used a July 7 meeting with Additional Secretary (International Organizations),K.C. Singh to probe SIPDIS how the GOI planned to vote in the upcoming election for the Group of Latin American Countries UN Security Council seat. Guatemala and Venezuela are the two candidates. Decl [...] | 2006-07-10 14:05:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | KUNR PREL VE IN |
06NEWDELHI4825 | GOI STILL UNDECIDED IN UNSC VOTE BUT SEES [...] (C) The DCM used a July 7 meeting with Additional Secretary (International Organizations),K.C. Singh to probe SIPDIS how the GOI planned to vote in the upcoming election for the Group of Latin American Countries UN Security Council seat. Guatemala and Venezuela are the two candidates. Decl [...] | 2006-07-10 14:05:00 | Embassy New Delhi | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | KUNR PREL VE IN |
06NICOSIA193 | AMBASSADOR PRESSES FM IACOVOU TO SUPPORT GUATEMALA [...] (C) Ambassador made reftel points to FM Iacovou in a February 8 telcon. Iacovou said he was not at all surprised that the United States would oppose a Security Council seat for Venezuela, but he refused to commit one way or the other in terms of the GOC's position. He suggested, instead, that [...] | 2006-02-10 14:38:00 | Embassy Nicosia | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNAUS UNSC GT VE CY |
06NICOSIA314 | NICOSIA WILL ADDRESS COLAT ON VENEZUELAN NGO SUMATE [...] (C) On March 1, poloff delivered reftel message to Savvas Vladimirou, in the MFA's Division of the Americas and Oceania. Vladimirou said he would raise the issue of Sumate at the next meeting of the EU committee on Latin America (COLAT) on March 7. He did not believe that Chavez would risk [...] | 2006-03-02 12:40:00 | Embassy Nicosia | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL VE EU CY |
06NICOSIA543 | CYPRUS NON-COMMITTAL ON SECURITY COUNCIL SEAT FOR [...] (C) On April 12 poloff presented reftel message A to Demetra Christodoulou in the MFA's Division of Multilateral Affairs subsequent to Ambassador's April 8 conversation with FM Iacovou on the same subject (reftel B) and the DCM's meeting with Presidential Diplomatic Advisor Tassos Tzionis. C [...] | 2006-04-12 13:42:00 | Embassy Nicosia | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL UNSC VE GT CY |
06NICOSIA589 | CYPRUS ON BROWNFIELD ATTACK [...] No summary [...] | 2006-04-20 11:09:00 | Embassy Nicosia | CONFIDENTIAL | OVIP PGOV PTER CY VE |
06NICOSIA924 | CYPRUS WILL FOLLOW EU LEAD ON VENEZUELAN ANTI-NGO [...] (C) Poloff delivered reftel verbal message to Saavas Vladimirou in the MFA's Division of the Americas and Oceania. Vladimirou, who handles Latin American issues and regularly attends meetings of the EU Committee on Latin America (COLAT) in Brussels, said he was aware of the Venezuelan anti-NG [...] | 2006-06-19 07:34:00 | Embassy Nicosia | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KDEM PGOV PHUM VE EAID CY |
06NOUAKCHOTT1060 | VENEZUELA TRIES TO WOO MAURITANIA [...] (U) Junta leader Col. Vall received Venezuelan Ministry of Energy and Petroleum Director of International Relations Ivan Orellana-Alcala on August 16 in Nouakchott. Described in the press as "Special Envoy" of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, Orellana was reportedly welcomed on his arrival in [...] | 2006-09-01 08:04:00 | Embassy Nouakchott | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC UNGA GT VE MR |
06NOUAKCHOTT1073 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: ARAB LEAGUE MINISTERIAL IN [...] (U) MFA Secretary General Mohamed Lemine Ould Moulaye Zeine told Charge September 4 that Mauritania would be represented in Cairo by Secretary of State for Maghreb Affairs Bismillahi Ali Ould Ahmed and not by the foreign minister. 2. (C) Moulaye Zeine said that given that Mauritania presen [...] | 2006-09-05 09:31:00 | Embassy Nouakchott | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC UNGA GT VE IS LE MR |
06NOUAKCHOTT1244 | MAURITANIA BACKS GUATEMALA FOR UNSC SEAT [...] No summary [...] | 2006-10-17 14:47:00 | Embassy Nouakchott | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC GT VE MR |
06NOUAKCHOTT289 | DEFEATING VENEZUELA IN THE 2006 ELECTION FOR [...] (C) On March 9, DCM called on MFA Director for International Organizations Amb. Telmidi Ould Mohamed Amar to follow up on Embassy's February 14 dipnote (Ref B) encouraging Mauritania to vote for Guatemala in the 2006 election for the non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. 2. (C) Te [...] | 2006-03-10 13:22:00 | Embassy Nouakchott | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN UNSC GT VE MR |
06NOUAKCHOTT814 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: BUILDING SUPPORT FOR GUATEMALA [...] (C) On June 30, MFA Secretary General Mohamed Lemine Ould Moulaye Zeine confirmed to DCM that Mauritania will not be sending a delegation to the July 1 and 2 AU Assembly of Heads of State in Banjul. Mauritania's membership to the AU was suspended following the August 3, 2005 coup. Moulay Zein [...] | 2006-06-30 14:01:00 | Embassy Nouakchott | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC UNGA GT VE MR |
06OSLO364 | NORWAY SUPPORTS GUATEMALA TO SIT ON UNSC [...] No summary [...] | 2006-03-23 14:48:00 | Embassy Oslo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC UN GT VE NO |
06OSLO788 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED ON VENEZUELA'S ANTI-NGO LAW [...] No summary [...] | 2006-06-16 09:01:00 | Embassy Oslo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE EAID NO KDEM |
06OTTAWA3121 | CANADA REACTION TO NOTIFICATION OF U.S. ARMS [...] (C) At an October 13 follow up meeting to our September 27 demarche (reftels),Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) Export Controls Division (ECD) Deputy Director Steven Goodinson told us that arms transfers from Canada to Venezuela were infrequent, that his office was [...] | 2006-10-13 20:19:00 | Embassy Ottawa | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | MARR MASS PARM PREL OTRA VE CA |
06PANAMA1029 | PRD FORCES TORRIJOS TO GIVE GROUND [...] (C) President Torrijos's attention -- to the exclusion of virtually all else -- is consumed by political maneuvering within his party, the PRD, and the approaching must-win Canal expansion referendum (probably in October 2006). Torrijos has tried to sell Canal expansion as a non-political "mat [...] | 2006-05-31 22:45:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR ETRD KPAO PM VE CU |
06PANAMA383 | PANAMA: AMBASSADOR EATON DELIVERS DEMARCHE ON [...] No summary [...] | 2006-03-01 18:34:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL GT PM UNAUS UNSC VE |
06PANAMA473 | OAS CICTE VI DELEGATION PREPARATION [...] No summary [...] | 2006-03-15 18:46:00 | Embassy Panama | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PREL ECON MARR MASS CVIS OAS VE |
06PANAMA897 | PANAMA SNAPSHOT FOR PRESIDENT TORRIJOS'S VISIT TO [...] (U) This message is intended as a scenesetter for A/S Shannon and former President Bush's May 11 meeting with President Torrijos. SUMMARY ------- 2. (C) The Embassy's relations with the Torrijos government (GOP) are warm and bilateral cooperation on security and anti-narcotics matters r [...] | 2006-05-10 23:00:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ETRD PM CU VE CH |
06PANAMA919 | PANAMA: REHABILITATING THE DICTATORSHIP [...] (C) A joke making the rounds in Panama is that the only ex-Panamanian Defense Force (PDF) officer who hasn't found a job in the Torrijos government is Manuel Noriega. The late-April elevation of former Dignity Battalions chief Benjamin Colamarco to the cabinet as Minister of Public Works is [...] | 2006-05-12 21:40:00 | Embassy Panama | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PINR PM VE CU |
06PARAMARIBO343 | INCREASED VENEZUELAN ACTIVISM IN SURINAME HAS [...] (C) Summary: Venezuela's profile in Suriname is on the rise thanks to economic initiatives such as PetroCaribe, a joint Cuban-Venezuelan health care assistance program, and a steady public relations campaign by its Embassy over the past year. Despite this heightened engagement, Venezuela's act [...] | 2006-06-09 18:55:00 | Embassy Paramaribo | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PGOV ECON ENRG KCRM MARR SOCI SCUL VE |
06PARAMARIBO425 | Venezuelan Independence Celebrations: a Blooper in [...] (U) The Venezuelan Embassy in Paramaribo marked the 195th anniversary of independence with a string of events. Celebrations kicked off with an art exhibit on June 30, followed by an evening of Venezuelan food and culture and the crowning of the Queen of the Venezuelan Cultural Institute, a wre [...] | 2006-07-07 18:15:00 | Embassy Paramaribo | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV SOCI VE NS |
06PARAMARIBO438 | MEETING WITH PRESIDENT VENETIAAN REVEALS SUPPORT [...] (C) President Venetiaan told the Ambassador in a meeting on July 12 that while the recent CARICOM Heads of Government meeting in St. Kitts had not finalized a formal common position on the UNSC vote, it was his view that CARICOM hoped to reach consensus to support Venezuela in its UNSC seat [...] | 2006-07-13 16:49:00 | Embassy Paramaribo | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL UNSC CARICOM VE NS |
06PARIS131 | MFA OFFICIAL DOWNPLAYS U.S. CONCERNS REGARDING [...] (C) In a January 5 meeting with Deputy Political Counselor and PolOff (discussion of Bolivia and Colombia ref B),DAS-equivalent for Latin America Michel Pinard downplayed U.S. concerns about rumored discussions regarding the sale of Scorpene submarines to Venezuela. While acknowledging that [...] | 2006-01-09 18:02:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MASS PARM FR VE |
06PARIS1388 | FRENCH DOWNPLAY SUMATE CONCERNS, OFFER NOTHING NEW [...] (C) Summary: French MFA DAS-equivalent for South America Pinard told us March 4 it would be improper for France to try to interfere in the Venezuelan government's case against Sumate, although it would maintain "vigilance," and encourage similar EU vigilance, in following the court proceeding [...] | 2006-03-06 12:22:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL FR VE MARR |
06PARIS1605 | FRANCE ON GUATEMALA/VENEZUELA FOR UNSC SEAT [...] (C) Summary: MFA A/S-equivalent for IO affairs Sylvie Bermann indicated March 10 that the GOF had not yet formulated a position on the contest between Venezuela and Guatemala for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council. While the MFA favors Guatemala, Bermann made clear that the fin [...] | 2006-03-13 17:21:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL FR GT VE UNSC |
06PARIS1899 | FRENCH PRESIDENTIAL ADVISOR ON VENEZUELA AND THE [...] (C) Ambassador Stapleton met March 23 with President Chirac's diplomatic advisor, Maurice Gourdault-Montagne (MGM) March 23 to press for French support for Guatemala's candidacy for the Latin American UNSC seat opening in January 2007 (refs),emphasizing in particular the harm Venezuelan mem [...] | 2006-03-24 13:44:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL FR GT VE UNSC |
06PARIS2267 | MFA OUTLINES FRENCH POSITIONS IN LATIN AMERICA [...] (C) Summary: MFA A/S-equivalent for WHA Daniel Parfait provided visiting EUR/WE Director Kathy Allegrone with a candid assessment of French positions on Latin American issues April 5, touching on Venezuela, Bolivia, Cuba, and Haiti. Parfait acknowledged the close relationship Hugo Chavez sha [...] | 2006-04-06 15:56:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV FR VE BO CU HA |
06PARIS4278 | FRANCE/VENEZUELA: NO DECISIONS YET ON ARMS SALE, [...] (S/NF) Summary: On June 20, we raised ref A (possible French company arms deal with Spain for Venezuela) and ref B (Venezuelan anti-NGO bill) demarches with the MFA's PDAS and DAS-equivalents for Latin America. Regarding reports that the Spanish company Navantia has asked Thales France for pa [...] | 2006-06-21 13:52:00 | Embassy Paris | SECRET | PREL KDEM PGOV VE PARM |
06PARIS4296 | (U) UNESCO PRIZES [...] (U) This is a guidance request, see para. 11. 2. (C) Summary. The awarding of prizes at UNESCO continues to be done on an ad hoc basis and often with little advance notice. This week's inclusion of Cuba in the announcement of UNESCO's literacy prizes is but one more example of how easily [...] | 2006-06-21 16:36:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | CU VE UNESCO |
06PARIS4955 | UNDER SECRETARY BURNS' JULY 13 MEETING WITH INDIAN [...] (U) July 13, 2006; 10:30AM - 2:45PM; Paris, FRANCE 2. (U) Participants: U.S. U/S Nicolas Burns Anja Manuel, P Staff Political Officer Greg D'Elia, U.S. Embassy, Paris Political Officer Leslie Ordeman, U.S. Embassy, Paris (notetaker) India: Foreign Minister Saran S. Jaishankar, H [...] | 2006-07-20 16:45:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PREL BM NP CE IR IZ VE GT CU FR |
06PARIS6498 | FRANCE OPPOSES VENEZUELA UNSC SEAT BUT RELUCTANT [...] (C) In a September 27 meeting with poloff on other issues (prior to reception of ref A),MFA IO PDAS-Equivalent Marc Giacomini commented that Venezuela would do great harm to Security Council credibility, if elected. That said, Giacomini thought it significant that Venezuela had come up shor [...] | 2006-09-28 13:15:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL VE UNSC FR MARR MASS |
06PARIS6786 | FRANCE: VISIT OF VENEZUELA COORDINATOR DEBORAH [...] (C) Summary: In October 6 meetings with WHA Venezuela Coordinator Deborah McCarthy, French MFA officials reiterated French opposition to a Venezuelan seat on the UN Security Council but judged it remained a distinct possibility. DAS-equivalent Michel Pinard argued that overall the Chavez Admin [...] | 2006-10-13 16:05:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL CO CU BL VE PGOV SNAR UNSC SP FR |
06PARIS7109 | FRANCE: WHA DAS MADISON DISCUSSES CUBA [...] (C) Summary: In October 18-19 meetings with WHA DAS Kirsten Madison, MFA A/S-equivalent for WHA affairs Parfait agreed that Cuba was likely entering a period of transition and needed international support in evolving toward democratic governance, while cautioning against interference in Cuban [...] | 2006-10-30 13:10:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV CU FR NU VE EAID ETTC PHUM PREL |
06PARIS792 | WHA A/S SHANNON'S 2/2 MEETINGS WITH FRENCH [...] (C) SUMMARY: A/S Shannon visited Paris on February 2 to discuss the full range of WHA issues with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Presidency. On Haiti, Shannon encouraged France to consider symbolic gestures during the election period to demonstrate GOF engagement, an a [...] | 2006-02-08 08:25:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON FR AR VE BL BR CO CA IR HA |
06PARIS850 | UNESCO: MARTI PRIZE [...] (C) As a result of Mission inquiries, additional information has been obtained about the chicanery behind the awarding of the Marti prize to Hugo Chavez. It has become clear that it was deliberately orchestrated slap at the United States by individuals in the UNESCO secretariat working in cah [...] | 2006-02-09 17:00:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | CU VE UNESCO |
06PARIS891 | UNESCO MARTI PRIZE, REQUEST FOR GUIDANCE [...] (U) This is a request for guidance?see para. 4. 2. (C) Though the newly arrived Brazilian ambassador has told Ambassador Oliver that he wants to put the negative atmosphere of the cultural diversity convention behind us and work with USDEL, his nomination of Hugo Chavez for the Marti prize [...] | 2006-02-10 16:52:00 | Embassy Paris | CONFIDENTIAL | VE CU UNESCO |
06PORTAUPRINCE2014 | UNSC DEMARCHE DELIVERED TO MFA [...] This message is sensitive but unclassified -- protect accordingly. 2. (SBU) Per Ref A, Polcouns delivered the demarche regarding the UNSC vote to the minister of foreign affairs' chief of staff, Anthony Dessources, on the afternoon of October 19. (Note: With the Ambassador visiting Cap Hai [...] | 2006-10-20 16:03:00 | Embassy Port Au Prince | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL UNSC HA GT VE |
06PORTAUPRINCE758 | PREVAL WILL SIGN PETROCARIBE DEAL ON MAY 15 [...] (U) President-elect Rene Preval on April 25 announced that that Haiti will join the PetroCaribe Program on May 15, the day after his inauguration. Preval explained that Haiti will pay for 60 percent of the oil from Venezuela up front and that 40 percent will be payable over a period of 25 ye [...] | 2006-04-28 16:20:00 | Embassy Port Au Prince | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID ECON EFIN ENRG HA VE |
06PORTLOUIS587 | MAURITIUS BACKS GUATEMALA FOR UNSC [...] (C) During a brief tour d'horizon (septel) with Charge October 3, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade, and Regional Cooperation Madan Dulloo said that Mauritius would support Guatemala's candidacy for the UN Security Council. He said Mauritius had established diplomatic relations with Guatemala [...] | 2006-10-04 09:58:00 | Embassy Port Louis | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EPET UNSC VE GT MP |
06PORTLOUIS598 | MAURITIAN PRIME MINISTER ON BILATERAL RELATIONS, [...] (C) Summary: Mauritian Prime Minister told Charge October 6 that he has no particular problem with U.S. foreign policy, despite comments to the contrary broadcast on Mauritian radio. Ramgoolam emphasized that he has tried hard to maintain consistent principles in foreign affairs and denounced [...] | 2006-10-06 13:42:00 | Embassy Port Louis | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER VE GT MP |
06PORTLOUIS627 | MAURITIUS SUPPORTS GUATEMALA FOR UNSC [...] (C) Charge d'Affaires, a.i. delivered UNSC demarche (ref A) to Mauritian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Regional Cooperation Madan Dulloo on October 17. The Minister confirmed Mauritius will continue to support Guatemala's candidacy for the Security Council in subsequent rounds of bal [...] | 2006-10-17 13:12:00 | Embassy Port Louis | SECRET | PREL EPET UNSC VE GT MP |
06PORTLOUIS634 | MAURITIUS INQUIRIES ON BREAKING IMPASSE [...] (SBU) Mauritian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Regional Cooperation Madan Dulloo contacted post to inquire as to the U.S. position on the impasse and asked if Uruguay is being considered as alternate to break the impasse. Charge d'Affaires expressed points made in Ref A and requested G [...] | 2006-10-19 13:31:00 | Embassy Port Louis | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EPET UNSC VE GT MP |
06PORTOFSPAIN1126 | PM MANNING FRUSTRATED OVER CARICOM RESPONSE TO [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a September 8 meeting with DOE A/S Karen Harbert and WHA DAS Patrick Duddy, PM Manning voiced frustration with CARICOM colleagues over their stance on Petrocaribe but at the same time said he would go along with a "CARICOM decision" to support Venezuela's bid for a UNSC seat. [...] | 2006-09-22 21:14:00 | Embassy Port Of Spain | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET UNSC PREL PGOV VE TD |
06PORTOFSPAIN267 | T&T FM AMENABLE TO SC MEMBERSHIP FOR GUATEMALA [...] (C) Ambassador called on Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) Foreign Minister Knowlson Gift, on March 1, to present him with Reftel talking points regarding Guatemala,s and Venezuela,s competing candidacies for election to the UN Security Council. The Ambassador began by acknowledging T&T,s own recent e [...] | 2006-03-01 20:03:00 | Embassy Port Of Spain | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC GT VE UN TD |
06PRAGUE1183 | CZECHS SUPPORT GUATEMALA FOR SEAT ON UNSC [...] (SBU) Poloff met with Czech MFA Director of the UN Department Jan Kara on September 1 to discuss Guatemala's candidacy for a non-permanent seat on the UNSC. Kara confirmed the Czech Republic strongly supports Guatemala. Kara met with Guatemalan officials at UNGA in New York the week of Septemb [...] | 2006-09-25 15:45:00 | Embassy Prague | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL UNSC GT UN VE EZ |
06PRAGUE1343 | CZECH GOVERNMENT ALLOWS AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURER TO [...] (C/NF) Summary: The Czech Government has given L-159 subsonic fighter manufacturer Aero Vodochody permission to begin discussions about Venezuelan financing for the production of a new version of the L-159, which would have no U.S. content. This decision by Czech authorities stems from heavy d [...] | 2006-10-26 14:52:00 | Embassy Prague | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EZ NATO EAIR MARR VE |
06PRAGUE170 | CZECHS OPPOSE VENEZUELA'S UNSC AMBITIONS; THOUGHTS [...] (U) A/DCM February 16 delivered reftel demarches on (a) Venezuela's UNSC ambitions, and (b) U.S. thoughts on the next UN Secretary General, to Jan Kara, Director of the Czech MFA's United Nations Department. 2. (C) Kara shared that the Czech Republic is similarly opposed to Venezuela's camp [...] | 2006-02-16 17:45:00 | Embassy Prague | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN UNSC GT VE EZ PL |
06PRAGUE295 | CZECHS EXPRESS CONCERN FOR FUTURE OF DEMOCRACY IN [...] Summary ---------- (C) On March 16, WHA PDAS Charles Shapiro met with representatives of Czech NGO People in Need (PIN),parliamentarians, MFA officials, and private citizens actively engaged in democracy promotion in Cuba. The Czechs expressed their commitment to Cuba and Latin America gene [...] | 2006-03-22 14:54:00 | Embassy Prague | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KDEM CU VE XM EZ |
06PRAGUE411 | CZECH GOVERNMENT TO INVESTIGATE POSSIBLE [...] (S) Poloff and ARMA April 20 delivered reftel demarche on possible Venezuelan production of the Czech CZ-75 pistol to Petr Kaiser, Director of the MFA's CFSP Department. Kaiser, who is responsible for all arms licensing decisions made by the MFA, promised he would request an immediate investiga [...] | 2006-04-20 15:36:00 | Embassy Prague | SECRET | MARR MASS PARM VE EZ |
06PRAGUE692 | CZECHS SUPPORT EU CRITICISM OF VENEZUELAN NGO LAW, [...] (C) Poloff met with Petr Janousek, Czech MFA Desk Officer of the Americas Department, June 19 to discuss Venezuela's draft NGO law. Janousek said a delegation of EU Ambassadors in Caracas met in early June with Saul Ortega, President of the Permanent Commission for External Policies in the Ven [...] | 2006-06-21 12:56:00 | Embassy Prague | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KDEM PGOV VE EAID EZ |
06PRETORIA3202 | SOUTH AFRICA: SEMINAR ON THE FOREIGN POLICY OF HUGO CHAVEZ [...] (U) Summary. The University of South Africa (Unisa) and the Embassy of Venezuela sponsored a July 28 presentation by Jos Briceo Ruiz of the Universidad de los Andes on the foreign policy of Hugo Chavez as it pertains to the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). The main points brought up in [...] | 2006-08-04 12:08:00 | Embassy Pretoria | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ECON USTR SF VE |
06QUITO2529 | UNSC: GOE STILL UNDECIDED, WORRIED ABOUT CORREA [...] (C) Per instruction in Ref A, the Ambassador discussed the UNSC race with Foreign Minister Francisco Carrion at length on October 13. Carrion said Ecuador is still studying the issue and President Palacio will make the decision sometime before Monday's vote. MFA sources tell us Carrion will [...] | 2006-10-13 20:26:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL EC GT IO VE UNSC |
06QUITO2531 | UNSC: GOE STILL UNDECIDED, WORRIED ABOUT CORREA [...] (C) Per instruction in Ref A, the Ambassador discussed the UNSC race with Foreign Minister Francisco Carrion at length on October 13. Carrion said Ecuador is still studying the issue and President Palacio will make the decision sometime before Monday's vote. MFA sources tell us Carrion will [...] | 2006-10-13 21:33:00 | Embassy Quito | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL EC GT IO VE UNSC |
06REYKJAVIK141 | ICELAND TO SUPPORT GUATEMALAN UNSC BID [...] No summary [...] | 2006-04-24 14:26:00 | Embassy Reykjavik | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC GT UN VE IC |
06ROME1849 | ITALY WORKING THROUGH EU ON VENEZUELA NGO LAW [...] (C) June 19 Poloff delivered reftel demarche to Acting South America Office Director Paolo Campanini, urging Italy to communicate its concerns with the Venezuelan NGO bill to Caracas. Poloff noted that the draft legislation was vague and would give great discretion to the GOV in hindering NGO [...] | 2006-06-22 14:21:00 | Embassy Rome | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KDEM PGOV VE EAID IT |
06ROME1915 | "OOPS I DID IT AGAIN" - FINMECCANICA SEEKS USG [...] This is an action request. Please see paragraph 7. 2. (U) Summary. A/Ecmin met June 26 with Camillo Pirozzi, Finmeccanica's Head of Public Affairs and Institutional Relations. Pirozzi requested the meeting to inform the USG of Finmeccanica's interest in selling naval guns to the Venezu [...] | 2006-06-30 16:21:00 | Embassy Rome | UNCLASSIFIED | PARM ETTC ETRD SP FR VE IT |
06ROME1996 | ARMS SALES TO VENEZUELA [...] (SBU) Summary. A/ECMIN met July 7 with Simone Bemporad, Finmeccanica's Senior Vice President for Media Relations and International Affairs, and Camillo Pirozzi, Head of Public Affairs and Institutional Relations, to discuss Finmeccanica's proposed sale of naval guns to the Venezuelan navy. A/ [...] | 2006-07-13 09:20:00 | Embassy Rome | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ETTC PARM SP VE IT |
06ROME2032 | FINMECCANICA: NOT PURSUING ARMS SALES TO VENEZUELA [...] No summary [...] | 2006-07-17 15:13:00 | Embassy Rome | UNCLASSIFIED | ETRD ETTC PARM SP VE IT |
06ROME2281 | ITALIAN TRADE AND INVESTMENT IN VENEZUELA [...] (U) The presence of a large Italian community in Venezuela has allowed Italian products to occupy a privileged space on Venezuelan shelves in the past. However, the GOV's termination of a service contract held by Eni, Italy's oil and gas parastatal, to operate the Dacion oilfield has now crea [...] | 2006-08-11 15:46:00 | Embassy Rome | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ENRG ETRD IT VE |
06ROME2873 | ITALY DISCUSSING TIGHTENING OF VENEZUELA ARMS SALES [...] (C) Summary. Poloff met with Francesco Talo, MFA South America Office Director, and Paolo Campanini, South America Office, September 21 to inform Italy of the U.S. arms transfer policy to Venezuela, per Ref A, urging Italy to adopt similar measures. Talo noted that arms sales to Venezuela wer [...] | 2006-10-13 15:57:00 | Embassy Rome | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MASS PARM VE PREL OTRA IT |
06ROME2896 | ITALY: FM D'ALEMA CALLS TO EXPLAIN ABSTENTION ON [...] (C/NF) Post received NIACT request (Ref A) on October 17 after learning that Foreign Minister had called the Secretary October 16 to discuss the balloting for the UNSC non-permanent member for Latin America. We understand from Foreign Minister's Policy Advisor and Prime Minister's Diplomatic [...] | 2006-10-17 14:08:00 | Embassy Rome | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL UNSC GT VE IT |
06ROME2897 | ITALY: FM D'ALEMA CALLS TO EXPLAIN ABSTENTION ON [...] (C/NF) Post received NIACT request (Ref A) on October 17 after learning that Foreign Minister had called the Secretary October 16 to discuss the balloting for the UNSC non-permanent member for Latin America. We understand from Foreign Minister's Policy Advisor and Prime Minister's Diplomatic [...] | 2006-10-17 14:09:00 | Embassy Rome | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL UNSC GT VE IT |
06ROME3300 | GOI DOWNPLAYS POSSIBILITY OF OTO MELARA EXPORT TO [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 6. 2. (S) Econ Counselor delivered ref A demarche December 13 to Carlo Tripepi, Director of the MFA's Arms Material Authorization Unit, responsible for licensing Italian munitions exports. Tripepi had not heard of Oto Melara's possibl [...] | 2006-12-15 13:17:00 | Embassy Rome | SECRET//NOFORN | PREL PARM ETTC IR VE IT |
06ROME3360 | FINMECCANICA EXPORTS TO IRAN AND VENEZUELA: THE [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 9. 2. (S) In a December 21 meeting requested by Finmeccanica, the major Italian defense and aerospace conglomerate, company officials reviewed the status of their engagement with Iran and Venezuela. They noted that Finmeccanica is not [...] | 2006-12-22 14:56:00 | Embassy Rome | SECRET//NOFORN | ETRD ETTC IR VE SP FR SZ IT |
06ROME433 | ITALY SUPPORTIVE OF GUATEMALA'S UNSC BID [...] (C) WHA A/S Tom Shannon met with MFA Director General for the Americas Claudio Bisogniero February 3 (see Ref A) and urged Italy to support Guatemala's UN Security Council (UNSC) candidacy (per Ref B). Shannon shared our concerns regarding Venezuela's bid for the Latin America Group (GRULAC) s [...] | 2006-02-13 13:13:00 | Embassy Rome | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN UNSC GT VE IT |
06ROME494 | ITALY, VENEZUELA NOT NEGOTIATING NAVAL VESSEL SALE [...] (C) PolMinCouns delivered reftel demarche to MFA Director General for the Americas Claudio Bisogniero February 15. He noted public statements by the GOV defense minister suggesting that Venezuela might look to Italy.for submarines, urged the GOI not to contemplate such sales, and reviewed USG [...] | 2006-02-17 12:13:00 | Embassy Rome | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MASS PREL PARM VE IT EXPORT CONTROLS |
06ROME585 | ITALY: UN REFORM PARTNER, SUPPORTS GUATEMALA UNSC [...] (C) Summary. Italy continues to support UN Reform, including making the new Peacebuilding Commission an effective body, and creating a strong Human Rights Council. It also supports improving UN management, including a mandate review, according to MFA UN Reform Coordinator Alessandro Busacca. [...] | 2006-02-24 18:23:00 | Embassy Rome | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KUNR PHUM UNSC GT VE IT |
06ROME756 | ITALY FOLLOWING SUMATE JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS [...] (C) Poloff met with MFA South America Office Director Piero Benassi March 1 to deliver reftel demarche. Noting the judicial harassment of non-governmental organization (NGO) Sumate, Poloff urged Italy to speak out in defense of the accused leaders, send observers to the trial, and convey to t [...] | 2006-03-10 11:42:00 | Embassy Rome | CONFIDENTIAL | EU PGOV PHUM PREL VE IT |
06SANJOSE131 | ARIAS AND PACHECO ON THE NEXT GOVERNMENT OF COSTA [...] (C) Both President Pacheco and Oscar Arias, frontrunner to be the next president, said in separate meetings with CODEL Burton that they expect a better political climate in Costa Rica after the February 5 elections. Arias said that Costa Ricans have reason to be annoyed with the political cl [...] | 2006-01-19 20:58:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ETRD VE CS |
06SANJOSE2371 | UNSC RACE: DUELING DIP NOTES IN COSTA RICA [...] (U) In the past week, both Venezuela and Guatemala continued their diplomatic lobbying efforts in Costa Rica for the 2007 GRULAC UNSC seat. In a circular Diplomatic Note dated 18 October (Ref A),the GOV reiterated that "it was maintaining and would maintain until the end" its candidacy, beca [...] | 2006-10-26 17:19:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL UNSC GT VE CS |
06SANJOSE705 | COSTA RICA WILL SEEK PANAMANIAN SUPPORT FOR [...] No summary [...] | 2006-03-30 23:04:00 | Embassy San Jose | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC UN GT VE CS |
06SANSALVADOR1094 | DEMARCHE ON VENEZUELAN ATTACKS AGAINST U.S. [...] No summary [...] | 2006-04-26 21:04:00 | Embassy San Salvador | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER ES VE |
06SANSALVADOR447 | FMLN INVOLVES CUBA AND VENEZUELA IN SALVADORAN [...] (C) Summary and Comment: President Saca and other high-ranking GOES officials have recently raised concerns with Ambassador and other Embassy contacts that Cuba and Venezuela are helping the FMLN in the March 12 national elections for deputies and mayors. There are now clear indications tha [...] | 2006-02-22 20:06:00 | Embassy San Salvador | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER VE CU ES ELECTIONS |
06SANSALVADOR77 | AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES MIGRATION, MORALES, AND FMLN [...] (C) Ambassador Barclay spoke for 45 minutes on January 10 with Foreign Minister Francisco Lainez regarding the January 9 regional meeting on migration held in Mexico. (Note: The meetings had been originally scheduled to treat both energy and migration issues, but in response to Lainez's suggest [...] | 2006-01-11 14:47:00 | Embassy San Salvador | CONFIDENTIAL | SMIG PREL PGOV ES MX VE BL IMMIGRATION |
06SANSALVADOR853 | FMLN MAYORS MOVE FORWARD ON OIL IMPORT AGREEMENT [...] (C) Summary: On March 20, an association of FMLN mayors formalized an arrangement with Venezuela's PDVSA to import Venezuelan fuel on preferential terms. Allegedly a proposal of now-deceased FMLN leader Schafik Handal, the government-mayor deal has been accepted by the economic and politi [...] | 2006-03-29 22:02:00 | Embassy San Salvador | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG PREL ES VE |
06SANTIAGO105 | MEDIA REACTION - VENEZUELA [...] No summary [...] | 2006-01-18 13:10:00 | Embassy Santiago | UNCLASSIFIED | OPRC KMDR KPAO CI VE |
06SANTIAGO1091 | MEDIA REACTION - VENEZUELA GOVERNANCE, RELATIONS WITH THE [...] On May 20, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record "El Mercurio" (circ. 116,807) ran an editorial entitled, "Chavez and the U.S. Weapons Embargo." Quote: "Caracas and Washington remain locked in a verbal dispute.... Chavez' provocative style irritates the White House.... In a year in [...] | 2006-05-23 13:12:00 | Embassy Santiago | UNCLASSIFIED | OPRC KMDR KPAO CI VE |
06SANTIAGO1196 | MEDIA REACTION - UNITED NATIONS AND CHILEAN VOTE [...] On May 30, conservative, independent "La Tercera" (circ. 102,000) carried an editorial entitled, "Chile and its Vote in the (U.N.) Security Council." Quote: "The decision is complex for the (Chilean) Executive for two reasons; first, because preventing Venezuela from becoming a Council memb [...] | 2006-05-31 20:54:00 | Embassy Santiago | UNCLASSIFIED | KMDR KPAO OPRC CI VE |
06SANTIAGO1391 | MEDIA REACTION - VENEZUELA'S UNSC CANDIDACY [...] On June 29, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record "El Mercurio" (circ. 116,807) carried a column by international commentator Karin Ebensperger entitled, "Abuse of Power." 2. "Chile must not support Venezuela's bid for the UNSC. The Council's role is to uphold world peace. Hugo Chav [...] | 2006-06-29 21:32:00 | Embassy Santiago | UNCLASSIFIED | OPRC KMDR KPAO CI VE |
06SANTIAGO1462 | MEDIA REACTION - MEXICO, PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AFTERMATH [...] On July 7, conservative, independent "La Tercera" (circ. 102,000) carried a column by Alvaro Vargas Llosa entitled, "Calderon's Difficult Challenges." Quote: "Calderon's victory is a counterweight against populism. We must not forget that Calderon's campaign frontally opposed populism, not j [...] | 2006-07-10 11:50:00 | Embassy Santiago | UNCLASSIFIED | OPRC KMDR KPAO CI VE MX |
06SANTIAGO1573 | MEDIA REACTION - MERCOSUR SUMMIT [...] On July 21, conservative, independent "La Tercera" (circ. 102,000) carried a column by correspondent Alvaro Vargas Llosa entitled, "Chile's Three Fronts in Cordoba." Quotes: "The Mercosur summit began yesterday offering Chile three elements of tension: Evo Morales, Nestor Kirchner, and Hugo [...] | 2006-07-21 19:43:00 | Embassy Santiago | UNCLASSIFIED | OPRC KMDR KPAO CI AR BL VE |
06SANTIAGO1642 | MEDIA REACTION - VENEZUELA'S UNSC CANDIDACY [...] No summary [...] | 2006-07-31 20:28:00 | Embassy Santiago | UNCLASSIFIED | OPRC KMDR KPAO CI VE |
06SANTIAGO1649 | MEDIA REACTION - VENEZUELA'S UNSC CANDIDACY [...] No summary [...] | 2006-08-01 18:02:00 | Embassy Santiago | UNCLASSIFIED | OPRC KMDR KPAO CI PGOV VE |
06SANTIAGO1650 | ISRAELI VIEW OF CHILE AND CONFLICT IN LEBANON [...] (C) Summary. Israeli Ambassador David Cohen met the Ambassador August 1 to ask if the U.S. had formally approached Chile about participating in a multi-national force in Lebanon. Ambassador replied we he not made any formal approaches, but had been sounding out Chilean thinking. Cohen brief [...] | 2006-08-02 14:47:00 | Embassy Santiago | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL CI IS VE LE |
06SANTIAGO1696 | MEDIA REACTION - VENEZUELA'S UNSC CANDIDACY [...] No summary [...] | 2006-08-08 20:12:00 | Embassy Santiago | UNCLASSIFIED | OPRC KMDR KPAO PGOV CI VE |
06SANTIAGO1732 | MEDIA REACTION - VENEZUELA'S UNSC CANDIDACY [...] No summary [...] | 2006-08-14 18:07:00 | Embassy Santiago | UNCLASSIFIED | OPRC KMDR KPAO PGOV VE CI |
06SANTIAGO2008 | MEDIA REACTION - VENEZUELA'S UNSC CANDIDACY [...] No summary [...] | 2006-09-25 12:18:00 | Embassy Santiago | UNCLASSIFIED | OPRC KMDR KPAO PGOV CI VE |
06SANTIAGO2014 | MEDIA REACTION - VENEZUELA'S UNSC CANDIDACY [...] On September 24, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record "El Mercurio", (circ. 260,108) Maria de los Angeles Fernandez, of think tank Fundacion Chile 21, outlines the advantages of voting for Venezuela in the UNSC in a column entitled, "Venezuela and the UN: The Day After." Quote: " [...] | 2006-09-25 20:34:00 | Embassy Santiago | UNCLASSIFIED | OPRC KMDR KPAO PGOV CI VE |
06SANTIAGO2085 | MEDIA REACTION - VENEZUELA HELPING BOLIVIA BUILD MILITARY [...] Two Santiago dailies cited UDI Members of Congress who denounced Venezuela for providing assistance to Bolivia to build 26 military bases along its border with Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, and Peru. Excerpts follow: 2. On October 4, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record "El Mercurio" (c [...] | 2006-10-04 20:14:00 | Embassy Santiago | UNCLASSIFIED | OPRC PREL KMDR KPAO PGOV VE BR PA PE CI |
06SANTIAGO2117 | MEDIA REACTION - VENEZUELA'S AGREEMENT TO ASSIST BOLIVIA [...] Summary: Revelations of an agreement between Venezuela and Bolivia to build military bases along Bolivia's frontier with Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, and Chile generated considerable public commentary in Santiago. Chile's Senate Foreign Relations and Defense Committees summoned the Ministers of F [...] | 2006-10-11 12:34:00 | Embassy Santiago | UNCLASSIFIED | OPRC PREL KMDR KPAO PGOV VE BR PA PE CI |
06SANTIAGO2129 | MEDIA REACTION - VENEZUELA'S AGREEMENT TO ASSIST BOLIVIA [...] Summary: Chile's media has reported extensively about the Venezuelan-Bolivian military agreement, which has generated considerable critical public commentary by several Congressmen. Government Ministers and members of the Socialist Party continue to downplay the military pacts. End Summary. [...] | 2006-10-11 20:35:00 | Embassy Santiago | UNCLASSIFIED | OPRC PREL KMDR KPAO PGOV VE BR PA PE CI |
06SANTIAGO2185 | MEDIA REACTION - CHILE'S ABSTENTION IN UNSC VOTE [...] Summary: October 17 dailies highlighted claims that former Christian Democratic (DC) party Congressmen Gutenberg Martinez influenced President Bachelet's decision to abstain in the UNSC vote for a Latin American candidate. Martinez had warned that voting for Venezuela would mark a "before an [...] | 2006-10-17 19:16:00 | Embassy Santiago | UNCLASSIFIED | OPRC KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL VE CI |
06SANTIAGO2254 | MEDIA REACTION -UNSC VOTE [...] No summary [...] | 2006-10-26 15:23:00 | Embassy Santiago | UNCLASSIFIED | OPRC KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL VE CI |
06SANTIAGO2315 | CHILE MEDIA REACTION - UNSC AND PANAMA CANDIDACY [...] On November 3, conservative, independent "La Tercera" (circ. 101,000) ran an editorial entitled "Consensus Card for the Security Council." Quotes: "Panama has the conditions to garner the region's support.... From the political perspective, it is well established in an intermediate positio [...] | 2006-11-03 17:59:00 | Embassy Santiago | UNCLASSIFIED | OPRC KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL VE CI |
06SANTIAGO2515 | MEDIA REACTION - VENEZUELA, PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION [...] On September 5, conservative, independent "La Tercera" (circ. 101,000) ran an editorial entitled "Latin America and the Election in Venezuela." Quote: "The Venezuelan election concludes a year of elections -- ten -- in Latin America, all of them in a context marked clearly by two axis, a di [...] | 2006-12-06 12:04:00 | Embassy Santiago | UNCLASSIFIED | OPRC KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL VE CI |
06SANTIAGO2528 | MEDIA REACTION - CHAVEZ AND LATIN AMERICA [...] No summary [...] | 2006-12-07 13:03:00 | Embassy Santiago | UNCLASSIFIED | OPRC KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL VE CI |
06SANTIAGO370 | MEDIA REACTION - VENEZUELA [...] No summary [...] | 2006-02-22 15:25:00 | Embassy Santiago | UNCLASSIFIED | OPRC KMDR KPAO CI VE |
06SANTIAGO447 | GUATEMALA/VENEZUELA: CHILEAN MFA RECOMMENDING "NO [...] (C) Summary: Outgoing Chilean MFA political director Carlos Portales told Ambassador on March 2 that the MFA's recommendation to the new government on the Guatemala/Venezuela UNSC issue is to hold off on a decision. The Ambassador reiterated our concern about any rush to judgment in favor of [...] | 2006-03-03 17:51:00 | Embassy Santiago | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC GT VE CI |
06SANTIAGO488 | CHILE SAYS NO IMMINENT DECISION ON UNSC VOTE [...] (C) Summary. The Ambassador delivered ref A's talking points on the UNSC non-permanent seat candidacies of Venezuela and Guatemala to current Foreign Minister Walker and incoming Foreign Minister Foxley. Walker and Foxley said they understood the importance of this vote to Washington policyma [...] | 2006-03-08 21:14:00 | Embassy Santiago | CONFIDENTIAL | UNGA PREL CI IO VE |
06SANTIAGO541 | BACHELET EXPRESSES DESIRE FOR CONSENSUS CANDIDATE [...] (U) President Bachelet told the press on March 13 that Chile would prefer that the GRULAC nations agree on a consensus candidate for the UNSC seat, rather than arrive at the vote with two candidates. In response to a question as to whether the GOC would support Venezuela's candidacy, Bachelet [...] | 2006-03-15 20:05:00 | Embassy Santiago | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UNSC VE GT CI |
06SANTIAGO594 | MEDIA REACTION - VENEZUELAN GOVERNANCE, RELATIONS WITH THE [...] On March 20, TVN's "Medianoche." Quote: "President Bush has had to withstand an avalanche of criticism...from comments that he is a coward and thickheaded to surveys that associate him with the word incompetent...Bush has announced a possible retaliation against Iran if it moves forward wit [...] | 2006-03-21 21:20:00 | Embassy Santiago | UNCLASSIFIED | OPRC KMDR KPAO CI VE |
06SANTIAGO81 | CHILE: FM WALKER DISCUSSES HAITI, ARTICLE 98 AND [...] (C) Summary: Chilean Foreign Minister Ignacio Walker reiterated the GOC's concerns about threats against MINUSTAH in Haiti during his January 11 meeting with the Ambassador. He asked the U.S. to deny visas to the Haitians who were behind those threats. Walker also provided the Ambassador a m [...] | 2006-01-12 21:14:00 | Embassy Santiago | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM UN AR BR VE BL CI |
06SANTIAGO839 | MEDIA REACTION-CHAVEZ' INTERNATIONAL INFLUENCE [...] No summary [...] | 2006-04-21 14:20:00 | Embassy Santiago | UNCLASSIFIED | OPRC KMDR KPAO CI VE MX |
06SANTIAGO908 | CHILE: BOLIVIA GAS NATIONALIZATON PROMPTS [...] (C) Summary. Chile's government has reacted cautiously in public to Evo Morales' move to nationalize Bolivia's natural gas. Chile's media has reported unemotionally on the events in Bolivia, but editorials have expressed concern about regional effects. In private, Chilean officials are worri [...] | 2006-05-03 18:44:00 | Embassy Santiago | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG EPET EINV PREL CI BL BR CU VE |
06SANTIAGO932 | MEDIA REACTION - VENEZUELA GOVERNANCE, RELATIONS WITH THE [...] No summary [...] | 2006-05-04 19:44:00 | Embassy Santiago | UNCLASSIFIED | OPRC KMDR KPAO CI VE |
06SANTODOMINGO1468 | U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL GONZALES AT OAS JUSTICE [...] (SBU) Summary. On April 24 and 25, U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales attended the 6th Regular Meeting of Ministers of Justice and Attorneys General of the Americas (REMJA-VI),held in Santo Domingo. A hour-long conversation with President Leonel Fernandez provided suggestions for improv [...] | 2006-05-04 11:15:00 | Embassy Santo Domingo | CONFIDENTIAL | OVIP PREL PTER SNAR KCRM KJUS OAS DR TD VE |
06SANTODOMINGO2314 | FERNANDEZ SUPPORTS GUATEMALA FOR THE SECURITY [...] (C) On July 13, Ambassador Hertell spoke to President Fernandez regarding the UNSC seat (reftel). Fernandez responded that the Dominican Republic will support Guatemala's bid, but also mentioned to Ambassador Hertell that if consensus is not reached, Fernandez would like to see the Dominican [...] | 2006-07-14 22:41:00 | Embassy Santo Domingo | CONFIDENTIAL | GT PREL UNGA VE UNSC UN |
06SANTODOMINGO3601 | DOMINICAN POLITICS III, 11: SANTIAGO: CRIME, PARTY [...] (C) Summary. The early November visit of POLOFFs to Santiago (est. population 700,000),the Dominican Republic's second largest city, provided some surprises, but also confirmed many of the trends we see in Santo Domingo. The Mayor openly admitted having "ghost employees" on the payroll, whil [...] | 2006-11-29 20:13:00 | Embassy Santo Domingo | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KJUS VE DR |
06SANTODOMINGO946 | OAS CICTE VI PREPARATION: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC [...] Embassy political officer met on March 16 with Dominican Republic MFA legal adviser Miguel Pichardo to discuss preparations for the March 22-24 OAS counterterrorism ministerial in Bogota (CICTE VI). Drawing on talking points in both reftels, political officer emphasized the need to finish wor [...] | 2006-03-17 12:11:00 | Embassy Santo Domingo | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER PREL OAS DR CO ECON MARR MASS CVIS VE |
06SEOUL1398 | ROK RESPONSE TO RESTRICTING ARMS SALES TO VENEZUELA [...] No summary [...] | 2006-04-26 08:07:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | MARR MASS PARM PREL VE KS |
06SEOUL1736 | ROK DECLINES CHAVEZ VISIT [...] (C) On May 23, MOFAT South America Division Director Park Dong-won informed Poloffs that the ROKG had declined Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's request to visit South Korea on July 16. Sensitive to USG concerns, the ROKG refused the visit in consideration of the U.S.-Korean alliance. Park [...] | 2006-05-23 09:33:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR ETRD KS VE |
06SEOUL2851 | ROKG NOT PLANNING TO INVITE CHAVEZ [...] (C) Following up on ref A and media reports that Venezuelan President Chavez will visit China August 22-27, poloff on August 21 asked Choi Won-seok, MOFAT's Deputy Director for Latin American and Caribbean Regional Cooperation Division, whether South Korea would be a stop on the Chavez trip. [...] | 2006-08-21 09:17:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KS VE |
06SEOUL432 | DEMARCHE ON RESTRICTING VENEZUELA'S ACCESS TO ARMS [...] No summary [...] | 2006-02-07 08:40:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | MARR MASS PARM PREL VE KS |
06SEOUL445 | DEFEATING VENEZUELA IN THE 2006 UNSC ELECTION: [...] (C) POL M-C delivered reftel points opposing Venezuela's candidacy to the UNSC to Kim Won-soo, MOFAT Director-General for Policy Planning, in a previously scheduled meeting on February 8, noting that the Ambassador planned to raise them with Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon at an early opportunity [...] | 2006-02-08 07:55:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN UNSC GT VE KS |
06SEOUL474 | UPDATE ON RESTRICTING ROK ARMS SALES TO VENEZUELA [...] No summary [...] | 2006-02-10 05:39:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | MARR MASS PARM PREL VE KS |
06SEOUL742 | ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON RESTRICTING ROK ARMS [...] No summary [...] | 2006-03-08 08:14:00 | Embassy Seoul | SECRET | MARR MASS PARM VE KS |
06SEOUL866 | ROK SUPPORTS GUATEMALA IN THE UNSC ELECTION [...] No summary [...] | 2006-03-16 09:27:00 | Embassy Seoul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN UNSC GT VE KS |
06SOFIA264 | BULGARIA: DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES UN [...] (C) SUMMARY. In response to reftel demarches, the Bulgarian MFA said that it supports Guatemala's UNSC candidacy, agrees that the Secretary General appointment process should be based on individual qualifications rather than regional affiliations, and supports continued UN reform. Bulgaria a [...] | 2006-02-22 12:12:00 | Embassy Sofia | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KUNR PHUM UN UNSC ADCO GT VE BU |
06STOCKHOLM189 | SWEDEN: DEMARCHE ON DEFEATING VENEZUELA IN THE [...] (c) Polcouns delivered 2/8 reftel demarche in support of Guatemala's candidacy for the Latin American non-permanent seat on the UNSC to MFA Americas Director Hakan Malmquist. On 2/10, the Charge delivered the demarche by telcon to MFA Political Director Olof Skoog. Without saying how the GoS [...] | 2006-02-10 12:29:00 | Embassy Stockholm | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV UN UNSC GT VE SW |
06STOCKHOLM214 | SWEDEN'S 2005 REPORTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS IN VENEZUELA [...] (C) We reported via reftel (A) Sweden's preliminary response to our demarche on defeating Venezuela in the 2006 election for a seat on the UNSC. Sweden has not reached a decision on which candidate country to support, and has left the door open to a Venezuelan seat, depending in part on Chav [...] | 2006-02-16 08:26:00 | Embassy Stockholm | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KPAL EUN KDEM VE SW |
06STOCKHOLM935 | SWEDEN: DEMARCHE REGARDING VENEZUELAN ANTI-NGO LAW [...] No summary [...] | 2006-06-22 15:29:00 | Embassy Stockholm | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM VE EAID SW |
06SUVA443 | GUATEMALA-VENEZUELA: FIJI; KIRIBATI; TUVALU VIEWS [...] (C) As requested reftel, we approached Fiji, Kiribati, and Tuvalu again on the UNSC issue: -- Fiji Foreign Minister and CEO are out of town. Acting CEO Ratu Finau Mara heard our request for reconfirmation that Fiji is voting for Guatemala and will continue to do so. He promised to get back [...] | 2006-10-18 23:57:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | UNSC GT VE XV |
06SUVA455 | KIRIBATI PROMISES TO SWITCH ITS UN VOTE TO [...] No summary [...] | 2006-10-25 19:59:00 | Embassy Suva | CONFIDENTIAL | UNSC PREL GT VE KR |
06TAIPEI512 | TAIWAN - SHARING U.S. CONCERNS ON ARMS SALES TO [...] (S) AIT delivered the talking points reftel to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and the Ministry of National Defense (MND). MOFA North American Affairs Acting Director Leo Lee assured AIT that he would pass U.S. concerns to the National Security Council (NSC) and other relevant governm [...] | 2006-02-16 09:44:00 | American Institute Taiwan, Taipei | SECRET | PGOV MASS PARM MARR PHUM ETTC PREL VE CH TW |
06TEGUCIGALPA1026 | (C) HONDURAS: ZELAYA MISSED POTUS' POINT ON [...] (C) Summary: The POTUS/Zelaya meeting on June 5 is being portrayed in all Honduran press as a USG "green light" for a GOH deal with Venezuela's Hugo Chavez. This misleading spin makes it easier for the GOH to rationalize making such a deal (with all the negative consequences that entails),a [...] | 2006-06-06 21:02:00 | Embassy Tegucigalpa | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET PREL ECON ENRG VE HO |
06TEGUCIGALPA1102 | HONDURAN INDUSTRIALISTS ASK GOV FOR DIRECT [...] (C) Summary: The Honduran Industrialists Association (ANDI) has written a letter to the Government of Venezuela seeking a direct PetroCaribe arrangement, modeled after deals recently struck with mayors in El Salvador and Nicaragua (ref B). PetroCaribe is a government-to-government program, so [...] | 2006-06-15 20:34:00 | Embassy Tegucigalpa | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG PREL PINR VE HO |
06TEGUCIGALPA1104 | HONDURAS: FIRST OFFICIAL BOLIVARIAN CIRCLE MEETS [...] (U) According to press reports, on June 14 Honduras hosted its first official Bolivarian circle (a grass-roots mobilization effort originally created to support Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's "Bolivarian Revolution.") Television coverage of the event appeared to show 30-50 people in atte [...] | 2006-06-15 21:37:00 | Embassy Tegucigalpa | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EPET ENRG PINR VE HO |
06TEGUCIGALPA1393 | (C) HONDURAS: RECENT HONDURAS ENERGY DISCUSSIONS [...] (S/NF) The following responds to tasker C-AL6-01066 transmitted ref M. All responses are keyed to questions contained in reftel and repeated below. A. (U) PRESIDENT ZELAYA. 1) (C) WHERE DOES ZELAYA STAND WITH RESPECT TO THE VENEZUELA OIL TALKS? WHAT ARE HIS MOTIVATIONS FOR INVOLVE [...] | 2006-08-04 23:16:00 | Embassy Tegucigalpa | SECRET//NOFORN | PINR EPET PGOV HO VE |
06TEGUCIGALPA1427 | HONDURAS: DIPPSA NOT SOLD YET, BUT BOTH RECA AND [...] (C) Henry Arevalo, President and owner of Honduran gasoline distribution company DIPPSA, confirmed to Ambassador and EconChief on August 8 that he had not concluded the sale of his company and continues to seek a buyer. According to Arevalo, uncertainty surrounding the pending national fuel [...] | 2006-08-09 19:18:00 | Embassy Tegucigalpa | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | EPET PINR PGOV HO VE |
06TEGUCIGALPA1469 | HONDURAN VP SAYS PRESIDENT SEEKS CLIMATE OF [...] (S) Summary: Vice President Elvin Santos, an outsider within his own government, continues to work to moderate the influence of President Jose Manuel "Mel" Zelaya Rosales' leftist advisors. At Zelaya's request, Santos recently again publicly pledged loyalty, but remains true to his free-mark [...] | 2006-08-14 20:52:00 | Embassy Tegucigalpa | SECRET//NOFORN | PGOV PINR EPET HO VE |
06TEGUCIGALPA1559 | OIL COMPANIES AND GOH NOW TALKING, THOUGH NO [...] (C) Summary. Throughout the week of August 18, President Jose Manuel "Mel" Zelaya Rosales reverted to his former style of publicly hurling invectives, largely blaming the international oil companies, particularly Esso and Texaco, for his continuing difficulties in implementing the proposed fue [...] | 2006-08-25 18:43:00 | Embassy Tegucigalpa | SECRET//NOFORN | PINR EPET ENRG PGOV HO VE |
06TEGUCIGALPA2136 | (S) HONDURAN FUEL BID COULD SUPPORT FMLN, LEAD TO [...] (S/NF) Summary: This cable presents Post's best assessment of the current state of play and the political intent behind recent and upcoming steps in the bid solicitation process for fuel imports into Honduras. Among potential pitfalls are: (a) the threatened expropriation of millions of dolla [...] | 2006-11-09 22:32:00 | Embassy Tegucigalpa | SECRET//NOFORN | EPET EINV BBSR ES VE HO |
06TEGUCIGALPA985 | (S) HONDURAS: USG SHOULD KEEP ZELAYA NERVOUS ABOUT [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see para 6. 2. (S) Summary: In preparation for his June 5 meeting with POTUS, President Jose Manuel Zelaya Rosales is explicitly seeking USG reassurance that we will not object to a GOH deal with Venezuela for oil. Zelaya has on several recent occasi [...] | 2006-05-31 21:57:00 | Embassy Tegucigalpa | SECRET | EPET ENRG PGOV PREL PINR VE HO |
06TELAVIV3783 | AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES ARMS TRANSFER POLICY TO [...] No summary [...] | 2006-09-21 15:28:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MASS PARM PREL OTRA VE IS |
06TELAVIV3818 | ISRAELI MOD POSES QUESTIONS ABOUT USG ARMS [...] (C) Responding to ref A demarche, Israeli MOD Strategic Dialogues and Cooperation Coordinator Rami Yungman posed a number of questions to poloff in their meeting September 21. Stressing that Israel wants to "do the right thing" with respect to Venezuela, Yungman said he would be grateful for a [...] | 2006-09-27 09:25:00 | Embassy Tel Aviv | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MASS PARM PREL ETTC VE IS |
06THEHAGUE1357 | NETHERLANDS/VENEZUELA: DEMARCHE ON ANTI-NGO LAW [...] (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche June 15 to MFA Venzuela desk officer Dimitri Vogelaar. According to Vogelaar, the NGO law was raised in the June 6 COLAT working group, at the EU. On June 8, a resident European Union representative met in Caracas with the Vice Foreign Minister for Europe [...] | 2006-06-16 10:52:00 | Embassy The Hague | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM EAID KDEM PGOV PREL VE NL |
06THEHAGUE1359 | NETHERLANDS/VENEZUELA/BRAZIL: FM TO TRAVEL JULY [...] (C) Summary: Dutch FM Bot will likely travel to Brazil and Venezuela July 10 and 11, to meet with the Foreign Ministers of those two countries. As late as last month, the Dutch had hoped the meetings would be with Presidents Lula da Silva and Chavez. Chavez has refused for over a year to meet [...] | 2006-06-16 11:09:00 | Embassy The Hague | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL BR VE NT NL |
06THEHAGUE1681 | (C/NF) NETHERLANDS/UNSC/VENEZUELA/GUATEMALA: DUTCH [...] (C/NF) Summary: Foreign Minister Bot has ordered the MFA to review its earlier decision to support Guatemala over Venezuela for the GRULAC candidacy for a UNSC seat. A senior MFA official told us privately that the Dutch will probably "do the wise thing" and vote for Guatemala, but would not [...] | 2006-08-02 10:06:00 | Embassy The Hague | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL UN UNSC GT VE NL |
06THEHAGUE1766 | NETHERLANDS/UNSC/VENEZUELA/GUATEMALA: DUTCH [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Dutch still have not decided whether to vote for Guatemala or Venezuela for the open GRULAC seat on the UN Security Council. According to Dutch Foreign Minister Bot, however, momentum is building for Venezuela's candidacy, and Guatemala may be planning to withdraw. Post beli [...] | 2006-08-11 14:31:00 | Embassy The Hague | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN UNSC GT VE NL |
06THEHAGUE281 | NETHERLANDS/VENEZUELA: DEFEATING VENEZUELAN UNSC [...] (C) Poloff delivered reftel demarche on February 8 to Pieter van der Vliet, head of the MFA's Political and Legal Affairs Division, UN and IFIs Department. V/d Vliet said that the UN and IFIs Department would do everything in its power to prevent Venezuela from taking a UNSC seat. While his [...] | 2006-02-08 16:44:00 | Embassy The Hague | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC UN GT VE NL |
06THEHAGUE311 | NETHERLANDS/CARIBBEAN: MOD ON CARRIER PORT CALL [...] (U) This contains an information request for State Department (paragraph 6). 2. (C) Summary: DATT and poloffs met on January 9 with Major General Bertholee, Director of Operational Readiness, The Netherlands Defense Staff, Dutch Ministry of Defense (MOD) to discuss Caribbean Lion (CL),Part [...] | 2006-02-10 14:53:00 | Embassy The Hague | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MOPS PHSA MARR PINS SNAR NT VE XL |
06THEHAGUE353 | NETHERLANDS/NAVAL EXERCISES: DUTCH CABINET HAS [...] (C) This is an action/guidance request. Please see para 7. 2. (C) Summary: The Dutch cabinet is seized with the issue of proposed carrier port calls to the Netherlands Antilles and is expected to discuss it, as well as the upcoming Caribbean Lion exercise, at the February 17 cabinet meeti [...] | 2006-02-16 10:45:00 | Embassy The Hague | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV MOPS PHSA MARR PINS PREL SNAR XL NT VE |
06THEHAGUE386 | NETHERLANDS/NAVAL EXERCISES: GONL WILL APPROVE [...] (C) The MFA has informed us that the GONL would approve a formal request for a carrier visit by USS George Washington to St. Maarten in mid-April. They would also approve cruiser and destroyer visits to Curacao and Aruba. 2. (C) In a conversation February 21 with CDA, Marion Kappeyne van d [...] | 2006-02-22 06:36:00 | Embassy The Hague | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV MOPS PHSA MARR PINS PREL SNAR XL NT VE |
06THEHAGUE426 | NETHERLANDS/VENEZUELA: DEMARCHE ON NGO SUMATE [...] (U) Poloff delivered reftel demarche February 27 to MFA Human Rights and Peacebuilding Department Senior Policy Advisor Guillaume Teerling and left a copy for South America Division chief Gertie Mulder, who is currently away on travel. 2. (C) Teerling stressed that the GONL shares our inter [...] | 2006-02-27 16:20:00 | Embassy The Hague | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM EU PGOV PREL VE NL |
06THEHAGUE523 | DEFENSE MINISTER KAMP BLASTS CHAVEZ IN PARLIAMENT [...] (U) Defense Minister Kamp blasted Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez in parliamentary hearings March 9. Addressing Dutch coast guard operations in the Netherlands Antilles, Kamp called Chavez a populist with lots of money who "casts big eyes on the morsels along the coast of Venezuela that form [...] | 2006-03-10 15:36:00 | Embassy The Hague | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV NT VE NL |
06THEHAGUE528 | SCENESETTER FOR WHA PDAS SHAPIRO'S VISIT TO THE [...] (C) Summary: Your visit comes at a time when GONL concern about Venezuela is growing. You could use this opportunity to press the Dutch to actively campaign against Venezuela's UNSC bid, and to help ensure a stronger EU response toward Venezuelan human rights and weapons procurement activities [...] | 2006-03-10 16:20:00 | Embassy The Hague | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MARR VE NT NL |
06THEHAGUE642 | NETHERLANDS: CONCERN SIMMERS OVER VENEZUELAN [...] (C) Summary: WHA PDAS Charles Shapiro met March 15 with Dutch MFA, Interior, MOD and military intelligence officials. The Dutch message was consistent. The GONL is deeply concerned about developments in Venezuela - its neighbor - but does not currently see a direct military threat to the Net [...] | 2006-03-24 13:40:00 | Embassy The Hague | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PGOV BL CU CO NT VE NL |
06THEHAGUE872 | NETHERLANDS/VENEZUELA: RESPONSE TO DUTCH ARMS [...] (C) Summary: The Dutch are unwilling to reconsider their pending sale of radio equipment for Spanish patrol boats to Venezuela in response to reftel points. MFA Director of Security Policy Robert de Groot said the Dutch remain committed to blocking sales of "offensive" arms to Venezuela, and [...] | 2006-04-19 13:37:00 | Embassy The Hague | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PARM PREL VE NL |
06TOKYO6122 | JAPAN TO DECIDE UNSC STRATEGY REGARDING KIRIBATI [...] No summary [...] | 2006-10-20 07:00:00 | Embassy Tokyo | CONFIDENTIAL | UNSC PREL GT VE JA |
06TOKYO755 | JAPAN LIKELY TO SUPPORT GUATEMALA'S BID FOR UNSC [...] No summary [...] | 2006-02-10 09:40:00 | Embassy Tokyo | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNDC UNSC GT VE JA |
06TUNIS1494 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: BUILDING SUPPORT FOR GUATEMALA [...] No summary [...] | 2006-06-16 09:32:00 | Embassy Tunis | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC GT VE TS |
06TUNIS1621 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: BUILDING SUPPORT FOR GUATEMALA [...] (C/NF) On June 28, NEA DAS Gordon Gray, accompanied by Ambassador, raised reftel demarche on supporting Guatemala's UNSC candidacy during a meeting with Tunisian Deputy Foreign Minister for the Americas and Asia Saida Chtioui. Chtioui said that it will not be difficult for Tunisia to follow th [...] | 2006-06-29 10:40:00 | Embassy Tunis | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL UNSC UNGA GT VE TS |
06TUNIS2585 | TUNISIA INSTRUCTS UN MISSION TO SUPPORT GUATEMALA [...] (C/NF) Ministry of Foreign Affairs Chef de Cabinet Hatem Atallah on October 17 convoked Charge for a one-on-one meeting to give his assurances that the GOT had instructed its UN Mission in New York to vote for Guatemala for the UNSC seat. "Don't believe anything you hear otherwise," Atallah m [...] | 2006-10-17 15:03:00 | Embassy Tunis | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL UNSC GT VE AL TS |
06ULAANBAATAR307 | Mongolian Ponders Guatemala UNSC Vote [...] (SBU) During an April 25 introductory courtesy call on new MFA State Secretary K. Bekhat, Charge urged Mongolia to immediately make clear that it will vote for Guatemala for an elected UNSC seat. He commented that prospective votes are being closely followed in Washington. Bekhat cautiously [...] | 2006-04-25 07:14:00 | Embassy Ulaanbaatar | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL UN UNSC MG IR VE GT |
06ULAANBAATAR558 | Mongolia Still Pondering Guatemala UNSC Vote [...] (SBU) On July 20, E/P Chief called MFA Multilateral Relations Director General Enkhtsetseg to ask whether the July 3 announcement of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between Mongolia and Guatemala had resulted in any movement in Mongolia's decision on this year's UNSC vote. ( [...] | 2006-07-21 06:06:00 | Embassy Ulaanbaatar | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL UN UNSC MG IR VE GT |
06ULAANBAATAR769 | Mongolia to Vote for Guatemala in UNSC Battle [...] No summary [...] | 2006-10-12 03:35:00 | Embassy Ulaanbaatar | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL UNSC MG GT VE |
06USUNNEWYORK1834 | FINAL WEEKS OF THE GUATEMALA-VENEZUELA CONTEST FOR [...] (C/NF) Summary. The General Assembly vote to decide the contested Latin American seat on the Security Council for 2007-2008 is less than a month away -- October 16. As we gear up in New York for the final stages of this campaign, it is time to take stock of the approach and strategy most lik [...] | 2006-09-18 21:09:00 | USUN New York | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL UNSC UN GT VE XM |
06VATICAN244 | HOLY SEE: VENEZUELAN PRIEST DESCRIBES UNDEMOCRATIC [...] (C) Summary. According to a prominent Venezuelan cleric in Rome, Hugo Chavez is a threat to Latin America who has severely damaged the rule of law in Venezuela and manipulates both the electoral process and international election observers. The Catholic Church in Venezuela is well aware of th [...] | 2006-11-27 16:32:00 | Embassy Vatican | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL VE VT |
06VATICAN27 | VATICAN ON SUMATE, VENEZUELA [...] (C) Summary. Ambassador and DCM took advantage of meetings with senior Vatican officials to press for a stronger Holy See stand on Venezuela, support for Sumate, and a formal reply to the President's recent call to the (now departed) papal nuncio. The incoming nuncio was receptive and looks fo [...] | 2006-02-22 13:58:00 | Embassy Vatican | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM VE VT |
06VATICAN37 | HOLY SEE/VENEZUELA: CARDINAL'S HAT FOR UROSA MARKS VATICAN [...] (C) Summary. The rapid elevation to Cardinal of Archbishop Urosa is a mark of Holy See interest in Venezuela and Venezuelan Catholics. Not incidentally, it puts Urosa in a position to draw attention away from retired Cardinal Castillo Lara, whose scraps with the Chavez regime have not been [...] | 2006-02-28 17:17:00 | Embassy Vatican | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VT VE |
06VATICAN54 | VATICAN: VENEZUELANS FETE CARDINAL UROSA [...] (C) The Venezuelan Embassy to the Holy See wasted no time in cozying up to freshly-minted Cardinal Jorge Urosa, organizing a mass at which he presided in the aftermath of the March 24 consistory. Holy See Country Director for Venezuela Nicolas Thevenin told us the turnout for the mass was go [...] | 2006-03-30 12:37:00 | Embassy Vatican | CONFIDENTIAL | VE PHUM KIRF SOCI VT |
06VATICAN70 | CHAVEZ COMING TO VATICAN; PRIEST'S DEATH RAISES EYEBROWS [...] (C) Holy See MFA Country Director for Venezuela Thevenin confirmed that President Chavez would visit the pope and secretary of state, most likely May 11. Thevenin said there SIPDIS might well be a press statement on the margins of the meetings at which time the Holy See would have an oppor [...] | 2006-05-02 13:54:00 | Embassy Vatican | CONFIDENTIAL | KIRF PHUM SOCI VE VT |
06VATICAN73 | CASTILLO LARA PRIMES POPE FOR CHAVEZ; VENEZUELAN PRIEST [...] (C) Fr. Pedro Freites, Rector of the Venezuelan College in Rome, confirmed to us May 4 that Cardinal Castillo Lara had briefed the pope thoroughly on President Chavez during his recent audience (ref a). Freites was confident that the pope had heard what he needed to hear, and said he hoped t [...] | 2006-05-05 08:55:00 | Embassy Vatican | CONFIDENTIAL | KIRF PHUM SOCI VE VT |
06VIENNA1419 | EU-LATIN AMERICA SUMMIT: SLOW PROGRESS TOWARD [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: At the May 11-12 EU-LAC (Latin America/Caribbean) Summit, the two regions sought strategies for closer cooperation. A striking lack of unity among LAC countries hampered the effort. The meeting produced a "Declaration of Vienna" enumerating common goals, among them the continu [...] | 2006-05-15 15:35:00 | Embassy Vienna | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL ECIN ETRD PGOV PHUM CU BL VE EUN AU |
06VIENNA578 | AUSTRIANS WARY BUT NONCOMMITTAL ON VENEZUELA'S [...] (C) Ambassador demarched MFA Secretary General Johannes Kyrle regarding Venezuela's bid for a UN Security Council seat on the margins of a dinner she hosted for him on February 9. Pol Unit Chief met with MFA A/S for International Organizations Helmut Boeck on February 16 to follow up. Boeck [...] | 2006-02-27 07:29:00 | Embassy Vienna | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM UNSC GT VE EUN AU |
06VIENNA725 | AUSTRIA TO SUPPORT GUATEMALA OVER VENEZUELA FOR [...] (C) During a March 8 meeting, Austrian MFA Americas Director Rudolf Lennkh told EconPolCouns that Austria had decided to support Guatemala's candidacy instead of Venezuela's for the 2007-2008 Group of Latin American and Caribbean countries (GRULAC) seat on the UN Security Council. 2. (C) [...] | 2006-03-09 15:49:00 | Embassy Vienna | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM UNSC GT VE EUN AU |
06VIENNA726 | FOLLOW UP ON DEMARCHE ON VENEZUELAN NGO SUMATE [...] (SBU) EconPolCouns followed up on reftel demarche on March 8, with Rudolf Lennkh, the Austrian MFA's assistant secretary-level Director for the Americas, and DAS-level SIPDIS Latin America section head Andreas Melan. 2. (C) Lennkh said Austrian Embassy Washington DCM Harald Guenther ha [...] | 2006-03-09 16:36:00 | Embassy Vienna | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL EU VE AU |
06VILNIUS1017 | LITHUANIAN REFINERY BOARD RESIGNS AFTER FAILING TO [...] (C) Nelson English, the Amcit General Director of Mazeikiu Nafta (MN),Lithuania's only oil refinery, called us late on November 9 to say that that MN's board of directors had resigned after failing to oust him at a board meeting earlier that evening. He said that the GOL's three representativ [...] | 2006-11-13 14:52:00 | Embassy Vilnius | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG EPET PREL LH RS PL VE |
06VILNIUS1111 | SALE OF LITHUANIA'S REFINERY NEARS COMPLETION [...] (C) Summary: The official closing of the sale of Lithuania's Mazeikiu Nafta (MN) oil refinery to Poland's PKN Orlen should occur on December 15. The GOL will receive nearly USD 852 million and Yukos International USD 1.5 billion for its majority stake. MN will also fire six high-level manage [...] | 2006-12-14 14:18:00 | Embassy Vilnius | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG EPET PREL LH RS PL VE NL |
06VILNIUS132 | (C) GOL WILL SUPPORT GUATEMALA FOR UNSC SEAT [...] No summary [...] | 2006-02-09 12:54:00 | Embassy Vilnius | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL GT VE LH UN UNSC |
06VILNIUS224 | LITHUANIA'S REFINERY LOOKS TO VENEZUELA TO BALANCE [...] (U) ACTION REQUEST: This cable contains an action request; please see paragraph seven. 2. (C) SUMMARY: Nelson English, General Manager of the Mazeikiu Nafta (MN) oil refinery in the Baltics, told the Charge that his company is considering a supply deal with the Venezuelan state-owned oil [...] | 2006-03-03 12:15:00 | Embassy Vilnius | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG EPET PREL LH VE RS |
06VILNIUS618 | TWO RUSSIAN OIL SUPPLIERS CANCEL JULY CRUDE [...] (C) SUMMARY: RosNeft and Vitol have cancelled their crude shipments to Lithuania's Mazeikiu Nafta oil refinery (MN) for July, leaving the refinery with only half of the crude it expected to process this month. The shortfall will affect Latvia and Estonia as well as Lithuania. MN, which curre [...] | 2006-07-03 13:46:00 | Embassy Vilnius | SECRET | PREL EPET ECON LH RU VE |
06VILNIUS727 | LITHUANIA'S CHOICE: FIGHT OR SURRENDER ITS [...] (S) SUMMARY: Lithuania and its Mazeikiu Nafta (MN) oil refinery need to decide how to proceed, now that an "accident" has resulted in a complete cutoff in the refinery's pipeline-delivered supply of Russian crude. State Department Advisor Steve Hellman framed this issue for the Lithuanians d [...] | 2006-08-04 15:12:00 | Embassy Vilnius | SECRET | ENRG ECON PREL LH XG VE LY |
06VILNIUS801 | MAZEIKIU NAFTA REFINERY LEARNING TO LIVE WITHOUT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Lithuania's Mazeikiu Nafta (MN) oil refinery is operating at full capacity, despite the recent cutoff of its most economic source of crude, via pipeline from Russia (refs A and B). MN is currently using its Baltic Sea terminal at Butinge to offload its entire crude supply from t [...] | 2006-08-25 14:16:00 | Embassy Vilnius | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG ECON PREL XG VE |
06VILNIUS891 | RUMORS CONTINUE TO SWIRL ABOUT THE FATE OF [...] (C) SUMMARY: Rumors about the fate of Lithuania's Mazeikiu Nafta (MN) oil refinery continue to circulate. Most of them appear false. A front-page article in Lithuania's largest newspaper proclaiming that MN was "sliding again into Moscow's hands" was a near-total fabrication, according to o [...] | 2006-09-26 14:55:00 | Embassy Vilnius | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG EPET PREL KZ VE LH |
06WARSAW2091 | POLAND SUPPORTS U.S. ARMS TRANSFER POLICY TO [...] No summary [...] | 2006-09-27 14:56:00 | Embassy Warsaw | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MASS PARM PREL VE PL |
06WELLINGTON182 | NZ WILL SUPPORT GUATEMALA FOR UNSC SEAT [...] No summary [...] | 2006-03-07 04:47:00 | Embassy Wellington | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC GT VE NZ |
06YEREVAN1347 | UNSC RACE: ARMENIA TO SUPPORT GUATEMALA [...] No summary [...] | 2006-09-28 11:54:00 | Embassy Yerevan | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UNSC GT VE AM |
06YEREVAN188 | ARMENIA CONSIDERING POSITION ON GUATEMALA'S UNSC [...] No summary [...] | 2006-02-08 13:51:00 | Embassy Yerevan | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN UNSC GT VE AM |
06YEREVAN200 | ARMENIA TO SUPPORT GUATEMALA FOR UN SECURITY [...] No summary [...] | 2006-02-10 05:53:00 | Embassy Yerevan | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL UN UNSC GT VE AM |
06ZAGREB1158 | CROATIA SUPPORTS USG POLICY ON ARMS TO VENEZUELA [...] No summary [...] | 2006-09-25 12:20:00 | Embassy Zagreb | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MASS PARM VE PREL OTRA HR |
06ZAGREB1197 | NO OFFICIAL RESPONSE TO UNSC DEMARCHE, BUT ZAGREB [...] No summary [...] | 2006-10-03 12:47:00 | Embassy Zagreb | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | UNSC GT VE HR |
07ABUDHABI1335 | THIRD LATIN AMERICAN EMBASSY TO OPEN IN ABU DHABI [...] (SBU) Charge was recently introduced by diplomatic colleagues to a new Charge representing Venezuela in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). MFA tells us that the Venezuelan mission is still being set up and that the current Charge (Asdrubal Pulido Leon) would likely be replaced by (or assume the [...] | 2007-08-09 13:41:00 | Embassy Abu Dhabi | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL VE AE |
07ANKARA2819 | TURKEY: DEMOCRACY IN VENEZUELA [...] (C) We delivered reftel points on November 21 to MFA Latin America Head of Department Ece Ozturk Cil. Cil assured us that U.S. concerns in Latin America are strongly taken into account in Turkey's Latin America policies, given her department's location in the MFA Americas Directorate and Tur [...] | 2007-11-23 15:27:00 | Embassy Ankara | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM VE TU WHA |
07ASUNCION250 | PARAGUAY: DUARTE TILTS LEFT LOOKING FOR [...] (C) SUMMARY. President Duarte's statements applauding Chavez' "overdose of democracy," attacking "neoliberalism," and criticizing U.S. policies could be characterized as representing a substantive shift further to the left. However, they also reflect as much if not more Duarte's growing [...] | 2007-03-27 22:33:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON VE PA |
07ASUNCION389 | PARAGUAY POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC UPDATE MAY 5-11, [...] (U) SUMMARY: -- CDA Meets the Israeli Ambassador -- TSJE Credibility Low; Infighting Continues -- New Customs Unit Seizes Contraband -- Indigenous Get Help from Itaipu CDA MEETS THE ISRAELI AMBASSADOR 2. (C) The CDA received Israeli Ambassador to Paraguay (resident in Argentina) Raf [...] | 2007-05-11 17:15:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PA AR VE |
07ASUNCION396 | COM CONFERENCE: A SOUTHERN CONE PERSPECTIVE ON [...] (C) SUMMARY: During May 8-9 Southern Cone / Brazil COM Conference in Rio de Janiero, the five Southern Cone Ambassadors discussed aggressive plans of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez to create a unified Bolivarian movement throughout Latin America, particularly focusing on activities within their respe [...] | 2007-05-17 13:28:00 | Embassy Asuncion | SECRET | PGOV PREL KDEM ECON AR BO BR CH PA UY VE |
07ASUNCION476 | PARAGUAY REPSONSE ON DEMARCHE ON THE GROWING IRAN [...] (C) A/DCM conveyed concerns 6/5 over increasing ties between Iran and Venezuela to the MFA,s U/S for Bilateral Affairs Ceferino Valdez. Valdez took copious notes and inquired whether the Secretary would be raising this issue when she meets with FM Ramirez on 6/14. Valdez also described Para [...] | 2007-06-07 12:18:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM MASS ECON PTER VE PA |
07ASUNCION511 | PARAGUAY: VENEZUELA FOREIGN AID ACTIVITIES [...] (S/NF) Summary: This telegram responds to reftel request for information. Venezuelan assistance to Paraguay has been pledged, but is not yet realized. Much of the planned aid to Paraguay is in the form of oil and gas projects and a commitment to small and medium business development. Other [...] | 2007-06-19 17:27:00 | Embassy Asuncion | SECRET | PINR VE PA |
07ASUNCION743 | PDVSA EXPANDING INTO PARAGUAY AND ELSEWHERE? [...] (C) Hermes Rafael "Rambo" Saguier, current advisor to pre-presidential candidate Fernando Lugo, provided DCM with a July 13 letter from PDVSA, Venezuela's state owned petroleum company, which sought Saguier's legal services. The letter, written "within the framework of the international policy [...] | 2007-09-06 19:03:00 | Embassy Asuncion | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EPET PGOV PREL PA VE |
07ASUNCION98 | PARAGUAYAN FIREWORKS OVER CHAVEZ MEDDLING [...] (C) SUMMARY: The heavy-handed response by Venezuelan President Chavez at the Mercosur Summit in Brazil against Paraguayan Vice President Castiglioni's criticism opened the hornets' nest in Paraguay. President Duarte claimed he challenged Chavez for attacking his VP and for interfering in Para [...] | 2007-02-08 21:26:00 | Embassy Asuncion | SECRET | PGOV PREL PA VE |
07ATHENS2234 | GREECE ON DEMOCRACY IN VENEZUELA [...] (C) On November 16, Poloff delivered reftel points on democracy in Venezuela to Counselor Maria Alerta, D4 Directorate on Human Rights, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2. (C) Alerta agreed that the proposed constitutional amendments of the GoV would create problems. She also noted that the [...] | 2007-11-16 14:02:00 | Embassy Athens | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM EUN VE GR |
07BANJUL197 | THE GAMBIA: UPDATE ON TIES WITH IRAN, VENEZUELA [...] (U) Following February reports that The Gambia and Iran would soon exchange embassies (ref a),GOTG officials confirm the official opening April 15 of The Gambian Embassy in the Iranian capital. We are told that Gambian Foreign Minister Bala Garba Jahumpa headed the GOTG's delegation at the ev [...] | 2007-04-17 15:28:00 | Embassy Banjul | SECRET | PREL PGOV MASS GA IR VE KMCA |
07BANJUL251 | THE GAMBIA: PRESIDENT'S TRIP TO VENEZUELA AND CUBA [...] (C) Gambian President Jammeh came away from his recent trip to Venezuela with a grant of $30 million and an unknown amount of oil-related assistance, according to our source. We are told that Jammeh, in his aid pitch to Venezuelan leader Chavez, claimed that the U.S. had "abandoned" him -- cit [...] | 2007-05-15 18:09:00 | Embassy Banjul | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KMCA EPET GA VE CU |
07BEIJING6607 | OCTOBER 11 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: BURMA, ARREST OF [...] Key points at the October 11 MFA Press Briefing: -- The situation in Burma is "relaxing" and is "turning in a good direction." The international community should offer "constructive" help to allow Burma to realize stability, reconciliation, democracy and development. -- ROK consulate off [...] | 2007-10-11 10:07:00 | Embassy Beijing | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV CH BM KN KS JA VE CO |
07BEIJING6899 | OCTOBER 30 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: SIX-PARTY TALKS, [...] Key points at the October 30 MFA Press Briefing: -- China has expressed its "strong dissatisfaction" and opposition to Canada's hosting of the Dalai Lama. Canada should correct its actions to avoid further damage to bilateral ties. -- Japan's actions against Chinese activists near the Dia [...] | 2007-10-30 09:50:00 | Embassy Beijing | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV PHUM CH LA KN KS KZ JA VE CA IR |
07BEIJING7036 | NOVEMBER 8 MFA PRESS BRIEFING: IRAN, BIBLE BAN, [...] Key points at the November 8 MFA Press Briefing: -- China requested that Iran "respond positively" and "attach importance to" the concern of the international community. (Note: some news organizations stated that China "demanded" Iran respond positively. The word in Chinese was "yaoqiu" whi [...] | 2007-11-08 10:53:00 | Embassy Beijing | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV PHUM CH KN KS PK IR AF ID VE SN |
07BELMOPAN495 | CHAVEZ HAS FRIENDS IN BELIZE [...] (SBU) Summary. Since November 2006 Venezuela has given the Belizean government a US$5 million grant, US$50 million in loans, and US$1.6 million for road construction. Several sources have confirmed that recently an additional US$10 million grant has been promised. The government appears to b [...] | 2007-08-06 22:17:00 | Embassy Belmopan | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL ECON EFIN EAID BH VE |
07BELMOPAN520 | BELIZE-VENEZUELA: NEW BRV AMBASSADOR TO BELIZE [...] (SBU) With timing perhaps linked to Prime Minister Musa's visit to Venezuela for the PetroCaribe Summit, the BRV Embassy in Belize circulated on August 14 an announcement that the Mission's Charge d'Affaires, Roberto J. Dubuc, was being transferred to the Internal Service in the Ministry of F [...] | 2007-08-16 21:36:00 | Embassy Belmopan | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PINR BH VE |
07BELMOPAN522 | (C) BELIZE-VENEZUELA: NO INVITATION FOR CHAVEZ [...] (C) MFA Chief Executive Officer (deputy minister equivalent) Amalia Mai told Charge August 16 that although Belize has good relations with Venezuela and appreciates financial assistance from the BRV, Hugo Chavez will "never" be invited to Belize as long as the current government is in power [...] | 2007-08-16 21:37:00 | Embassy Belmopan | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL BH VE |
07BERLIN2071 | GERMAN GOVERNMENT TAKES STEPS TO BLOCK RUSSIAN [...] (C/NF) SUMMARY: On the basis of information presented to the German Government by the Portuguese Embassy in Berlin, the German Government has taken initial steps to block a shipment of Russian rockets and related materials bound for Venezuela's Defense Ministry. The shipment was scheduled to [...] | 2007-11-15 13:54:00 | Embassy Berlin | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PARM ETTC TSPA MARR MASS PGOV RU VE GM |
07BERLIN211 | GERMAN GOVERNMENT VIEWS ON VENEZUELAN ARMS [...] (S) Global Affairs officer delivered ref A demarche to German MFA Arms Export Control Division Desk Officer Jan Freigang and Venezuela Desk Officer Achim Troester January 29. Freigang and Troester appreciated the information and encouraged the USG to share with the German Government specific [...] | 2007-02-02 11:34:00 | Embassy Berlin | SECRET | PREF MARR PHUM MASS PARM PTER SNAR VE GM |
07BERLIN2116 | GERMANY'S VIEWS ON DEMOCRACY IN VENEZUELA [...] (C) PolOff delivered reftel points on November 16 to Betina Kern, Deputy Head of the Andean Region Division at the German Foreign Ministry. With respect to the substance of USG concerns about proposed constitutional changes in Venezuela, Kern said that Germany "feels exactly the same way." [...] | 2007-11-26 15:49:00 | Embassy Berlin | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM WHA EU VE GM |
07BOGOTA1810 | REPRESENTATIVE MCGOVERN MEETS WITH DEFENSE [...] (SBU) Minister of Defense Juan Manuel Santos told Representative James McGovern (D-MA) on March 4 that the Justice and Peace Law was an example of security advances under Uribe, but voiced concerns that revelations of para-political ties would be viewed negatively by the U.S. Congress. Santos [...] | 2007-03-20 19:59:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KJUS PMIL PHUM PTER PREL ELAB VE CO |
07BOGOTA7804 | AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD'S OCTOBER 29 MEETING WITH [...] (C) The Ambassador told Cardinal Pedro Rubiano on October 29 that the USG would consider joint efforts with the Church on health, education, and poverty reduction projects. Rubiano said the National Conciliation Commission has useful insights into peace talks with the Revolutionary Armed Forces [...] | 2007-11-01 17:45:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER VE VT CO |
07BOGOTA7954 | AMBASSADOR'S OCTOBER 29 MEETING WITH FORMER [...] (C) The Ambassador reviewed with Liberal Party leader Cesar Gaviria on October 29 the result of the preceding day's local elections, Senator Cordoba's and President Chavez' efforts to promote a humanitarian accord, and prospects for U.S. Congressional approval of the bilateral Free Trade Agre [...] | 2007-11-06 22:50:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ETRD PHUM PINR PREL OAS PE VE CO |
07BOGOTA7981 | AMBASSADOR'S NOVEMBER 1 MEETING WITH BOGOTA MAYOR [...] (C) Bogota Mayor Luis Eduardo "Lucho" Garzon told the Ambassador on November 1 that he supports the Free Trade Agreement--with modifications--as well as President Uribe's democratic security policy. Garzon urged the USG to pay greater attention to "leftist" movements in the region but disavow [...] | 2007-11-08 12:36:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ASEC PHUM PTER ETRD VE CO |
07BOGOTA8045 | AMBASSADOR'S NOVEMBER 1 MEETING WITH FORMER [...] No summary [...] | 2007-11-14 00:10:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD PGOV PHUM PINR PREL PTER KJUS FR NU VE |
07BOGOTA8305 | GOC RECOVERS PROOF OF LIFE FOR SIXTEEN HOSTAGES [...] No summary [...] | 2007-11-30 22:26:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PHUM PREL CASC FR VE CO |
07BOGOTA8384 | PRESIDENT URIBE SPEAKS TO REID DELEGATION ON TPA, [...] (SBU) During a November 28 meeting with the U.S. Congressional Delegation led by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, President Alvaro Uribe outlined Plan Colombia's accomplishments and stressed the importance of continued U.S. support. Uribe said passage of the U.S.- Colombia Trade Promotion A [...] | 2007-12-06 20:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PREF PTER PHUM PGOV KJUS VE CO |
07BOGOTA8455 | AMBASSADOR'S NOVEMBER 28 MEETING WITH GOVERNOR [...] (C) Governor Angelino Garzon told the Ambassador the GOC's suspension of Colombian Senator Piedad Cordoba's and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez' efforts to promote a humanitarian accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) stemmed from their mercurial approaches, the GOC's f [...] | 2007-12-11 13:55:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER ELAB ECON VE CO |
07BOGOTA8477 | CATHOLIC CHURCH BEGINS EFFORT TO CONTACT FARC ON [...] (C) Catholic priest Dario Echeverri told us the Church will reach out to the FARC to explain its proposal to create an "encounter zone" for GOC talks with the FARC on a humanitarian exchange. He said President Uribe had asked the Church to make the proposal to deflect international pressure o [...] | 2007-12-11 21:14:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF AR CI FR SZ VZ VE |
07BOGOTA8657 | GOC ACCEPTS CHAVEZ PROPOSAL FOR "OPERATION [...] (C) On December 26, the GOC accepted a proposal from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to send an international commission with representatives from France, Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador, Bolvia, Argentina, and Cuba to Colombia to recover three FARC-held hostages. The commission would travel to a [...] | 2007-12-26 21:32:00 | Embassy Bogota | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL PTER PREF VE CO |
07BRASILIA1034 | LULA, CHAVEZ SPAR OVER BRAZILIAN SENATE RESOLUTION [...] (SBU) Summary. President Lula and Venezuelan President Chavez sparred in the media over Chavez's criticism of the Brazilian Senate's resolution on the RCTV forced closure on May 28, giving additional stress to an already frayed friendship. What began as a polite refusal by Lula to criticize [...] | 2007-06-06 19:39:00 | Embassy Brasilia | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV ECPS ETRD BR VE |
07BRASILIA1380 | FISCAL DATA FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKSHOP IN [...] No summary [...] | 2007-07-20 17:52:00 | Embassy Brasilia | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV OTRA VE BR |
07BRASILIA1519 | FISCAL DATA FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKSHOP IN [...] No summary [...] | 2007-08-08 19:13:00 | Embassy Brasilia | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV OTRA VE BR |
07BRASILIA1520 | FISCAL DATA FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT WORKSHOP IN [...] No summary [...] | 2007-08-08 19:13:00 | Embassy Brasilia | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV OTRA VE BR |
07BRASILIA1530 | FISCAL DATA FOR ADDITIONAL COSTS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LAW [...] No summary [...] | 2007-08-09 17:51:00 | Embassy Brasilia | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV OTRA CO VE BR |
07BRASILIA1539 | REVISED FISCAL DATA FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ENFORCEMENT [...] No summary [...] | 2007-08-10 15:53:00 | Embassy Brasilia | UNCLASSIFIED | SENV OTRA CO VE BR |
07BRASILIA1865 | VENEZUELAN MERCOSUL ACCESSION MAY NOT PASS [...] (SBU) Summary. The bill to approve Venezuelan accession to Mercosul may not pass the Brazilian congress, in spite of support from the administration and the government's large majority in the chamber of deputies. President Chavez may have torpedoed Venezuela's chances when, at the September [...] | 2007-09-28 19:29:00 | Embassy Brasilia | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECIN BR VE XR |
07BRASILIA2132 | IRAN-RUSSIA-VENEZUELA TRIANGLE THREATENS REGIONAL [...] (C) Summary. Iran, Russia, and Venezuela are involved in an open and growing collaboration with a common purpose to make more arms available to radical populist governments and spread anti-American ideology in the region, according to the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations and National [...] | 2007-11-13 14:41:00 | Embassy Brasilia | SECRET | PREL MASS BR VE XR RS IR |
07BRASILIA2151 | FORMER PRESIDENT URGES USG TO COUNTER CHAVEZ [...] (C) Summary. Former President and sitting senator Jose Sarney (PMDB, Brazilian Democratic Movement Party, governing coalition; of Amapa) urges the USG to do more to counter Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's increasingly destabilizing actions in the region. Sarney said Chavez threatens to c [...] | 2007-11-19 15:49:00 | Embassy Brasilia | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL PBTS MASS MCAP BR GY VE IR RS |
07BRASILIA2217 | BRAZIL'S FOREIGN MINISTER DISCUSSES GLOBAL, [...] (C) In a November 30 meeting in Sao Paulo, Ambassador Sobel and Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim discussed a range of global, regional and bilateral issues. On the region's most pressing issues - such as political developments in Venezuela and Bolivia, and Colombia-Venezuela bilateral [...] | 2007-12-03 21:27:00 | Embassy Brasilia | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ETRD KPAL OVIP EFIN AMGT VE BL AR |
07BRATISLAVA31 | FM KUBIS ON AFGHANISTAN, KOSOVO, CUBA, VENEZUELA [...] (C) Ambassador delivered message in ref A to Foreign Minister Jan Kubis on January 17. Kubis told the Ambassador that Prime Minister Robert Fico still planned to travel to Kandahar, Afghanistan on January 25. Kubis would then travel to the January 26 Informal NATO Ministerial. Although Kubis [...] | 2007-01-18 06:31:00 | Embassy Bratislava | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL CU VE KO AF LO |
07BRATISLAVA61 | PM FICO'S JANUARY 29 LUNCH WITH THE AMBASSADOR [...] (C) Summary. PM Robert Fico hosted the Ambassador for a two-hour lunch in his office on January 29. Fico denied that he is moving Slovakia's foreign policy further from the U.S. and agreed to consider or pass along many of the Ambassador's suggestions on energy security and other domestic issue [...] | 2007-01-31 15:49:00 | Embassy Bratislava | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV AF SR LY VE LO |
07BRATISLAVA634 | SLOVAKIA: STICKING WITH THE EU ON VENEZUELA [...] (C) Summary. Slovakia will follow the EU line on Venezuela, but will not speak out on a national basis against President Chavez's attempts to expand his powers and restrict those of media, civil society and elected officials. MFA officials indicated that the GOS would be willing to support a m [...] | 2007-12-01 16:48:00 | Embassy Bratislava | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM LO VE EUN |
07BRIDGETOWN1203 | DOMINICA AFTER DEAN -- VENEZUELA WILL HELP US [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Dominica has been promised assistance from Venezuela to improve infrastructure, particularly roads and retaining walls, in the aftermath of Hurricane Dean from August 16-17. These pledges far outstrip the modest assistance the USG has been able to provide to date, giving Hugo [...] | 2007-09-14 19:15:00 | Embassy Bridgetown | UNCLASSIFIED | EAID EAGR ECON PGOV PREL VE DO XL |
07BRIDGETOWN125 | GRENADA'S SCRAMBLE FOR ASSISTANCE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Among local media predictions for the new year is one of increased People's Republic of China (PRC) efforts to gain influence on the United States' back doorstep, in the Caribbean, and specifically within CARICOM. Several local commentators have called for Grenada and CARICOM to [...] | 2007-02-01 21:16:00 | Embassy Bridgetown | CONFIDENTIAL | EAID PREL PINR PHUM CASC GJ CH CU VE XL |
07BRIDGETOWN1548 | ONE-SIDED VICTORY?: ST. KITTS AND NEVIS ADOPTS [...] (U) Summary: In early December 2007 the St. Christopher (St. Kitts) and Nevis Parliament approved major changes to the country's election laws, the first changes since 1984. Reforms in the current law include the introduction of a national voter identification card and new regulations allowing [...] | 2007-12-18 21:21:00 | Embassy Bridgetown | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM PREL SOCI EAID SC XL VE CU |
07BRIDGETOWN213 | PETROCARIBE UPDATE #31: CHAVEZ TO VISIT DOMINICA [...] (C) Summary: Various media report that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez will visit Dominica and St. Vincent on February 16 and 17, respectively, to open fuel storage tank facilities. Despite the reality of several logistical and technical setbacks with fuel delivery and storage for the Petro [...] | 2007-02-16 20:36:00 | Embassy Bridgetown | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ENRG EPET PGOV PINR VE DO ST XL |
07BRIDGETOWN228 | PETROCARIBE #32: CHAVEZ VISIT UNEVENTFUL [...] (C) Summary: On February 16-17, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez visited Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The visit was light on substance and heavy on atmospherics, as he reiterated past Petrocaribe-related promises and resorted to his usual vitriolic anti-American talking points. [...] | 2007-02-21 19:39:00 | Embassy Bridgetown | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ENRG EPET PGOV PINR VE DO ST XL |
07BRIDGETOWN369 | OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS FOR SAINT VINCENT'S OPPOSITION [...] (C) Summary: The head of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) opposition party, Arnhim Eustace, has stepped up his criticism of Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves in the last three weeks. His most recent themes included Gonsalves' December pardon of a convicted drug dealer and Gonsalves' emb [...] | 2007-03-26 17:12:00 | Embassy Bridgetown | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL SNAR KCRM VC VE XL |
07BRIDGETOWN397 | U.S. DISENGAGEMENT IN THE EASTERN CARIBBEAN [...] (C) Summary: Embassy Bridgetown would like to offer the following assessment of the possible consequences of further cuts in U.S. assistance to the Eastern Caribbean. The economic realities--or more aptly--vulnerabilities of these microstates are such that further reductions in U.S. presen [...] | 2007-04-04 16:18:00 | Embassy Bridgetown | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC MARR PGOV PINR PREL SNAR BB CU VE XL |
07BRIDGETOWN573 | (C) GRENADA PM MITCHELL ON CHAVEZ'S BAD LIST? [...] (C) Summary: In a somewhat tense mid-April meeting with Charge, Grenada's Keith Mitchell shared his fears that strongly leftist Caribbean leaders, led by St. Vincent's Ralph Gonsalves, had persuaded Hugo Chavez that the pro-American Grenada government should not receive further Venezuelan as [...] | 2007-05-09 21:41:00 | Embassy Bridgetown | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PINR EAID AC DO GJ IS VC VE XL |
07BRIDGETOWN717 | DEMARCHE ON THE GROWING IRAN-VENEZUELA [...] (C) We delivered reftel demarche to six countries in the Eastern Caribbean. Officials of all six countries expressed concern about the growing ties between Venezuela and Iran, but as is typical for the Eastern Caribbean, they refused to commit to speaking out or taking action in international [...] | 2007-06-06 13:15:00 | Embassy Bridgetown | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MARR PHUM MASS ECON PTER VE IR XL |
07BRIDGETOWN739 | MEETING WITH ST. VINCENT FOREIGN MINISTER [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: On June 1, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Sir Louis Straker, paid a courtesy call on DCM Mary Ellen T. Gilroy. Key points of their discussion included the upcoming Caribbean Conference, LIAT's perceived monopolistic posture, Petroc [...] | 2007-06-07 20:22:00 | Embassy Bridgetown | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV EAIR EPET EINV EWWT CU VE VC XL |
07BRUSSELS2239 | TRANSFER OF BELGIAN EQUIPMENT TO VENEZUELA [...] (S) In response to Reftel, PolMilOff demarched both Belgian Ministry of Defense (MOD) and Walloon General Commission of International Relations (CGRI) about the reported recent transfer by Walloon defense contractor FN Herstal of Wassenaar-controlled T-100/200 sighting systems to Venezuela. D [...] | 2007-07-11 08:56:00 | Embassy Brussels | SECRET//NOFORN | ETTC MARR PREL VE MASS BE |
07BRUSSELS3497 | ANTWERP DIAMOND OFFICIAL ALLEGES CHAVEZ EXPORTING [...] (C) A senior official in the Antwerp Diamond Center alleged on December 10 to DCM and ECOUNS that Venezuela may be exporting diamonds illegally through third countries, including Ghana and Congo-Brazzaville. The official explained that diamonds from Venezuela and British Guyana are geologic [...] | 2007-12-13 13:25:00 | Embassy Brussels | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD CF GY VE BE |
07BUENOSAIRES1025 | MEETING WITH ARGENTINE DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER: [...] (C) Summary: Argentine Deputy Foreign Minister Roberto Garcia Moritan invited Ambassador to coffee May 22. He wanted to verify that the incident between security details during the Washington visit of Argentine First Lady Cristina Kirchner was behind us and would have not negative aftereffe [...] | 2007-05-23 19:39:00 | Embassy Buenos Aires | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV AR IR VE |
07BUENOSAIRES1127 | Managed Mercosur Auto Trade [...] (U) Argentina's auto sector is roaring ahead, and 2007 is well on track to be the best in its history. The auto industry is a crucial pillar of the Argentine economy, bringing good jobs, technology transfer and innovation. Given the auto industry's importance and political sensitivity, the GO [...] | 2007-06-07 20:08:00 | Embassy Buenos Aires | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV ETRD AR BR VE |
07BUENOSAIRES1379 | OAS SYG INSULZA ON VENEZUELA [...] (C) On July 18, Ambassador met over breakfast in Buenos Aires with visiting OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel Insulza. Insulza told Ambassador that, as Secretary General, he feels it important to show the OAS is making every effort to work with Venezuela at this time. He said he believes th [...] | 2007-07-18 20:06:00 | Embassy Buenos Aires | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE AR |
07BUENOSAIRES2317 | BANCO DEL SUR LAUNCHED IN BUENOS AIRES DECEMBER 9 [...] (C) As his last official act in office, President Nestor Kirchner hosted five other South American Presidents for the December 9 signing of the "Founding Act of the Bank of the South" (Banco del Sur). In their public remarks, the Presidents and President-elect Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner e [...] | 2007-12-10 18:41:00 | Embassy Buenos Aires | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN ECON PREL AR BL BR CO EC PA UY VE |
07BUENOSAIRES2345 | ARGENTINE FUROR CONTINUES OVER U.S. ALLEGATIONS [...] (C) The GOA has repeatedly suspended Ministerial-level contacts and has cut off some law enforcement contacts with the USG in wake of the continuing furor (ref a) over DOJ allegations that $800,000 intercepted August 4 by Argentine officials was a BRV cash contribution for Cristina Kirchner's (CFK) [...] | 2007-12-14 19:07:00 | Embassy Buenos Aires | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SNAR CJAN ECON ASEC KJUS VE AR |
07BUENOSAIRES2346 | ARGENTINE AUTHORITIES STAY IN ATTACK MODE, [...] (SBU) Action Request: Embassy requests clearance of proposed talking points in paras 7-14 for use in backgrounding the media in response to GOA allegations. 2. (SBU) Summary and introduction: Following extensive positive media coverage on December 14 and 15 of the Ambassador's December 14 [...] | 2007-12-16 19:05:00 | Embassy Buenos Aires | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL SNAR CJAN KJUS ASEC KPAO VE AR |
07BUENOSAIRES2352 | Argentina: Debt and Investment Issues Discussed with Labor [...] (SBU) Secretary of Labor Chao, in a December 12 meeting with incoming Finance Secretary Hugo Secondini and Argentina's proposed new Ambassador to the U.S. Hector Timerman, emphasized the importance of addressing Paris Club arrears as a first step in regularizing Argentina's access to internatio [...] | 2007-12-18 12:54:00 | Embassy Buenos Aires | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AR ECON EFIN BEXP OVIP VE |
07BUENOSAIRES2359 | BOTH KIRCHNERS NOW ON THE WARPATH: "WE WILL NOT [...] (SBU) Summary and Introduction: President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner (CFK) and her husband, former president Nestor Kirchner (NK),came out swinging against the United States -- she in Montevideo, he in Buenos Aires -- on December 18, hours before the Ambassador was scheduled to meet with [...] | 2007-12-18 18:46:00 | Embassy Buenos Aires | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL SNAR CJAN KJUS ASEC KPAO VE AR |
07BUENOSAIRES2361 | G7 AMBASSADORS ON MIAMI ARRESTS: [...] (C) Summary. Ambassador briefed the Ambassadors and Charges of Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom on the December 11 arrest of three Venezuelans and one Uruguayan in Miami on charges of operating as unregistered foreign agents. Ambassado [...] | 2007-12-19 12:49:00 | Embassy Buenos Aires | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SNAR CJAN KJUS ASEC KPAO VE AR |
07BUENOSAIRES2372 | ARGENTINE CONGRESS CONDEMNS U.S. ALLEGATIONS, [...] (SBU) Summary: The Kirchner-controlled Congress moved with exceptional alacrity December 19 to repudiate the U.S. for offending Argentina, and former president Nestor Kirchner continued to berate the USG, but singling out former WHA A/S Roger Noriega for vitriol. Meanwhile, according to press [...] | 2007-12-20 18:47:00 | Embassy Buenos Aires | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL CJAN SNAR KJUS ASEC VE AR |
07BUENOSAIRES2374 | ARGENTINA'S AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE TO THE U.S. TERMS [...] (SBU) Summary: Argentine media broadcast remarks critical of the U.S. by the GOA's Ambassador-designate to Washington (ref C),Hector Timerman, who said "politically relations with the U.S. are very bad" because certain "sectors linked to DOJ and U.S. intelligence agencies" were troubled by Ar [...] | 2007-12-20 19:30:00 | Embassy Buenos Aires | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OFDP PREL CJAN SNAR KJUS ASEC KCOR VE AR |
07BUENOSAIRES2375 | ARGENTINA'S AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE TO THE U.S. TERMS [...] (SBU) Summary: Argentine media broadcast remarks critical of the U.S. by the GOA's Ambassador-designate to Washington (ref C),Hector Timerman, who said "politically relations with the U.S. are very bad" because certain "sectors linked to DOJ and U.S. intelligence agencies" were troubled by Ar [...] | 2007-12-20 19:57:00 | Embassy Buenos Aires | CONFIDENTIAL | OFDP PREL CJAN SNAR KJUS ASEC KCOR VE AR |
07BUENOSAIRES403 | U/S BURNS IN ARGENTINA: DISCUSSES U.S. INVESTMENT [...] (C) Summary. U/S Burns and A/S Shannon, accompanied by Ambassador, met February 9 with Minister of Planning and Infrastructure Julio De Vido and discussed the public controversy over Embassy support for a proposed U.S. company's investment, broader investment concerns, and respective pli [...] | 2007-03-01 21:29:00 | Embassy Buenos Aires | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EINV ENRG ETRD EPET PGOV BL VE AR |
07BUENOSAIRES806 | RCTV: EMBASSY OUTREACH TO GOA AND LEGISLATIVE [...] (C) SUMMARY. The government of Argentina is not likely to make any overt efforts on the RCTV issue. Ambassador Wayne will seek to raise the issue again with Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana, but it seems that the GOA will not do more than say they have privately and politely raised the issue. [...] | 2007-04-25 17:05:00 | Embassy Buenos Aires | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM SCUL VE AR |
07CANBERRA1662 | AUSTRALIAN RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON DEMOCRACY IN [...] (SBU) We presented reftel demarche points to John Owens, Assistant Secretary for Canada and Latin America, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, on November 20. Owens was joined by John M.L.Woods, Director for the Canada and Latin America Section, and Philip C.W.Lowday, Executive Officer. [...] | 2007-11-20 07:11:00 | Embassy Canberra | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM AS VE |
07CARACAS1008 | CHAVEZ WORKING ON MANY FRONTS, SLOW TO USE [...] (C) Summary: Since January, President Chavez has tried to radicalize and deepen his "revolution" on many fronts, nationalizing key sectors of the economy, politicizing the armed forces, pushing the creation of a single revolutionary party, and strengthening ties with countries such as Iran, B [...] | 2007-05-22 21:29:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS1011 | CTV TO WAGE ILO CREDENTIAL FIGHT/PDVSA BEGINS [...] (C) Summary. The opposition-linked Confederation of Venezuelan Workers (CTV) plans to contest the seating of leaders of the pro-government National Workers Union (UNT) at the May 30-June 15 International Labor Conference in Geneva. CTV Secretary General Manuel Cova, in his capacity as an inte [...] | 2007-05-23 18:59:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ELAB PHUM PGOV EPET ENGR EINV VE |
07CARACAS1014 | MORE RCTV SOLIDARITY MARCHES AS MAY 28 APPROACHES [...] (C) Summary. Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) supporters took to the streets once again May 19 to protest the BRV's decision to revoke the broadcasting license of Venezuela's oldest and most popular television network, making it the largest demonstration since the December 2006 elections. Sepa [...] | 2007-05-23 20:53:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KDEM ELAB VE |
07CARACAS1015 | PPT: WHAT DOESN'T DESTROY US, MAKES US STRONGER [...] (C) Summary: A perhaps over-optimistic Patria Para Todos (PPT) Secretary General and National Assembly Deputy Jose Albornoz told PolCouns May 18 that he was confident his party would survive the current pressure to join Chavez' United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV),and would eventually [...] | 2007-05-24 12:58:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS1016 | RCTV CLOSURE: UNSUBSTANTIATED RUMORS OF VIOLENCE [...] (C) Summary. The Caracas rumor mill is in full gear as the BRV's announced May 28 date for the closure of independent broadcaster RCTV approaches. Most of these rumors are being fueled by President Chavez and other senior BRV officials who have alleged for several months that the opposition, [...] | 2007-05-24 19:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ASEC PREL PHUM VE |
07CARACAS102 | CONOCOPHILLIPS' CUBAN CONCERNS [...] (U) Action Requested: Please see Paragraph 5. 2. (C) SUMMARY: Petroleum Attache (Petatt) met with ConocoPhillips (CP) executives at their request to discuss a recent visit by a Cuban delegation to the Petrozuata strategic association. CP is concerned that PDVSA will try to use Petrozuata [...] | 2007-01-17 21:01:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ETTC ECON CU VE |
07CARACAS1030 | FAJA NEGOTIATIONS: NO NEWS IS BAD NEWS [...] (C) SUMMARY: The BRV and international oil companies (IOCs) have not started negotiations to migrate the four Faja strategic associations despite the rapidly approaching June 26 deadline. ExxonMobil (XM)(strictly protect throughout) will send the BRV and PDVSA a red-lined draft contract. Howe [...] | 2007-05-25 20:21:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON ASEC VE |
07CARACAS1031 | POVERTY AND JOBLESSNESS IN THE BRV [...] (SBU) BRV data indicates that poverty and unemployment are lower today than they were in 1999 when Chavez came to power. The oil windfall and attendant massive government expenditures and transfers makes this a plausible contention. However, the BRV's National Statistics Institute (INE) seems [...] | 2007-05-25 20:25:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN SOCI VE |
07CARACAS1033 | IV PROGRAM INVITEES AND PARTICIPANTS OUTED [...] (U) Summary: During a press conference from Telesur headquarters May 25, Amcit Eva Golinger released names of prominent, mostly pro-opposition, journalists who had either been selected for or had participated in the International Visitors (IV) Program. She claimed the IV participants were US [...] | 2007-05-25 21:30:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS1053 | BILKING THE BRV [...] (C) SUMMARY: Venezuela's currency control regime and fixed exchange rate, administered by CADIVI, have become huge wealth generators for Venezuelans and foreigners playing the unregulated parallel market. As has been the case with previous currency control regimes in Venezuela, the current sy [...] | 2007-05-30 18:25:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS1054 | RCTV CLOSURE, BRV FUELS GROWING INTERNATIONAL [...] (C) Summary: After 53 years on the air, Radio Caracas Television (RCTV),Venezuela's oldest network, ceased broadcasting at midnight May 28 and was replaced with state-run, "public service" station TVes. Despite the shutdown, RCTV's problems with the BRV continue unabated. RCTV management acc [...] | 2007-05-30 18:56:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KDEM SCUL VE |
07CARACAS1055 | RCTV CLOSURE: PROTESTS ENDURE, TEST BRV [...] (C) Summary: Pro-RCTV marches have continued since May 27 as university students and other RCTV supporters have held protests around the country, blocking major roads. While typically not large--up to several thousand participants--the demonstrations are widespread, occurring in Caracas and in [...] | 2007-05-30 19:07:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS1062 | FIFTH DAY OF NATIONWIDE RCTV SOLIDARITY MARCHES [...] (C) Summary. On the fifth day of widespread and peaceful demonstrations, students and opposition groups took to the streets to register their displeasure with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's (BRV's) decision to close independent broadcaster Radio Caracas Television (RCTV). The governmen [...] | 2007-05-30 21:39:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PGOV SCUL SOCI VE |
07CARACAS1068 | RCTV PROTESTS CONTINUE, BRV CONTINUES PRESSURE [...] (C) Summary: On May 31, students and other opposition groups continued protests over the closure of RCTV. Chavez supporters have sought to intimidate and attack marchers, and at least one student may have died as a result of clashes. National Assembly Deputy and Chavista march organizer Dario [...] | 2007-05-31 21:53:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS1073 | PODEMOS NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DEPUTY: TOO MUCH CHAVEZ [...] (C) Summary. National Assembly (NA) Deputy Ricardo Gutierrez told PolCouns May 29 that his pro-Chavez party Podemos is interested in reopening a dialogue with Embassy officials. Gutierrez predicted that Podemos will weather President Chavez' condemnation for not joining the Venezuelan presid [...] | 2007-06-01 14:30:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL VE |
07CARACAS1082 | THE MARCH THAT WASN'T, MORE WEEKEND MARCHES PLANNED [...] (C) Summary. For the sixth straight day, Caracas university students continued protesting the BRV closure of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) on June 1. Their planned demonstration to the National Assembly was temporarily blocked by security forces and later postponed until June 5. Students ma [...] | 2007-06-01 21:43:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KDEM PGOV SCUL SOCI VE |
07CARACAS1086 | RCTV PROTESTS ENTER SECOND WEEK [...] (C) Summary: Peaceful pro-RCTV protests continued into their second week. The students' medium term ability or desire to sustain the demonstrations remain unclear. Up to 10,000 students marched to the Supreme Court without incident June 4 and are planning to march to the National Assembly J [...] | 2007-06-04 21:44:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS1089 | CHAVEZ TO DECREE CUBAN-STYLE NATIONAL POLICE LAW [...] (C) Summary: President Chavez announced May 22 that he would soon decree a National Police Law that, among other things, would call for a new community police force. The announcement comes just as the National Assembly was finishing work on a final draft of the law, and further highlights th [...] | 2007-06-05 14:06:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS109 | CHAVEZ GOVERNMENT SEEKING BROAD LEGISLATIVE POWERS [...] (C) Summary. Per President Chavez' request at his January 10 inauguration (Reftel),the National Assembly is already preparing an enabling law that would give Chavez legal authority to issue executive decrees in ten substantive areas over the next 18 months. Chavez would assume broad powers [...] | 2007-01-18 16:35:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL ECON VE |
07CARACAS1100 | THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED [...] (C) SUMMARY: The government closure of RCTV on May 28 took the only remaining opposition voice off the free airwaves in Venezuela; opposition-oriented 24-hour news station Globovision remains on the air, but is only available in parts of Caracas, Valencia, and Maracaibo without a cable or sate [...] | 2007-06-05 20:40:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS1107 | GOVERNOR ROSALES: SEEKING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT [...] (C) Summary. Zulia Governor and de facto opposition leader Manuel Rosales briefed the Ambassador June 1 on Rosales' ongoing efforts to persuade other Latin American governments that the "democratic deficit" in Venezuela is a regional problem. Rosales considers his May 21-22 visit to Panama a [...] | 2007-06-06 17:26:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
07CARACAS1117 | PEACEFUL PROTESTS CONTINUE, GLOBOVISION ON TRIAL [...] (C) Summary. Ten days after the closure of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV),university students continue to protest peacefully in support of the network and freedom of expression. Thousands of university students marched June 6 to the Attorney General's office, making it the largest pro-RCTV [...] | 2007-06-06 21:55:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SCUL VE SOCI ASEC KDEM |
07CARACAS112 | STATOIL'S OPTIMISM FADES [...] No summary [...] | 2007-01-18 20:27:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS1127 | PRESS FREEDOM UPDATE [...] (C) Summary. This press freedom update comes on the heels of the BRV-imposed May 28 shutdown of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV). Despite ceasing its broadcasts, RCTV continues to operate internally and is enduring for the moment, although recent Supreme Court (TSJ) rulings could jeopardize R [...] | 2007-06-08 17:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KDEM PGOV SCUL SOCI ASEC VE |
07CARACAS1128 | UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: GIVE DEMOCRACY A CHANCE [...] (C) Summary. The various student demonstrations against the closure of RCTV have coalesced into a surprisingly resilient democratic movement. Over the last two weeks, they have forced President Chavez to shift gears from accelerating his "socialist revolution" to shoring up his base and defe [...] | 2007-06-08 18:54:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM SCUL ASEC VE |
07CARACAS1138 | GO ON, TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Economic and political uncertainty have convinced many Venezuelans to move assets abroad. While Venezuela has long been a source of capital flight, in recent years Venezuelans have begun to move not only liquid assets out of the country, but also to "de-capitalize" their busine [...] | 2007-06-11 21:11:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS1145 | CHAVEZ' NEW PARTY: INFLATED NUMBERS AND DEEP [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez is boasting that over five million voters have joined his new party, the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). While the PSUV is on track to be the country's largest political party, PSUV promoters appear to be inflating the membership rolls. The membersh [...] | 2007-06-12 17:44:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS1157 | EXXONMOBIL AND CONOCOPHILLIPS DISCUSS FAJA [...] (C) SUMMARY: ExxonMobil (XM) and ConocoPhillips (CP) in a series of meetings on June 12 stated the June 26 deadline for negotiations on migrating the four Faja strategic associations as well as the profit sharing agreement projects to PDVSA-controlled joint ventures appear to be firm. Compani [...] | 2007-06-14 12:28:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS1191 | HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS OUTLINE GROWING CONCERNS [...] (C) SUMMARY. WHA Special Coordinator for Venezuela Deborah McCarthy met June 13 with human rights defenders, representing various prominent local NGOs. The participants outlined the particular challenges Venezuelan NGOs face compared to other human rights organizations in the region; discusse [...] | 2007-06-15 20:23:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KDEM PGOV SOCI VE |
07CARACAS1192 | BRV DISPUTES 2007 TIER 3 TIP REPORT RANKING [...] (SBU) In meetings with USG officials and in the press, BRV officials reacted angrily to the Department's designation of Venezuela as a Tier 3 country in the 2007 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report released June 12. -- During a June 13 meeting between Vice President of the National Assembly [...] | 2007-06-15 20:27:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KDEM PGOV VE |
07CARACAS1193 | UN NUEVO TIEMPO: BUILDING IN VENEZUELA; LOBBYING [...] (C) Summary. Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT) leaders told visiting Special Coordinator for Venezuela Deborah McCarthy June 14 that they were happy with their party's initial efforts to become a nationwide opposition party. They noted that the party now had strong leaders in all states and is working ha [...] | 2007-06-15 21:23:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM PHUM VE |
07CARACAS1194 | IRAN SANCTIONS, UNSCR 1747 AND VENEZUELA [...] (C) PolCouns met with BRV Ministry of Popular Power for Foreign Affairs (MPPFA) Director for North America and Multilateral Affairs Yaneth Arocha on June 14 to raise Venezuelan implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1747. Drawing from the points in refs A and B, PolCouns [...] | 2007-06-15 21:41:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | KNNP PREL UNSC ETTC PARM VE IR |
07CARACAS1197 | CNPC: DON'T BELIEVE WHAT YOU READ IN THE PAPERS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Senior China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) executives stated recent press reports of the formation of a new joint venture are exaggerated. The executives stated negotiations over the migration of Sinovensa, the entity that produced Orimulsion, to a PDVSA-controlled joint [...] | 2007-06-18 14:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON CH VE |
07CARACAS1218 | S/C MCCARTHY'S MEETINGS WITH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND [...] (C) Summary: In separate events, Special Coordinator for Venezuela Deborah McCarthy met June 13 with National Assembly (NA) First Vice President Desiree Santos Amaral, NA Foreign Relations Committee President Saul Ortega, Vice Foreign Minister for North American and Multilateral Affairs Jorge [...] | 2007-06-19 14:25:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS1228 | S/C MCCARTHY'S MEETINGS WITH ECONOMIC PLAYERS [...] (SBU) Special Coordinator for Venezuela Deborah McCarthy met with local economists, businessmen, consultants, and bankers during her June 12-15 visit to Venezuela. While the economists agreed that mounting problems in the Venezuelan economy, including deficit spending and a lack of fiscal con [...] | 2007-06-20 20:59:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS1234 | ANTI-TIP NGO A.M.B.A.R. - FINAL REPORT [...] (SBU) Poloff visited the local anti-trafficking NGO Women's Association for Well-Being and Reciprocal Assistance (A.M.B.A.R.) May 18, a recipient of an Economic Support Fund (ESF) Grant approved by the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (G/TIP),to receive the organization's f [...] | 2007-06-21 20:27:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL KCRM KWMN SNAR VE |
07CARACAS1241 | CONOCOPHILLIPS CLOSE TO EXITING VENEZUELA [...] (S) SUMMARY: ConocoPhillips (CP) has been unable to reach agreement with the BRV on the terms for migrating its share of two strategic associations (Petrozuata and Hamaca) and a profit sharing agreement (Corocoro) to a PDVSA-controlled joint venture. Principal sticking points are compensation [...] | 2007-06-22 15:51:00 | Embassy Caracas | SECRET | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS1249 | RECALL REFERENDA FIZZLES [...] (C) Summary: The recall referendum effort was largely a non-event as neither the opposition, nor the government actively engaged in the process. Very few voters participated in the June 16-18 petition drive to collect signatures for recall referenda against nine governors, some 100 mayors, [...] | 2007-06-22 21:17:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS1251 | STUDENTS SHIFT FOCUS TO PRO-DEMOCRACY THEMES, BRV [...] (C) SUMMARY. Three weeks after the closure of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV),Venezuela's oldest independent broadcaster, students maintain pressure on the BRV via peaceful protests in support of freedom of expression and other positive themes, such as university autonomy. More student-led d [...] | 2007-06-22 21:26:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM SCUL ASEC VE |
07CARACAS1255 | BORROWING FROM PETER TO PAY PAUL [...] (SBU) Banks have increased loan portfolios by over 54 percent in real terms in the past year and the financial sector is riding this wave of credit to record profits. Fed by excess liquidity and exchange controls that prevent money from leaving Venezuela, Venezuelans are racing to invest in n [...] | 2007-06-25 13:29:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS1272 | S/C MCCARTHY'S MEETINGS WITH VENEZUELAN MEDIA AND POLITICAL FIGURES [...] No summary [...] | 2007-06-25 21:07:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM VE |
07CARACAS1281 | EXXONMOBIL AND CONOCOPHILLIPS EXIT VENEZUELA [...] (C) SUMMARY: The BRV held a signing ceremony on June 26 to convert the remaining private sector oil projects into PDVSA-controlled joint ventures. Representatives from Chevron, Total, Statoil, BP, ENI, Inelectra and Sinopec signed memorandums of understanding (MOU) for their respective invest [...] | 2007-06-26 20:44:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS1292 | BRV INTERVENING IN PARALLEL MARKET, AGAIN [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Ministry for People's Power of Finance (MPPF) admitted selling dollar-denominated notes to banks this past week to manage the parallel foreign exchange market. This marks the first time since 2005 that the BRV has actively intervened in the market to affect the rate and the [...] | 2007-06-27 19:54:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | EFIN VE |
07CARACAS130 | EU DCMS ON QUICKENING PACE OF BOLIVARIAN REVOLUTION [...] (C) Key EU DCMs based in Caracas analyze the general situation in Venezuela almost exactly as we do, seeing Chavez as increasingly moving to accrue all power to the executive and silence independent voices, in violation of democratic norms. The Caracas HOMs have recommended that Brussels ap [...] | 2007-01-22 18:52:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL EU VE |
07CARACAS1306 | JOURNALISTS, STUDENTS COMMEMORATE "DAY OF THE [...] (SBU) Tens of thousands of Venezuelans participated in peaceful demonstrations nationwide on June 27 to commemorate the "Day of the Journalist" and to mark the one-month anniversary of the BRV-imposed shutdown of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV). In Caracas, the National Press Workers' Union o [...] | 2007-06-28 21:17:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM SOCI VE |
07CARACAS1314 | CHEVRON, EXXON, AND CNPC COMMENT ON RECENT EVENTS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Chevron claims the final deal to migrate the Hamaca strategic association to a joint venture was a good one from its perspective. The project's area was not reduced and Chevron personnel will occupy key posts in the new joint venture. In addition, all investment decisions require [...] | 2007-07-02 11:58:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS1318 | BUY HIGH AND SELL HIGHER: REAL ESTATE IN THE [...] (SBU) Real estate prices are skyrocketing in Venezuela as the oil boom fuels an ever-increasing number of people chasing an increasingly limited supply of properties. Sales are up 30 percent so far in 2007, after growing 80 percent in 2006 and 60 percent in 2005. Venezuela continues to suffer [...] | 2007-07-02 15:55:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS132 | MEETING WITH ELECTRICIDAD DE CARACAS ON [...] (SBU/NF) Summary: EconCouns met with Electricidad de Caracas (82 pct owned by AES a U.S. company) President Nebreda January 16 regarding BRV intentions to nationalize the electricity sector (refs). Nebreda said that AES always considered nationalization in their scenario planning, but the ann [...] | 2007-01-22 19:08:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS1335 | CHAVEZ' DOMESTIC POPULARITY LARGELY UNSCATHED BY [...] (C) Summary: Although recent polls suggest a majority of Venezuelans disagreed with President Chavez' shutdown of Radio Caracas Television (RCTV),the decision does not appear to have significantly hurt his popularity rating. According to Datos polling firm, 67% of respondents--mostly poor an [...] | 2007-07-03 19:05:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS134 | ECONOMIC RAMIFICATIONS OF CHAVEZ' ENABLING LAW: [...] (C) Summary. The National Assembly unanimously passed preliminary approval of the Ley Habilitante ("Enabling Law") during a special emergency session on January 18. When fully approved, probably on January 24, the Enabling Law will permit Chavez to control the economic pulse of the country. [...] | 2007-01-22 21:24:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV PGOV VE |
07CARACAS1340 | AMBASSADOR'S FINAL GAB WITH FOREIGN MINISTRY [...] (C) Summary - In a farewell meeting BRV Vice Foreign Minister Valero and Ambassador discussed five possible avenues for an early dialogue between the BRV and the Ambassador's successor. The Ambassador noted that long-standing difficulties involving official visas and accreditation, aviation a [...] | 2007-07-04 14:10:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EAIR PGOV PHUM CONS VE |
07CARACAS135 | CHAVEZ TO U.S.: "GO TO HELL" [...] (C) Summary. An extremely confident President Chavez resumed his weekly "Alo Presidente" television broadcast January 21 after a four-month campaign/inauguration hiatus. During the nearly six-hour broadcast, Chavez lashed out against a USG expression of concern about a pending Enabling Law, a [...] | 2007-01-22 22:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON VE |
07CARACAS1352 | BRV MARKS INDEPENDENCE DAY WITH "PATRIOTISM, [...] (C) Summary. The BRV commemorated the 196th anniversary of Venezuela's Independence Day on July 5 with a civil-military parade and an extraordinary session at the National Assembly (NA). During the parade, members of the pro-government communal councils marched alongside members of the Boliv [...] | 2007-07-06 20:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS1361 | CHAVEZ AND AHMADINEJAD CONTINUE TO DEEPEN TIES [...] (C) Summary: During his June 30-July 2 visit to Iran, President Chavez publicly agreed to help Iranian President Ahmadinejad by selling gasoline to Iran. While details of the deal were not published, its impact will not be immediate as the shipments could take up to 40 days to arrive in Ira [...] | 2007-07-09 14:05:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM VE IR |
07CARACAS1365 | A PEAK INSIDE CITGO [...] (C) SUMMARY: A senior Citgo representative stated the sale of two asphalt refineries has been delayed due to concerns over supply contracts. Citgo president Alejandro Granado has adopted an extravagant lifestyle and is not accessible to employees. Citgo executives focus on the company's fuel o [...] | 2007-07-09 19:56:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS1368 | SUMATE SETTING OUT A NEW COURSE [...] (C) Summary: During a July 6 meeting, Sumate President Alejandro Plaz told Poloff about the electoral NGO's "Plan ABC," whereby Sumate volunteers will work with leaders in poor Chavista neighborhoods nationwide to help them identify and resolve community problems while instilling awareness of [...] | 2007-07-10 14:46:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS1382 | AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL TRIP TO MARACAIBO [...] (C) Summary. The Ambassador traveled to Maracaibo, Zulia state June 26-27 to meet with local leaders, visit social programs, and meet with the press during his farewell visit. He called on San Francisco Mayor Saady Bijani and President of the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference Monsignor Ubaldo Sa [...] | 2007-07-11 14:24:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM ECON VE |
07CARACAS1384 | THE MILITARY MOVES FURTHER RED [...] (C) The July 6 replacement of Defense Minister Raul Isaias Baduel with Gustavo Rangel Briceno does not bode well for the future of the Venezuelan Armed Forces (FAN). Baduel, a long-time supporter of Chavez, was perhaps the last remaining cabinet member to make even mild statements contradic [...] | 2007-07-11 16:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PROV PREL VE |
07CARACAS1393 | FURTHER DETAILS ON THE FAJA MIGRATION [...] (C) SUMMARY: PDVSA has done a better than expected job running the Cerro Negro upgrader. However, it has requested BP supply additional personnel. BP is happy with the governance terms it received. The remaining international oil companies (IOCs) may still have the right to go to arbitratio [...] | 2007-07-12 20:05:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS1416 | MACROECONOMIC UPDATE JULY 2007 [...] Overview 2. Economic growth 3. Unemployment 4. International reserves 5. Money supply M2 6. Exchange rates, Central Bank liquidations, and Venezuelan basket average oil prices 7. Consumer price index 8. Balance of payments 9. Merchandise trade balance 10. F [...] | 2007-07-17 13:59:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS1419 | VENEZUELA: CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM BACK TO FRONT [...] (C) Summary: After saying in early May that constitutional reform was not a priority for this year, President Chavez surprised everyone by announcing two months later that he would present his proposed changes in the second half of July. Around the same time, an alleged draft of one of his [...] | 2007-07-17 15:32:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS1432 | PRESS FREEDOM UPDATE [...] (SBU) This press freedom update outlines new and sustained efforts by the BRV to curtail freedom of expression in Venezuela. After removing Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) from public access television, the BRV has launched another round of attacks in an effort to damage the network's credibi [...] | 2007-07-18 15:11:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM SCUL VE |
07CARACAS1434 | OIL TRADING: SKELETONS IN PDVSA'S CLOSET [...] (C) SUMMARY: A senior PDVSA executive who was forced into retirement in March 2007 stated PDVSA exports 38 million barrels of oil per month excluding crude from the former Faja strategic associations. President Chavez ordered PDVSA to stop exporting to the United States before the November el [...] | 2007-07-18 15:58:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS1449 | POLITICS AND TAXES [...] (SBU) The BRV's tax authority, SENIAT is taking the lead role in going after many of Chavez' political and economic opponents while at the same time taking positive steps to cut down on tax evasion and improve the government's tax base. The SENIAT Superintendent, Jose Vielma Mora has become mor [...] | 2007-07-20 20:57:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS146 | VFM VALERO ON BILATERAL DIALOGUE [...] (C) The Ambassador met with VFM Valero on Jan 19 to discuss possible topics for bilateral dialogue, following up on his earlier discussion with FM Maduro. We also took the opportunity to clear out some pending bilateral issues; of those the most interesting BRV response came on reciprocity, [...] | 2007-01-23 15:41:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL US VE |
07CARACAS1465 | CHAVEZ LASHES OUT AT CHURCH LEADERS -- AGAIN [...] (C) Summary. Catholic Church officials on July 7 issued a pastoral letter strongly criticizing the Chavez government and questioning the need for proposed changes to the 1999 Constitution. The Venezuelan president responded by denouncing Venezuela's Catholic bishops publicly, while lauding C [...] | 2007-07-23 21:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM SCUL VE |
07CARACAS1466 | PDVSA'S "IMPORTANT OPERATIONAL EMERGENCY" [...] (C) SUMMARY: Luis Vierma, PDVSA's Vice President for Exploration and Production, testified before the Comptroller Committee of the National Assembly on July 18 that PDVSA was facing an "important operational emergency" due to the failure of two bid rounds for drilling rigs. PDVSA's rig count [...] | 2007-07-23 21:32:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS1467 | THE OIL SECTOR AND THE PUBLIC BIDDING LAW [...] (C) SUMMARY: Service companies have long complained that the Public Bidding Law has greatly decreased the effeciency of PDVSA's operations. A legal expert describes the law as "sub-standard" and politicized. Private sector partners in joint venture companies have argued the law does not appl [...] | 2007-07-23 21:35:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS147 | POLITICAL PRISONERS -- UPDATE ON SIMONOVIS, VIVAS, [...] (C) PolOff observed January 18 the latest session of the trial of former Caracas Metropolitan Police officials Ivan Simonovis, Henry Vivas, Lazaro Forero, and eight other former police officers, who are being charged as accomplices to murder for events related to the civil disturbances and the [...] | 2007-01-23 16:29:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS148 | CHAVEZ CONFRONTS CATHOLIC CHURCH; EPISCOPAL [...] (C) Summary. Venezuelan Catholic Church leaders have become increasingly vocal defenders of democratic freedoms since President Chavez' re-election on December 3, 2006. In recent statements to the media and via formal Episcopal Conference communiques, they have repeatedly expressed concerns [...] | 2007-01-23 16:47:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM VE |
07CARACAS1481 | CONOCOPHILLIPS DISCUSSES ITS NEXT MOVES [...] (C) SUMMARY: ConocoPhillips (CP) has presented a proposal to the BRV setting out what it considers to be fair compensation for its expropriated assets. Energy Vice Minister Bernard Mommer stood up CP executives as well as Chinese Petroleum Corporation executives in Houston last week. CP want [...] | 2007-07-26 20:40:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS1483 | OUTGOING DEFENSE MINISTER QUESTIONS 'SOCIALIST' [...] (C) Summary. The Venezuelan president swore-in a new cadre of pro-Chavez military leaders to head the Venezuelan Armed Forces (FAN) on July 18 during a televised ceremony. His picks include hard-line Chavista and former head of the National Reserve and Mobilization Command Gustavo Rangel Bric [...] | 2007-07-27 14:25:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV MARR PREL VE |
07CARACAS149 | CHAVEZ' NEW CABINET: BIOS ON ECONOMIC MINISTERS [...] (SBU) Summary: President Hugo Chavez swore in new cabinet ministers on January 8 for six key economic portfolios: the Ministry of Finance (Reftel A),a newly-formed Ministry of Telecommunications, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the [...] | 2007-01-23 19:38:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV VE |
07CARACAS15 | THE GLOVES ARE OFF: CHAVEZ SAYS HE WILL CLOSE RCTV [...] (U) SUMMARY: President Chavez on December 28 made his strongest statement yet threatening the broadcasting license of major opposition television outlet Radio Caracas Television (RCTV). During a New Year's address to the Armed Forces, Chavez stated unequivocally that RCTV's license for ove [...] | 2007-01-04 13:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
07CARACAS1526 | CHARGE'S MEETING WITH VICE MINISTER VALERO-JULY 30 [...] (C) Summary. Foreign Ministry Vice Minister Valero told Charge July 30 that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) wants more dialogue with the USG, so long as the USG "respects our sovereignty." Valero raised U.S. financing of Venezuelan NGOs, energy and commercial relations, consular r [...] | 2007-08-01 19:55:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM PTER SNAR VE |
07CARACAS1544 | A HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: NOTHING'S CHANGED, [...] (C) In analyzing Venezuela's history of boom and bust cycles, a series of patterns emerge that offer predictive value for the end of the current cycle. Links between oil prices, government spending, inflation, and devaluation are clearly evident over the past 35 years as oil booms have led to [...] | 2007-08-02 15:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON EFIN EPET VE |
07CARACAS1554 | SUMMER BONDING IN VENEZUELA [...] This message is Sensitive but Unclassified, please treat accordingly. 2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Venezuela is preparing a third "bonos del sur" issue for August or September which according to reports will be announced formally during Chavez' upcoming August 6 visit to Argentina. The expected anno [...] | 2007-08-03 18:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN VE |
07CARACAS1555 | SUPREME COURT GRANTS RCTV TEMPORARY RELIEF [...] (C) SUMMARY. The Supreme Court (TSJ) approved a last-minute injunction August 1 to grant cable network Radio Caracas Television International (RCTV) temporary relief from closure. The decision follows a July 26 announcement by Minister of Telecommunications (CONATEL) Jesse Chacon requiring R [...] | 2007-08-03 20:26:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM SCUL VE |
07CARACAS157 | OIL COMPANIES WEIGH THEIR OPTIONS [...] (C) SUMMARY: All six international oil companies (IOCs) with stakes in the four strategic associations met with the BRV last week and received a written proposal regarding the transition to PDVSA controlled joint ventures. The BRV is expected to give companies its estimates on the value of t [...] | 2007-01-24 13:52:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS1577 | CHEVRON DISCUSSES JOINT VENTURES' STRUCTURE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Due to concerns over Washington's understanding of its Venezuelan investments and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Chevron met with Post on August 7 to discuss the nature of its Venezuelan investments. Chevron's two joint ventures are equity companies that are subject to Venezue [...] | 2007-08-08 16:41:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS1597 | JEFE SUPREMO: HUGO CHAVEZ'S PERSONALITY CULT [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez and his supporters are devoting considerable resources to construct a cult of personality for the Venezuelan president (see Embassy Caracas website on Siprnet for accompanying photo essay). Flattering images of the Venezuelan president dominate government buildi [...] | 2007-08-10 19:15:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SOCI VE |
07CARACAS161 | SUMATE SEES TOUGH YEAR AHEAD [...] (C) PolCouns and PolOff met with Sumate President Alejandro Plaz and Director Roberto Abdul January 17 to discuss their views of developments and plans for 2007. Pleased with the significant expansion of their volunteer network engendered by their activities during the 2006 presidential campa [...] | 2007-01-24 18:59:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS1611 | CHAVEZ' CONSTITUTION REWRITE: BATTLE LINES FORMING [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez continues to promote major changes to the 1999 Constitution, but has delayed releasing to the National Assembly a formal package of proposals. Simmering opposition to the elimination of presidential term limits and further centralization of power has forced the V [...] | 2007-08-14 12:20:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
07CARACAS1613 | SCHOOL'S OUT FOR SUMMER: VENEZUELA'S BRAIN DRAIN [...] (SBU) BRV radicalization in recent months and decreasing economic and physical security continue to push more Venezuelans to consider leaving their country (reftel A). Recent nationwide polls parallel informal surveys and anecdotal evidence which show that an increasing number of Venezuelans a [...] | 2007-08-14 15:08:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON CVIS CASC SOCI VE |
07CARACAS1617 | BRV SENDING MIXED MESSAGES ON DIALOGUE WITH USG [...] (C) SUMMARY. BRV officials have privately expressed interest in working with the incoming Ambassador on a practical agenda, but President Chavez' recent public remarks appear to preclude cooperation. During a televised August 2 speech, Chavez dismissed the possibility of dialogue under the c [...] | 2007-08-14 19:03:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE |
07CARACAS162 | ANGRY MOB BURNS CARACAS POLICE STATION [...] (SBU) Angry neighbors set fire on January 17 to a police station after the alleged shooting death of a teenage boy in police custody. The seventeen year old was detained by the Metropolitan Police in the "Silsa Catia" neighborhood, part of "23 de enero," an improvished district and Chavez str [...] | 2007-01-24 19:03:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM VE |
07CARACAS1622 | PDVSA: NEW LIFE IN THE EMBERS? [...] (C) SUMMARY: The president of the Petroleum Chamber of Venezuela believes significant new investments will occur in the Faja in the near future beginning with de-bottlenecking projects in the existing upgraders. Leading candidates for new projects in the Faja are Petrobras, Shell, and the Chi [...] | 2007-08-14 20:31:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS1628 | LABORING UNDER CHAVEZ' ECONOMIC PLANNING [...] (SBU) Summary: Since 2005 the BRV has tightened the noose around the Venezuelan private sector by steadily approving rigorous labor laws, including the Organic Law on Prevention, Work Conditions, and Work Environment (Lopcymat),a laundry list of nearly impossible to fulfill labor regulations. [...] | 2007-08-15 22:04:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ELAB ECON PGOV EINV VE |
07CARACAS1635 | CHAVEZ PROPOSES "SOCIALIST" CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES [...] (C) Summary. After numerous delays (reftels),President Chavez finally proposed significant "socialist" changes to the 1999 Constitution in a lengthy August 15 speech at the National Assembly. As expected, Chavez framed his controversial proposals as giving more power to the people. He also [...] | 2007-08-16 20:54:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
07CARACAS1637 | IV PARTICIPANTS AND USAID PARTNERS OUTED, AGAIN [...] (C) During a presentation before the National Assembly (NA) August 1, Amcit Eva Golinger and Mario Silva, host of the stridently Chavista television show "La Hojilla," accused 33 former International Visitors (IV) Program participants and several USAID partners of working on behalf of the USG t [...] | 2007-08-17 11:41:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SCUL VE |
07CARACAS1638 | BLAME IT ON THE VOLATILITY OF INTERNATIONAL [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: On the afternoon of August 16 Finance Minister Cabezas announced that the BRV would cancel its USD 1.5 billion "bonos del sur" bond issuance. According to Cabezas, the volatility of international markets made the issuance untimely. Section contacts considered the bonds a marg [...] | 2007-08-17 11:44:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS1649 | VENEZUELA: FEEDBACK ON WHITE HOUSE CONFERENCE [...] (C) Per reftel, Poloff met August 18 with Fredery Calderon (protect throughout),president of the NGO "For the Caracas That's Possible" (Por la Caracas Posible),to solicit feedback regarding his participation in the July 9 White House Conference on the Americas. Calderon's organization coord [...] | 2007-08-20 13:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | KSUM KPAO VE |
07CARACAS1655 | SINCOR'S ROCKY TRANSITION TO PETROCEDENO [...] (C) SUMMARY: Strategic association Sincor's transition to Petrocedeno, a PDVSA-controlled joint venture, has been fraught with labor problems. Labor union members have blocked the road to the upgrader 33 days so far this year. Approximately 100 employees have quit their jobs. A work plan is [...] | 2007-08-20 20:39:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS1664 | SERVICE COMPANIES DISCUSS CURRENT OPERATING [...] (C) SUMMARY: Service companies report an increase in the number of signed contracts with PDVSA. The increase is despite the fact that service company bids frequently include substantial premiums. However, PDVSA's ability to implement new projects appears to be quite limited. At this point, [...] | 2007-08-21 13:29:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS1670 | MONETARY CONVERSION: READY OR NOT HERE IT COMES [...] (SBU) The BRV is charging ahead with its project to introduce the new "Bolivar Fuerte," or Strong Bolivar currency on January 1, 2008. With a little over four months before the conversion, and only one month before companies must express prices in both old and new currencies, businesses are b [...] | 2007-08-22 17:15:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS1671 | CHAVEZ' NEW PARTY PLAGUED BY ORGANIZATIONAL [...] (C) Summary. The organization of aspiring members of President Chavez' United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) into neighborhood "battalions" has been plagued by confusion and poor attendance. Scant grassroots party activity to date raises serious doubts that the PSUV has almost six millio [...] | 2007-08-22 17:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM VE |
07CARACAS1672 | CONOCOPHILLIPS UPDATE: STILL FAR APART [...] (C) Econ Counselor and Petroleum Attache met with ConocoPhillips (CP) Latin America President Roy Lyons (strictly protect throughout) and Government Affairs Manager Alex Martinez (strictly protect throughout) on August 22 to discuss the current status of CP's negotiations on compensation for e [...] | 2007-08-22 19:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS1679 | BRV'S DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC CREDIT -- A SMOOTH [...] (C) SUMMARY: Econoffs met with the Director of Public Credit, Luis Davila on August 21. During a frank discussion of the BRV's financial policies and activities in the capital markets, Davila painted a rosy picture. The BRV did not expect to issue any foreign debt this year and debt should s [...] | 2007-08-23 15:32:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS1680 | CHAVEZ REACHES OUT TO COLOMBIA; BUT BORDER SPAT [...] (C) Summary. Despite President Chavez's historically rocky relationship with Colombia, he has made an effort of late to reach out to the Uribe government, particularly through his offer to be a key mediator in the negotiations for a humanitarian exchange with the FARC. The importance of comm [...] | 2007-08-23 19:31:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER MARR ETRD VE |
07CARACAS1686 | THE TEFLON EFFECT: CHAVEZ EVADES SUITCASE SCANDAL [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez so far seems to have escaped largely unscathed by the fallout from the seizure in Buenos Aires of $800,000 cash carried by a U.S.-Venezuelan businessman. Using a variety of public relations tactics, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) has managed to defle [...] | 2007-08-24 15:07:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
07CARACAS169 | VENEZUELAN FREE PRESS FACES AN EVEN MORE RESOLUTE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Since turning the calendar to 2007, President Chavez has ratcheted up his vitriol - and promised concrete actions - against opposition media outlets, including but not limited to RCTV (reftel). He is also focusing his attention on his own house, dictating not just what, but al [...] | 2007-01-25 13:31:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
07CARACAS1690 | PRESS FREEDOM UPDATE [...] (C) Summary. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) is employing a variety of mechanisms to harass opposition-oriented journalists and independent media outlets. Journalists, particularly former International Visitor (IV) Program participants, have been harassed and accused of fomenting [...] | 2007-08-24 16:06:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SCUL VE |
07CARACAS1703 | STUDENT MOVEMENT PREPARING FOR RENEWED ACTIVISM [...] (C) Summary. After a long summer lull, student activists recently formed a new student parliament to coordinate pro-democracy student efforts nation-wide this fall. Law students Stalin Gonzales, Yon Goicochea, and Jose Caricote were elected to lead Venezuela's opposition student movement ove [...] | 2007-08-27 14:27:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL VE |
07CARACAS1718 | ROUND ONE OF CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM DEBATE [...] (C) Summary. In the days following President Chavez' rollout of his proposed constitutional revisions, debates are already taking shape as to the reform process. Chavez' opponents, still divided over whether or not to participate at all, have been unsuccessful in their initial attempt to inf [...] | 2007-08-28 20:22:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SCUL VE |
07CARACAS1727 | CHAVEZ' CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES: STRATEGIC [...] (C) Summary. Local constitutional experts are focusing public attention on the fact that the language President Chavez proposes to delete from the 1999 Constitution is as problematic as the new language he proposes to insert. Chavez' constitutional changes would remove language that promotes [...] | 2007-08-30 20:38:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS173 | VENEZUELA -- INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT (PART [...] No summary [...] | 2007-01-26 12:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EINV EFIN KTDB STR OPIC VE |
07CARACAS174 | VENEZUELA -- INVESTMENT CLIMATE STATEMENT (PART [...] No summary [...] | 2007-01-26 12:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EINV EFIN KTDB STR OPIC VE |
07CARACAS1742 | POLITICAL POLARIZATION: VENEZUELA'S DIVIDED [...] (C) Summary. Venezuelan society has become increasingly politically polarized as a result of President Chavez' "with me or against me" tone of governance. Controversial constitutional reform proposals and his efforts to implement an increasingly radical "revolutionary" program in the Bolivar [...] | 2007-09-04 19:04:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR PGOV PINR PREL VE |
07CARACAS175 | USAID/OTI WATCHDOGS START TO SHED LIGHT [...] (C) In October of 2005, the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) began implementation of a USAID/OTI funded project to develop a grants program to support watchdog organizations. Although the Bolivarian "Revolution" is failing its citizens in many ways, there are few reputable organiz [...] | 2007-01-26 14:27:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
07CARACAS1755 | DEFORESTATION IN VENEZUELA: MISSION TREE OR [...] (SBU) Summary: Despite Chavez' pro-environment rhetoric and support for replanting thousands of trees through his Mission Tree ("Mision Arbol"),deforestation rates have not abated. Lack of transparency and enforcement of environmental laws have undermined BRV progress, and Venezuela now find [...] | 2007-09-05 18:23:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | SENV ECON PGOV VE |
07CARACAS1765 | BP: STABILITY BEGINS TO EMERGE FROM CHAOS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Cerro Negro's acreage has been reduced from 290 square kilometers to 210 and BP paid the BRV 50 million USD in notes as part of the reduction. Cerro Negro operations are running in a surprisingly smooth manner and PDVSA is not moving senior managers around as much as it did befor [...] | 2007-09-06 20:08:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS1771 | CATHOLIC CHURCH PREPARING TO OPPOSE CONSTITUTIONAL [...] (C) Papal Nuncio Giacinto Berloco told the Ambassador September 6 that the Catholic Church is concerned with the "radical direction" of Chavez' proposed constitutional changes. Berloco said he expected the bishops would be critical in their evaluation of the proposals in an October communique [...] | 2007-09-07 19:43:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL VE |
07CARACAS1773 | SCENESETTER FOR WHA/AND CHACON VISIT - SEPT 12-14 [...] (C) Embassy welcomes the September 12-14 visit of WHA/AND Director Arnold Chacon. Your visit comes on the heels of Ambassador Duddy's arrival at post on August 29 and after the June 11-15 visit of Special Coordinator for Venezuela McCarthy. Since winning re-election in December 2006, Preside [...] | 2007-09-07 20:07:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM ECON VE |
07CARACAS1776 | CHAVEZ' NEW PARTY: DISCIPLINING DISCUSSION [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez continues to face serious internal challenges to his efforts to forge a single pro-government party, the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). Most recently, Chavez' new PSUV discipline committee stripped Francisco Ameliach, Chavez' 2006 presidential campa [...] | 2007-09-07 20:43:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS1804 | PRO-CHAVEZ PARTY CRITICIZES CHAVEZ' CONSTITUTIONAL [...] (C) Summary. Leaders of the small, but prominent, pro-government party Podemos outlined their objections to President Chavez' proposal for constitutional changes at a September 7 Caracas party event. Podemos Secretary General Ismael Garcia argued that Chavez' proposals give more power to the [...] | 2007-09-11 21:56:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS1805 | PERUVIAN AMBASSADOR ON VENEZUELA'S RE-ENTRY INTO [...] (C) Speaking "unofficially" Peruvian Ambassador Luis Santa Maria Calderon told the Ambassador during an initial courtesy call September 10 that Peru would probably welcome Venezuela's reintegration into the Andean Community of Nations (CAN),but prefers that Venezuela be re-admitted as an asso [...] | 2007-09-12 14:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ETRD VE |
07CARACAS1808 | AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH CONOCOPHILLIPS [...] (C) SUMMARY: ConocoPhillips (CP) and the BRV's positions on the valuation of CP's expropriated assets differ by a factor of six or seven to one. PDVSA continues to honor two long-term supply contracts that supply CP refineries in the U.S. CP believes an arbitration case would take five to se [...] | 2007-09-12 15:22:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS1812 | EXXONMOBIL FILES FOR ARBITRATION [...] (C) David Perez (strictly protect throughout),the remaining ExxonMobil (XM) executive in Venezuela, met with the Ambassador on September 12 (ref. A) to inform him that XM filed for arbitration on September 6 with the International Center for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). XM file [...] | 2007-09-13 14:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS1814 | CHAVEZ' REFORM PACKAGE PASSES SECOND READING [...] (SBU) The National Assembly (NA) overwhelmingly approved President Chavez' constitutional reform package during the second of three readings on September 11, bringing it one step closer to passage and a national referendum tentatively scheduled for early December. The proposed changes, however [...] | 2007-09-13 16:55:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS1816 | BRAZILIAN AMBASSADOR ON VENEZUELA'S MERCOSUR [...] (C) Brazilian Ambassador Joan Carlos Souza-Gomes told the Ambassador during a September 11 courtesy call that Brazil continues to push for Venezuela's Mercosur accession. Ambassador Souza-Gomes said Brazil believes Chavez is easier to contain within Mercosur than outside of it, and that Brazil [...] | 2007-09-13 21:02:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD PGOV VE |
07CARACAS1819 | PDVSA REVENUES UP, PROFITS DOWN FOR 2006 [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: PDVSA reported 2006 gross revenues of 99.3 billion USD, a 19.7% increase over 2005, and net profits of 5.5 billion USD, a decline of 16%. The principal reason for the decline in net profits was an almost 100% increase in social development expenditures. Administrative expenses [...] | 2007-09-14 14:21:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS182 | CHAVEZ THREATENS TO PNG AMBASSADOR [...] (C) Summary - During a lengthy speech at a swearing-in ceremony on the evening of January 25, President Chavez threatened to expel the Ambassador. Chavez said, "Mr. Ambassador, if you keep interfering in Venezuelan affairs, you could be declared persona non grata (PNG) and would have to lea [...] | 2007-01-26 20:17:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
07CARACAS1822 | STATOIL: A GOOD DEAL [...] No summary [...] | 2007-09-14 16:38:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS183 | BRV BEGINS TO REAP WHAT IT HAS SOWN [...] (C) SUMMARY: PDVSA reportedly told tax authorities in August 2006 that it was unable to pay its royalties and taxes due to cash flow problems stemming from social development expenditures. President Chavez' recent statements regarding an increase in gasoline prices appear to stem from PDVSA's [...] | 2007-01-26 20:22:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS1831 | WE AREN'T MAKING THIS UP: THE BRV'S BIZARRE POLICY [...] (SBU) Summary: Over the last month the BRV has proposed an amalgamation of ambitious socialist and populist projects that further expand the role of the state in society and seemingly defy common sense. President Chavez has announced his intention to construct socialist cities and islands, re [...] | 2007-09-17 12:47:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON SOCI VE |
07CARACAS184 | CHAVEZ'S NEW CABINET: A LOOK AT SOME NEW MINISTERS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. President Chavez swore in a new cabinet of hard-line loyalists on January 8. His picks include a number of his party's, the Fifth Republic Movement (MVR),National Assembly (NA) deputies who gave up their seats to assume the ministry positions. The ideological and political te [...] | 2007-01-26 20:55:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL VE |
07CARACAS1846 | WHA/AND DIRECTOR'S VISIT: CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES [...] (C) Summary. A wide range of Embassy contacts discussed Chavez' proposed constitutional changes September 12-14 with the Ambassador and visiting WHA/AND Director Chacon. There is widespread consensus among analysts, pro-Chavez and opposition politicians, and third country diplomats that Chav [...] | 2007-09-18 17:38:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE |
07CARACAS186 | CUBA COMES TO TOWN [...] (U) SUMMARY: President Hugo Chavez received Cuban Vice President Carlos Lage on January 24 with fanfare but without pubic announcement prior to Lage's arrival. Lage's presentation of a letter purportedly written by Fidel Castro to Chavez gave Chavez the opportunity to publicly trumpet Cast [...] | 2007-01-26 22:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS1864 | BRV TIGHTENS THE VISA SCREWS ON FOREIGN JOURNALISTS [...] No summary [...] | 2007-09-20 20:30:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
07CARACAS1879 | ONCE AGAIN CHAVEZ TAKES HUGE ENTOURAGE TO UNGA [...] No summary [...] | 2007-09-21 21:16:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL UNGA OVIP KSEP ITRA VE |
07CARACAS1894 | AHMADINEJAD TO VISIT VENEZUELA FOLLOWING UNGA [...] (SBU) On September 24, during his longest "Alo, Presidente" television broadcast to date (eight hours and fifteen minutes),President Chavez confirmed press reports that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will visit Venezuela on September 26. Ahmadinejad is expected to give a speech at the [...] | 2007-09-24 21:06:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM IR VE |
07CARACAS1902 | BOND OF THE SOUTH III RELAUNCHED [...] This message is Sensitive but Unclassified, please treat accordingly. 2. (U) The Ministry of Peoples Power for Finance (MPPF) announced on September 24 that the price of the USD 1.2 billion Bonos del Sur III (Bond of the South III) would be set at 108 percent of face value. The combo bond [...] | 2007-09-25 21:47:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN VE |
07CARACAS1913 | CHAVEZ' CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE: OPPOSITION DIVIDED [...] (C) Summary. Less than ten weeks before a constitutional referendum, Venezuela's opposition parties remain splintered as to how to oppose President Chavez' sweeping reforms. Leading opposition parties advocate voting "no" while more hard-line opposition parties promote abstention. Opposition [...] | 2007-09-27 15:36:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS1914 | CHAVEZ MEETS WITH FAMILIES OF AMERICAN CITIZEN [...] (SBU) President Chavez met with the family members of Amcit FARC hostages Keith Stansell, Thomas Howes, and Marc Gonsalves the evening of September 25. Paloma Diaz, the sister of FARC prisoner in Colombia, and Yolanda Pulecio, mother of Colombian/French hostage Ingrid Betancourt, were also pr [...] | 2007-09-27 15:36:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER PHUM CO VE |
07CARACAS1936 | UNT LOBBIES EU, PLANS MEETING WITH OAS TO RAISE [...] (C) Summary. Former presidential candidate Manuel Rosales and Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT) party leaders are actively sharing their concerns about the anti-democratic nature of Chavez' proposed constitutional changes with foreign governments and the OAS. Zulia Governor Rosales briefed 13 European A [...] | 2007-09-28 20:49:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS1937 | CHAVEZ AND AHMADINEJAD: PROUD TO BE BROTHERS IN [...] (U) On the evening of September 27, 2007 Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited President Chavez at the Miraflores, Presidential Palace. Arriving in Caracas from La Paz, Bolivia, in an aircraft provided by the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV),Ahmadinejad received full formal ho [...] | 2007-09-28 22:15:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PGOV PREL IR VE |
07CARACAS1942 | BRAZILIAN FOREIGN MINISTER AMORIM REAFFIRMS GOB [...] (SBU) According to local media, on September 29, Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim met with President Chavez and Foreign Minister Maduro in Caracas to discuss, inter alia, Venezuela's Mercosur accession, the status of the South American gas pipeline project, and bilateral cooperation in [...] | 2007-10-01 18:57:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON PGOV KIPR VE |
07CARACAS1947 | BRV PREPARING NEW SOCIALIST CURRICULUM: DETAILS TBD [...] (C) Summary. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) recently released for selective comment a new 500-page curriculum designed to reinforce President Chavez' ill-defined "Socialism in the XXI Century." The BRV is planning to make new government textbooks available in December and implemen [...] | 2007-10-02 15:38:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SOCI PHUM ELAB VE |
07CARACAS1948 | SERVICE COMPANIES FACE USG IRANIAN AND CUBAN [...] (C) SUMMARY: Baker Hughes (BH) has three contracts with PDVSA in various stages of execution that they believe appear to violate USG Iranian and Cuban sanctions legislation. According to BH, other U.S. service companies have similar contracts that raise the same issues. BH will meet with PDVS [...] | 2007-10-02 16:17:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON PREL KFPC ETTC CU IR VE |
07CARACAS1969 | NGOS CITE WORRISOME HUMAN RIGHTS PATTERNS [...] (C) SUMMARY. Several prominent local human rights organizations recently released critical reports on the human rights situation in Venezuela. These studies document patterns of human rights violations, often allegedly involving Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) officials, agents, and sy [...] | 2007-10-04 22:04:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
07CARACAS1977 | AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH CHEVRON [...] (C) SUMMARY: Chevron remains optimistic on Venezuela and believes that the Chavez administration has begun to realize that it cannot divorce Venezuela from the United States. Chinese oil company CNPC has approached Chevron about signing a cooperation agreement for projects in Venezuela. Chevro [...] | 2007-10-09 11:57:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS1985 | AMBASSADOR DUDDY PRESENTS CREDENTIALS COPIES TO [...] (C) A pleasant but disengaged Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro, accompanied by North America Vice Foreign Minister Jorge Valero, received Ambassador Duddy,s copies of letters of credence and recall in his office Saturday, Oct 6. During the 20-minute meeting the Ambassador noted the FM,s Octobe [...] | 2007-10-09 19:46:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV VE |
07CARACAS1998 | LOCAL RECALL ELECTIONS: MIXED RESULTS IN LOW-KEY [...] (C) Summary: The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) held ten local recall elections in various parts of Venezuela on October 7. According to the preliminary results from the National Electoral Commission (CNE),four mayors, two Chavistas and two from the opposition, as well as one regio [...] | 2007-10-11 13:47:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS20 | VENEZUELA: 2006 COUNTRY REPORTS ON TERRORISM [...] The following is post's update on the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) for the 2006 Country Reports on Terrorism: The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's cooperation in international efforts against terrorism remained negligible. President Hugo Chavez continued to criticize U.S. counter [...] | 2007-01-04 17:18:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | PTER ASEC VE |
07CARACAS2000 | MITSUBISHI HOPES TO CLOSE MAJOR REFINERY DEAL BY [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Mitsubishi trading company hopes to complete a USD 3 billion financing deal for a deep conversion project at the Puerto La Cruz refinery by year-end. The Itochu trading company is working on a similar deal for the El Palito refinery. JBIC's participation in the projects and [...] | 2007-10-11 18:13:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | EPET ENRG EINV ECON JA CH VE |
07CARACAS201 | OPPOSITION SEVERELY CHALLENGED, LOOKING LONG TERM [...] (C) Still stinging from its tenth consecutive electoral defeat since 1998, the opposition is plagued by infighting, the need to rebuild, disillusioned supporters, and an inability to effectively confront President Chavez' plans to push his "socialist" agenda. Accion Democratica (AD),which m [...] | 2007-01-30 16:10:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2010 | VENEZUELA AND CUBA -- CONFEDERATION? [...] (C) Summary - President Chavez visited Cuba October 13-14, reportedly spending four hours with Fidel Castro. Chavez hosted his weekly Alo Presidente television program, in honor of Che Guevara, from Santa Clara, Cuba. The program included a video tape of his meeting with Castro as well as an [...] | 2007-10-15 21:54:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB KDEM SCUL VE |
07CARACAS2013 | THE BRV'S PROPOSED ECONOMIC CONSTITUTIONAL [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: President Chavez' proposed economic changes to the constitution included in his reform package (Reftel A) are breathtaking in both scope and ambition. The draft proposals give Chavez, inter alia, the broad constitutional authority to consolidate his vision of a socialist model [...] | 2007-10-16 20:07:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV VE |
07CARACAS2034 | VENEZUELAN DAILY ALLEGES BRV PLAN FOR SUPPORT TO [...] (C) Summary. Venezuela daily "El Universal" recently published an article claiming that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) has, as part of its Plan for Socio-Economic Development 2007-2013, the stated goal of promoting "alternative groups" in Mexico and Central America. The report ap [...] | 2007-10-18 15:56:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2037 | VENEZUELA: NOMINATION FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S [...] (U) Embassy Caracas is pleased to nominate Isela I. Iguaran for the Secretary's Award for International Women of Courage, per reftel. 2. (U) Nominee: Isela I. Iguaran 3. (U) Title and Institution: President, Bloque Vecinal Indigena (Indigenous Issues NGO) 4. (U) Date of Birth: Februa [...] | 2007-10-18 17:34:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL KWMN PHUM KPAO VE |
07CARACAS2049 | COUNTRY CLEARANCE APPROVAL FOR AVIATION SAFETY [...] The Embassy grants country clearance for the visit to Venezuela of Joe Maiorana and Quentin Cruz of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for the period of October 21, 2007 through October 27, 2007. This approval is granted on the condition that the traveler will be traveling with an appr [...] | 2007-10-19 22:02:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR OTRA ASEC VE |
07CARACAS2050 | CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM - GETTING WORSE AND WORSE. [...] (C) Late on Friday October 12 the Venezuelan National Assembly's Mixed Commission on Constitutional Reform announced the addition of 25 amendments to the constitution, on top of the 33 proposed by President Chavez on August 15 (Ref A). While a few of the changes are fairly innocuous, many wil [...] | 2007-10-19 22:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KIPR PHUM KDEM ECON VE |
07CARACAS2056 | CHAVEZ ANNOUNCES CHINESE APPROVAL OF STRATEGIC [...] On October 21, 2007 President Chavez announced Chinese approval of a USD six billion Strategic Fund between China and Venezuela (BRV). During a phone call from Miraflores Palace, 21 October, 2007, to aspirants to the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) in the State of Anzoategui Chave [...] | 2007-10-22 21:36:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON VE |
07CARACAS2058 | FEAR, LOATHING, AND STATE PATERNALISM IN MERIDA [...] (C) Summary. University administrators, opposition parties, and civil society leaders in the university city of Merida increasingly fear the growing authoritarianism of President Chavez. University of Los Andes (ULA) administrators believe the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) will put [...] | 2007-10-22 22:16:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM SOCI KDEM VE |
07CARACAS206 | GOVERNOR ROSALES AND EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE EAGER [...] (SBU) Action Request -- See Paragraph 12. 2. (C) Summary. During the Ambassador's January 23-24 visit to Maracaibo, Zulia Governor and former presidential candidate Manuel Rosales expressed strong interest in enhancing programs of cooperation with his state administration. Rosales said he [...] | 2007-01-30 21:35:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID PHUM PGOV SNAR VE |
07CARACAS2062 | VENEZUELA'S NATIONAL ELECTORAL COUNCIL REQUESTS [...] (U) The Directors of Globovision, Alberto Federico Ravell, and Venezolana de TeleVision (VTV),Romero Anselmi, met with the President of the National Electoral Council (CNE),Tibisay Lucena, October 17 to counter CNE efforts to suspend the transmission of spots critical of the government's [...] | 2007-10-23 18:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2071 | PRINTING PRESS RAIDED, ANTI-REFORM MATERIAL SEIZED [...] (SBU) State Intelligence (DISIP) and Military Intelligence (DIM) police officials raided the Impresos Chirivel printing press in San Diego, Carabobo state October 23 in order to confiscate anti-constitutional reform promotional material. The seized goods, which read "No to constitutional reform [...] | 2007-10-25 11:56:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SCUL VE |
07CARACAS2074 | AGRICULTURE EXPERTS PREDICT CORN, WHEAT, AND MILK [...] (SBU) Summary: Milk, white corn and wheat which make up Venezuela's three most consumed products (milk, pre-cooked corn meal, and pasta),are all facing worsening or impending shortages. Global price increases combined with local price controls have led to the current milk shortage and an eme [...] | 2007-10-25 19:06:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EAGR ALOW VE |
07CARACAS2076 | CHAVEZ' NEW PARTY: A LABORIOUS BIRTH [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez' United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) is finally scheduled to hold its Founding Party Congress on November 2 after repeated postponements. The PSUV will not establish party policies or select leaders, however, until early 2008, well after the referendum on [...] | 2007-10-25 21:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PHUM VE |
07CARACAS2077 | UNIVERSITY STUDENTS PROTEST CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMS [...] (U) In spite of a steady rain, violent pro-Chavez counter-protesters, delayed permits, and National Guard roadblocks preventing additional student protesters from entering Caracas, some 20,000 students marched through downtown Caracas October 23 protesting Chavez' proposed constitutional refor [...] | 2007-10-25 21:07:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PHUM VE |
07CARACAS2084 | PARALLEL DOLLAR RATE CONTINUES RAPID CLIMB [...] (C) The parallel rate for dollars has jumped sharply in recent months, increasing 65 percent in the last six months from 3,700 bolivares (Bs)/USD on April 26 to 6,180 Bs/USD on October 26. Reasons for the increase include increasing liquidity and general unease about the constitutional reform [...] | 2007-10-26 20:27:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS2089 | BRV AND CATHOLIC CHURCH AT ODDS OVER CHAVEZ' [...] (C) Summary. The Venezuelan Catholic Conference of Bishop's recently-released document entitled "Called to Live in Liberty" strongly criticizes President Chavez' proposed constitutional changes. The bishops call Chavez' efforts to construct a "socialist state" discriminatory, anti-democratic [...] | 2007-10-26 20:50:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2091 | PRESS FREEDOM UPDATE [...] (C) Summary. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) continues to systematically harass independent media outlets and restrict freedom of expression. The BRV appears determined to find grounds to sanction opposition-oriented cable news network Globovision through a series of bizarre accus [...] | 2007-10-26 20:51:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SCUL VE |
07CARACAS2094 | PRO-CHAVEZ MEDIA ESCALATE RHETORICAL ATTACKS ON [...] (C) Summary. A pro-government daily accused Jewish rabbis and Mossad agents October 29 of conspiring against the Chavez government. These unfounded assertions come on the heels of a government-run television network talk show asserting without proof that Jewish businessmen are funding student [...] | 2007-10-29 17:41:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV VE |
07CARACAS2099 | CHAVEZ ACCEPTS AMBASSADOR'S CREDENTIALS, OFFERS [...] (C) In a surprisingly cordial October 29 meeting, the Ambassador presented his credentials to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias. President Chavez repeatedly stressed during the 35 minute discussion that the United States and Venezuela were not enemies and that his door was open "24 hours [...] | 2007-10-30 19:32:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV SNAR PREL VE |
07CARACAS21 | VENEZUELA STRONGLY CONDEMNS EXECUTION OF SADDAM [...] (SBU) In a press release January 3, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the execution of Saddam Hussein, which it called "a political crime produced by an illegitimate foreign occupation." The BRV couched its objection not only as a rejection of the death penalty, but also of [...] | 2007-01-04 17:56:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL VE |
07CARACAS2103 | CONOCOPHILLIPS HEADS TO ARBITRATION [...] (C) SUMMARY: ConocoPhillips (CP) Chairman, President and CEO James Mulva told the Ambassador on October 30 that CP will file an arbitration claim with ICSID against the BRV. Negotiations regarding compensation have proved unsuccessful to date but CP still holds out hope that the BRV may eventu [...] | 2007-10-31 13:24:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS2104 | LUKOIL DEEPLY PESSIMISTIC [...] (C) SUMMARY: According to a senior Lukoil executive, Lukoil is highly pessimistic about investment opportunities in Venezuela. The Russian company is particularly concerned about constitutional reforms such as the definition of private property and the six hour workday. In addition, the comp [...] | 2007-10-31 13:25:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS2120 | STUDENTS AND ANTI-REFORM SECTORS PROTEST [...] (C) Summary. Over 20,000 university student leaders and anti-reform protesters marched to the National Electoral Council's (CNE's) headquarters November 1 to petition the CNE to postpone the referendum until February 2008. After arriving at the CNE, some student delegates were refused access [...] | 2007-11-02 15:21:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ASEC KDEM PHUM VE |
07CARACAS2122 | ICAO: DEMARCHE ON MONTREAL CONVENTION AMENDMENT [...] On November 2, the Embassy sent reftel to DR Sohail Hernandez, Director General of Economics and International Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Embassy also sent the Demarche to Ramon Vinas Garcia, President of the National Institute of Civil Aviation. We will report any [...] | 2007-11-02 20:36:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR KNNP KTIA OTRA PARM ICAO VE |
07CARACAS2124 | LEGISLATURE PASSES CHAVEZ' CONSTITUTIONAL PACKAGE; [...] (C) Summary. The National Assembly (NA) voted overwhelmingly November 2 to approve President Chavez' proposed, sweeping constitutional changes and conveyed the approved text to the National Electoral Council (CNE) the same day. The formal 30-day referendum campign has now begun, with the CNE [...] | 2007-11-02 21:35:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2125 | VENEZUELA - COLOMBIA BRIDGE BLOCKADE LIFTED [...] (SBU) Summary. Truckers ended a 97-day binational blockade of bridges joining Venezuela and Colombia on October 13 after the Colombian government agreed to relocate toll booths, giving motorists alternate local routes to avoid the Colombian tolls. Truck drivers from both countries were prot [...] | 2007-11-02 21:40:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREL PHUM VE CO |
07CARACAS2128 | PETROCEDINO'S COMPLICATED BIRTH [...] (C) SUMMARY: The creation of Petrocedino, the joint venture formed from the former Sincor strategic association, poses a variety of challenges for its private sector participants. The new company will extract and upgrade extra-heavy crude oil in the Faja region. Venezuelan state oil company [...] | 2007-11-05 16:53:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON ELAB VE |
07CARACAS2130 | NEW TAX ON FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS IMPLEMENTED WITH [...] Summary: (C) On November 1 the BRV imposed a 1.5 percent tax on institutional financial transactions through December 31, 2008. The BRV's unveiling of this tax was particularly clumsy, as the government had to modify its original decree to prevent the collapse of key financial transactions [...] | 2007-11-05 17:31:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS2132 | AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH VICE FOREIGN MINISTER VALERO [...] (C) Ambassador Duddy and PolCouns met November 2 with BRV Vice Foreign Minister Jorge Valero and MFA Director for North America Affairs Yaneth Arocha at the CMR to review bilateral relations. This was the first meeting with BRV officials since the Ambassador's October 29 discussion with Chavez [...] | 2007-11-05 19:55:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2134 | CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM CAMPAIGN BEGINS WITH [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez held a peaceful November 4 mass rally to mobilize support for his proposed constitutional reform package. Chavez accused reform opponents of trying to destabilize his government and urged government officials to be more "firm" with university demonstrators. Some [...] | 2007-11-05 21:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ASEC VE |
07CARACAS2136 | SPANISH ENVOY RAISES PROPERTY RIGHTS WITH FM MADURO [...] (C) Summary. Spain's Secretary of State for Iberoamerica, Trinidad Jimenez, visited Caracas October 31. In addition to a lengthy meeting with Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro, she met President Chavez, leaders from political parties (PODEMOS, Accion Democratica, Primero Justicia, Un Nuevo Tie [...] | 2007-11-06 15:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SP VE |
07CARACAS214 | CIVAIR: REPONSE TO AMERICAN/SPIRIT DESIGNATION [...] In response to Post's diplomatic note No. 809, dated December 13, 2006 (reftel),the BRV has provided the Embassy a list of requirements for Spirit Airlines to operate route 1 between the United States and Venezuela and has approved our designation of American Airlines (AA) to operate route 6. [...] | 2007-01-31 21:44:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | EAIR VE |
07CARACAS2140 | FEDECAMARAS SPEAKS OUT AGAINST CONSTITUTIONAL [...] (SBU) Fedecamaras, Venezuela's premier umbrella business association, has added its voice to those opposed to Chavez' proposed constitutional reforms. During a meeting on November 2, Jose Manuel Gonzalez, President of Fedecamaras, handed the Ambassador a paper discussing Fedecamaras' positio [...] | 2007-11-06 20:22:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV ECON VE |
07CARACAS2142 | STUDENT LEADERS: "WE WILL REMAIN IN THE STREETS," [...] (C) SUMMARY. University student leaders vowed to continue with street actions to protest the December 2 constitutional referendum during a November 5 press conference. They announced plans to march to the Supreme Court November 7 to request that the referendum be postponed until February 2008. [...] | 2007-11-06 21:38:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ASEC VE |
07CARACAS2143 | INCREASES OF FOOD PRICES AND SUBSIDIES IN VENEZUELA [...] (U) SUMMARY: Venezuela continues to face shortages in milk and wheat products. The BRV has taken steps to subsidize powdered milk imports and has directed that wheat products be made with a combination of wheat and other cereal grains to increase quantities. The BRV also established a produ [...] | 2007-11-06 21:58:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON VE |
07CARACAS2144 | AMBASSADOR DUDDY'S VISITS VALENCIA TO PROMOTE THE [...] (SBU) Ambassador Duddy's visit to the industrial city of Valencia on October 31 to November 1, 2007 included meetings with the three largest American auto manufacturers in Venezuela, American owned agricultural feed conglomerate Protinal, three of the largest industrial and commercial chambers [...] | 2007-11-06 22:11:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV VE |
07CARACAS215 | MFA REJECTS NEGROPONTE'S COMMENTS [...] (SBU) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) issued a January 30 press release criticizing Deputy Secretary-designate Negroponte's remarks to the Senate SIPDIS Foreign Relations Committee earlier the same day. The MFA release states that Negroponte "represents a real threat to peace and dem [...] | 2007-01-31 22:18:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE |
07CARACAS2152 | CHAVEZ SUPPORTERS FIRE ON OPPOSITION STUDENTS [...] (C) Summary. Supporters of President Chavez opened fire on opposition demonstrators November 7, seriously injuring at least two students. Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) officials accuse opposition demonstrators of trying to "lynch" pro-Chavez students on campus, while opposition stud [...] | 2007-11-08 16:38:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM ASEC VE |
07CARACAS2158 | BRV DERIDES BADUEL, OPPOSITION REACTS SLOWLY [...] (SBU) Summary: President Hugo Chavez and other senior Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) officials wasted no time in harshly criticizing ex-Defense Minister Raul Baduel for his November 5 press conference urging Venezuelans to vote "NO" in the constitutional referendum. On the other hand, [...] | 2007-11-09 17:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS216 | ROBIN HOOD WAS A SOCIALIST [...] (SBU) During the past two weeks Chavez and other BRV officials have proposed a dizzying array of tax increases, all of which Chavez will have the ability to impose through decrees sanctioned by the new "enabling" law. These proposals maintain the trend of growing the tax burden on individuals [...] | 2007-02-01 13:58:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN PGOV VE |
07CARACAS2162 | CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM: POLLS SAY CHAVEZ STILL [...] (C) SUMMARY. Local polls have focused on three issues in the lead-up to the December 2 constitutional referendum: likely participation rates, overall support for the referendum, and the popularity of specific reforms. Polls indicate that while Chavez' electoral camp does not necessarily enjoy [...] | 2007-11-09 22:18:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS217 | INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION VS. THE BRV [...] (C) Summary: International arbitration will become increasingly important to foreign investors as Chavez moves forward with his selective nationalizations and disputes over "prompt, adequate, and effective compensation" arise. Foreign investors have three options to avail themselves of arbitr [...] | 2007-02-01 15:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EINV PGOV ECON VE |
07CARACAS2172 | CHAVEZ MEETS FARC REP, SANDBAGS COLOMBIA [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Hugo Chavez met November 8 with FARC representative Ivan Marquez and Colombian Senator Piedad Cordoba. Although highly anticipated, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) gave the Colombian government no official prior notification. In an unstructured press availa [...] | 2007-11-13 21:39:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PTER CO VE |
07CARACAS2173 | WEAK TURNOUT FOR OPPOSITION "NO" MARCH, [...] (C) SUMMARY: The November 11 march convoked by opposition parties advocating voting "No" in the December 2 constitutional referendum failed to generate a significant show of public support. Turnout for the event was likely hurt by a fractured anti-reform movement, recent well attended student [...] | 2007-11-13 22:11:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SCUL VE |
07CARACAS2174 | JEWISH COMMUNITY UNDERSCORES GROWING CONCERNS [...] (C) Summary. The Ambassador met November 9 with fifteen Jewish community leaders to reinforce the USG's commitment to promoting religious freedom in Venezuela. All of the Jewish organization representatives expressed concern that President Chavez's government is fomenting anti-Semitism in Ven [...] | 2007-11-13 22:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS218 | CONOCOPHILLIPS MEETS WITH ENERGY VICE MINISTER [...] (C) SUMMARY: ConocoPhillips (CP) executives met with Energy (MEP) Vice Minister Bernard Mommer on January 31 to discuss the shipment of Cuban oil to the Petrozuata upgrader and the migration of the Petrozuata and Hamaca strategic associations to PDVSA controlled joint ventures. Mommer stated [...] | 2007-02-01 15:45:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS2181 | THE BRV PUTS THE BRAKES ON CAR IMPORTS [...] (C) Summary: On October 31, the BRV issued a resolution requiring all auto importers to obtain a license from the Ministry of Popular Power for Light Industry and Commerce (MILCO) for vehicle imports. The resolution also stipulates that all imported and locally assembled vehicles must run on [...] | 2007-11-14 19:53:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV ETRD VE |
07CARACAS2186 | BRV BOND OFFERINGS TARGET PARALLEL DOLLAR MARKET [...] (C) Summary: The Ministry of People's Power for Finance (MPPF) recently announced a new series of dollar and bolivar-denominated debt issuances for the coming five months. The BRV's stated reason for these issuances was to optimize its debt profile and cover upcoming amortizations. Local an [...] | 2007-11-15 17:03:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS2187 | CHAVEZ KEEPS SPAT WITH SPAIN GOING [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Hugo Chavez, as well as his political supporters and detractors, are attempting to make political hay out of King Juan Carlos' royal rebuke of Chavez on November 10 at the Iberoamerican summit. The King's "why don't you shut up" sound bite is receiving extensive airpla [...] | 2007-11-15 19:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS2188 | FINANCE MINISTER ACCUSES FEDECAMARAS OF SUBVERSION [...] (U) This message is Sensitive but Unclassified, please treat accordingly. 2. (SBU) Finance Minister Rodrigo Cabezas went on the offensive November 14 and publicly accused FEDECAMARAS,the country's largest umbrella business organization, of "subversion" for its opposition to the BRV's cons [...] | 2007-11-15 19:24:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON PGOV VE |
07CARACAS219 | NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HANDS CHAVEZ BROAD LEGISLATIVE [...] (C) Summary. The National Assembly (NA) gave final approval January 31 to an omnibus Enabling Law that provides President Chavez with broad authority to issue executive decrees over the next 18 months in eleven areas, including energy. President Chavez is expected to promulgate the measure wi [...] | 2007-02-01 16:26:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON PHUM VE |
07CARACAS2195 | CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: PLAYERS AND THEIR POSITIONS [...] (C) Summary. The December 2 constitutional referendum is a highly polarized political battle between President Chavez and his extensive base on one side and opposition parties, university demonstrators, Catholic bishops, and important sectors of civil society on the other. President Chavez's [...] | 2007-11-16 19:05:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2201 | CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM: KELLER POLL SAYS "NO" [...] (C) SUMMARY. Emboffs met November 16 with pollster Alfredo Keller of Keller and Associates to discuss the December 2 referendum on President Chavez' sweeping constitutional changes. Keller said that based on his current polls the "No" vote appears to be gaining support among Chavistas despite [...] | 2007-11-19 17:38:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS2203 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: FATF STATEMENT AND GUIDANCE ON [...] (C) Emboffs delivered Ref A demarche on the recent Financial Action Task Force (FATF) decisions concerning Iran to Yaneth Arocha, Director of the MFA's Office of North American Affairs, and, separately, to Francisco Canela, Director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (UNIF) at the Superintend [...] | 2007-11-19 20:50:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PARM PREL MNUC ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS2207 | CHINA LOANS VENEZUELA USD FOUR BILLION TO BE [...] (U) SUMMARY: BRV President Hugo Chavez and PRC Vice Minister of the National Committee and Reform Zhang Xiaoqiamg presided over a televised signing ceremony for energy, financial and technology agreements on Tuesday, November 6, 2007 at the presidential palace. The main agreement established [...] | 2007-11-20 14:34:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EPET CH VE |
07CARACAS2211 | PRO-CHAVEZ PPT PARTY: GRUDGING SUPPORT FOR [...] (C) Summary. The small pro-Chavez party Patria Para Todos (PPT) is reluctantly supporting President Chavez's proposed, sweeping constitutional changes. PPT leaders told PolCouns that Chavez's constitutional package is a "tough sell" within Chavismo, and they predict that it will only narrowly [...] | 2007-11-20 21:15:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM SNAR VE |
07CARACAS2212 | CHAVEZ VISITS IRAN: THE FOURTH TIME IN TWO YEARS [...] (C) On November 19, President Chavez visited Tehran for the fourth time since 2005 and the sixth time since 1998. During the five-hour stop-over, Chavez and his entourage of five ministers and the mayor of Caracas met with President Ahmadinejad and Iranian officials. According to media report [...] | 2007-11-20 21:51:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PGOV PREL IR VE |
07CARACAS2214 | OPPOSITION UCV STUDENT BLOC WINS LANDSLIDE [...] (C) SUMMARY. Opposition-oriented candidates easily won student elections held November 16 at the public Central University of Venezuela's (UCV) campuses nationwide. Student voters elected a new president to the Federation of UCV Colleges (FCU),representatives for each college, and student de [...] | 2007-11-21 14:27:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SCUL VE |
07CARACAS2215 | BRV APPOINTS DISMISSED JUDGES TO DIPLOMATIC POSTS [...] (SBU) The Foreign Ministry of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) appointed three dismissed appellate court judges to diplomatic posts in Europe and Latin America in late October. Judge Belkis Cedeno is the new consul general to Vigo, Spain. Judge Maikel Moreno is the new commercial [...] | 2007-11-21 14:28:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS2221 | AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH SHELL [...] (C) SUMMARY: Shell Venezuela President Sean Rooney paid a courtesy call on the Ambassador November 21 to discuss the current operating environment in Venezuela. In contacts with Shell, Energy Ministry and PDVSA working level contacts have significantly increased proposals for new projects and [...] | 2007-11-23 19:22:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS2225 | REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN UPDATE-NOVEMBER 21-23 [...] (C) SUMMARY. Pro-government and opposition university students across the country organized demonstrations in support of and against President Chavez' reform package November 21. Opposition student leaders announced that university students will not participate in the opposition's march Novem [...] | 2007-11-23 21:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2226 | CHAVEZ ELECTORAL MACHINE KICKS INTO HIGH GEAR [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Chavez' government and the "Yes" campaign are increasingly one and the same in the run-up to the December 2 referendum on Chavez' proposed, sweeping changes to the constitution. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) is injecting significant personnel and resources [...] | 2007-11-23 21:21:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL VE |
07CARACAS2228 | BALANCE OF PAYMENTS DATA MAY FORESHADOW CHALLENGES [...] (C) Summary: The Central Bank of Venezuela's (BCV's) third quarter balance of payments data illustrate two important trends: a declining volume of petroleum exports and rapidly growing imports. Imports over the first three quarters of 2007 have grown a hefty 36 percent relative to the same p [...] | 2007-11-26 12:57:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN EPET VE |
07CARACAS2229 | VENEZUELA: VISIT OF G/TIP'S BARBARA FLECK [...] (C) SUMMARY. Barbara Fleck, Reports Officer for the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons (G/TIP),and Emboffs met with Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) officials and NGOs October 19-23 to discuss the government's anti-trafficking efforts. MFA officials agreed to facilitate [...] | 2007-11-26 14:39:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KCRM KWMN VE |
07CARACAS2231 | CHAVEZ' COLD WAR WITH COLOMBIA AND SPAIN [...] (C) Summary: President Hugo Chavez publicly announced November 25 that he was putting relations with Colombia "in the freezer" following his dismissal as mediator between Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) by Colombian President Uribe. Describing Uribe with a strin [...] | 2007-11-26 16:31:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PTER CO VE |
07CARACAS2238 | REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN UPDATE-NOVEMBER 23-26 [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez raised for the first time the possibility of defeat at the polls on December 2. Chavez' statements, however, appear aimed more at galvanizing his base than admitting weakness. The Venezuelan Episcopal Conference issued a statement reiterating its concerns about t [...] | 2007-11-27 10:55:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2243 | CHEVRON'S NEXT MOVES [...] (C) SUMMARY: The BRV has approached Chevron with a proposal to significantly increase production at the former Ameriven strategic association. Petrochina has also offered to partner with Chevron in a Faja project. Chevron is not in a hurry to make additional investments in Venezuela. Labor [...] | 2007-11-27 20:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | EPET ENRG EINV ECON CH VE |
07CARACAS2245 | REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN UPDATE-NOVEMBER 27 [...] (C) Summary: President Chavez reminded his supporters November 26 that a loss for the "No" vote would not end his government or the Bolivarian Revolution. Opposition parties and university students continue to try to mobilize their supporters to participate in the December 2 referendum, emp [...] | 2007-11-27 22:35:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2254 | REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN UPDATE-NOVEMBER 27-28 [...] (C) Summary: Political polarization is increasing in the lastweek of campaigning before the December 2 referendm on President Chavez's proposed constitutional eform. A large gap in police coverage allowed pr-reform thugs to storm the fences of Andres Bell Catholic University (UCAB) while stu [...] | 2007-11-28 23:41:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2258 | REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN UPDATE-NOVEMBER 28-29 [...] (C) SUMMARY. The "No" bloc held its end-of-campaign rally in downtown Caracas November 29, and initial indications are it is the largest anti-reform rally thus far. Embassy contacts note that the "No" bloc still lacks sufficient electoral witnesses to provide coverage outside of Caracas on e [...] | 2007-11-29 20:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2259 | CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM BY THE NUMBERS [...] No summary [...] | 2007-11-29 21:24:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2260 | STOCK EXCHANGE STRUGGLES FOR RELEVANCE AS STATE [...] (C) Summary: The Caracas Stock Exchange (BVC) has fallen 37 percent this year in the face of nationalizations and the advance of Chavez' socialist economic agenda. BVC management is turning to the BRV to breathe life back into the exchange, asking that the BRV sell some shares in nationalized [...] | 2007-11-30 14:21:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS2262 | FINAL "NO" CAMPAIGN RALLY YIELDS HIGH TURNOUT [...] (C) Summary: The "No" block successfully mustered a significant public show of support in its November 29 Caracas rally. As many as 100,000 voters attended the final "No" rally before the December 2 constitutional referendum, one of the opposition's biggest crowds in recent history. Univers [...] | 2007-11-30 15:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2263 | VENEZUELA'S CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM: A STEP TOWARDS [...] (C) Summary: The BRV's proposed constitutional reform removes unambiguous constitutional protections from intellectual property rights (IPR). The removal of these protections give the BRV more constitutional flexibility to walk away from its IPR obligations or pass anti-IPR laws that would vi [...] | 2007-11-30 16:35:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | KIPR ETRD VE |
07CARACAS2268 | VENEZUELA: TITLE III OF LIBERTAD ACT [...] (C) In response to REF A tasking, Post sees no evidence that the BRV has undertaken policies or actions to advance democracy, human rights, or fundamental freedoms in Cuba over the past year. On the contrary, President Hugo Chavez is Fidel Castro's closest ally and has repeatedly and publicly [...] | 2007-11-30 20:30:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ETTC CU VE |
07CARACAS2269 | NATIONAL ASSEMBLY TO SELECT NEW OMBUDSMAN, [...] (C) Summary. The National Assembly (NA) is expected to name a new Human Rights Ombudsman, Attorney General, and Comptroller in the coming weeks. Together these positions make up the "Public Power" branch of government, also known as the Moral Republican Council (CMR). The CMR's Candidate Eva [...] | 2007-11-30 20:41:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV VE |
07CARACAS2270 | THE REFERENDUM -- AND AFTER: WHAT TO WATCH [...] (C) Summary. The December 2 constitutional referendum is proving to be President Chavez's most difficult electoral test since the 2004 recall referendum, but the Venezuelan president and his supporters still enjoy significant electoral advantages. Both the "Yes" and "No" camps are battling t [...] | 2007-11-30 23:13:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2271 | REFERENDUM CAMPAIGN UPDATE-NOVEMBER 29-30 [...] (C) Summary: Following the November 29 final, substantial rally of the "No" camp, President Chavez canceled a planned visit to Ecuador. Instead, he prepared for his final "Yes" campaign speech on November 30 rally, while his Zamora Command alleged domestic conspiracies to reject a "Yes" vic [...] | 2007-12-01 15:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2272 | CHAVEZ ALLEGES USG ELECTION INTERFERENCE; [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez told a mass rally November 29 that his electoral battle to win approval of sweeping proposed constitutional changes in the December 2 referendum is really a struggle against the United States and its opposition "lackeys" in Venezuela. As expected, Chavez has ram [...] | 2007-12-01 18:34:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE |
07CARACAS2273 | REFERENDUM ELECTORAL CONDITIONS A POTENTIALLY [...] (C) Summary: While not a main focus of the referendum campaign, widespread concern over electoral conditions remains, and could become a central issue if the opposition, which believes it has a chance to win, refuses to accept a result which has the no vote losing by a sizable margin. The N [...] | 2007-12-01 18:52:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2274 | CHAVEZ LOSES CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM [...] (C) Summary. The National Electoral Council (CNE) announced at 1:19 a.m. on December 3 that President Chavez and his supporters failed to win public approval for proposed, sweeping changes to the 1999 Constitution. According to the CNE announcement, Venezuelans voted down both blocks of the 6 [...] | 2007-12-03 17:51:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL VE |
07CARACAS2284 | WHY CHAVEZ' CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM FAILED [...] (C) Summary: Chavez's defeat in the December 2 constitutional referendum is a rejection of the aggressive, radical agenda which he tried to impose this year. Chavez's sweeping proposals kept many of his supporters from voting, and lead many to vote against him. They also energized new sourc [...] | 2007-12-04 20:47:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2290 | A DEFIANT CHAVEZ DECLARES INTENTION TO REVISIT [...] (C) Summary. After appearing more statesmanlike in his December 4 concession speech, President Chavez lashed out at the opposition during a December 5 news conference, calling the "No" camp's electoral win in a December 2 constitutional referendum a "Pyhrric" and "sh-tty" victory. Chavez decl [...] | 2007-12-06 20:40:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS2294 | CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM: WINNERS AND LOSERS [...] (C) Summary. Venezuelan democracy is the big winner after voters rejected President Chavez' proposed anti-democratic changes to the 1999 Constitution on December 2. There are still few real checks on Chavez' power, but Chavez will be unable to legally impose much of his desired elements of a [...] | 2007-12-07 14:54:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2301 | EMBASSY CARACAS: TERRORISM FINANCE COORDINATION [...] Name and contact information for Embassy Caracas' Terrorism Finance Coordination Officer (TFCO) and Deputy TFCO are below. TFCO Andrew N. Bowen Economic Counselor 58-212-907-8412 bowenan@state.gov bowenan@state.sgov.gov Deputy TFCO David Galbraith Economic Officer 58-212-907-8406 [...] | 2007-12-07 20:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON ETTC PTER KTFN VE |
07CARACAS2303 | SIFTING THROUGH THE REFERENDUM RUMOR MILL [...] (C) Summary: Since the polls closed on the December 2 constitutional referendum, Caracas has been rife with rampant rumors about the accuracy of the results and Chavez's willingness to quickly accept defeat. While we may never know the real story of events, the opposition has publicly and pr [...] | 2007-12-07 20:29:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS231 | AMBASSADOR'S LUNCH WITH TEODORO PETKOFF [...] (C) In a lunch with the Ambassador January 30, long-time leftist and opposition figure Teodoro Petkoff shared his view of the post-election period. While he believed that Chavez would be in power for some time, Petkoff thought the Venezuelan President's aggressive political agenda was planti [...] | 2007-02-02 20:57:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2319 | VENEZUELAN AIR FORCE ANNOUNCES RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Venezuelan Air Force announced on December 5 the purchase of 12 Russian cargo aircraft to upgrade their heavy lift and in-flight refueling capability. In late October 2007, Rosoboronexport announced that it planned to double or triple its defense industry contracts with the [...] | 2007-12-10 21:18:00 | Embassy Caracas | SECRET//NOFORN | MARR MCAP PGOV VE |
07CARACAS2322 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: SHARING U.S. CASH COURIER [...] Post forwarded reftel non-paper on December 11 to the head of the Ministry of People's Power for External Relation's North America department, with a copy to the head of the Financial Intellegence Unit of the Superintendency of Banks. We will notify the Department if we receive a substantive [...] | 2007-12-11 15:20:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN ETTC KTFIN PREL PTER ASEC VE |
07CARACAS2325 | CNE UPDATES REFERENDUM RESULTS AND RE-CERTIFIES [...] (U) National Electoral Council (CNE) President Tibisay Lucena released the "final" results of the December 2 constitutional referendum late on December 7 based on 94 of the returns. She reiterated that both blocks of proposed changes to the 1999 Constitution had been defeated. Although some [...] | 2007-12-11 18:01:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2327 | JEWISH GROUP PROTESTS POLICE SEARCH OF CARACAS [...] (C) Summary. Venezuelan police searched the Caracas Hebrew Center compound in the early morning of December 2, several hours before polling stations opened for the constitutional referendum. The police had a warrant to search for drugs and weapons; they found nothing and left. The Venezuelan [...] | 2007-12-11 19:09:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV VE |
07CARACAS2330 | PRESSURE MOUNTS ON VENEZUELA'S EXCHANGE CONTROL [...] (C) Summary: The BRV's exchange control system appears to be coming under increasing pressure, as a persistent and large gap between the official and parallel exchange rates makes acquiring dollars at the official rate the best business in town. Contacts note that CADIVI is falling further b [...] | 2007-12-12 14:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS2346 | PDVSA CASH FLOW PROBLEMS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Multiple oil sector contacts have stated that PDVSA is not paying service companies and has told a number of them that they will not be paid until mid-January or even February. A local analyst also stated that PDVSA had not paid the missions prior to the December 2 constitutional [...] | 2007-12-14 16:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS2348 | DEMARCHE DELIVERED: PARIS DONORS CONFERENCE [...] No summary [...] | 2007-12-14 17:39:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN PREL PGOV KWBG KPAL IS VE |
07CARACAS235 | CHAVEZ'S SELF-CORONATION; GOES AFTER ELECTRICITY, [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Chavez promulgated the omnibus Enabling Law February 1, an instrument that gives him effectively unlimited power to rule by decree in eleven vaguely-defined areas for the next eighteen months. He then engaged in a rambling four-hour follow-on press conference in whic [...] | 2007-02-02 21:54:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2350 | AMBASSADOR MEETS GOVERNOR ROSALES [...] (C) Zulia Governor and unsuccessful presidential candidate Manuel Rosales told the Ambassador on December 13 he was optimistic regarding the opposition's chances to win additional mayoral and governor positions in October 2008, but recognized the opposition faced significant hurdles. He was [...] | 2007-12-14 19:27:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2351 | BRV CALLS ANTONINI INDICTMENTS A U.S. PLOT [...] (C) Summary. In a December 12 press release Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro denounced the Justice Department's arrest of three Venezuelans and one Uruguayan as "a U.S. plot to smear progressive governments in South America". Information and Communication Minister William Lara later told a gov [...] | 2007-12-14 19:39:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE |
07CARACAS2355 | PRESS FREEDOM UPDATE -- DECEMBER 17 [...] (C) Summary. In the period leading up to and immediately following President Chavez' failed efforts to reform the 1999 constitution, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) continued to systematically harass and threaten independent media outlets and restrict freedom of expression. The op [...] | 2007-12-17 17:57:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL SCUL VE |
07CARACAS2362 | WISHING AWAY THE PARALLEL RATE: NATIONAL ASSEMBLY [...] (U) The National Assembly on December 13 approved a law revising the 2005 law on illicit foreign currency transactions. The new law, which will go into effect pending presidential approval and publication in the Official Gazette, continues to allow the bond transactions on which the parallel [...] | 2007-12-18 15:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS2363 | LULA: TOUCH AND GO IN CARACAS TO DISCUSS TRADE [...] (U) SUMMARY: Brazilian President Lula Da Silva, accompanied by approximately 130 Brazilian business leaders paid a five-hour visit to Caracas on December 13, and met with President Chavez and other senior BRV officials. Nine agreements were signed in the areas of health, agriculture, energy, [...] | 2007-12-18 15:59:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD ENRG EINV VE BR |
07CARACAS2364 | OPPOSITION LOOKS TOWARD 2008 [...] (C) Summary: Bolstered by its first electoral victory in nine years, the opposition is preparing for the 2008 state and municipal elections, where it hopes to take back a few governorships and mayoral posts. Mainstream opposition parties Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT),Primero Justicia (PJ) and Copei [...] | 2007-12-18 16:49:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2367 | NATIONAL ASSEMBLY APPOINTS LOYALISTS AS NEW HUMAN [...] (C) Summary. The National Assembly (NA) appointed new members to the "Public Power" branch of government on December 13. Gabriela Ramirez will serve as Human Rights Ombudsman, Luisa Ortega Diaz as Attorney General, and Clobosbaldo Russian will serve a second seven-year term as Comptroller. [...] | 2007-12-18 22:40:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV VE |
07CARACAS2370 | CHAVEZ RAMBLES ON ANNIVERSARY OF BOLIVAR'S DEATH [...] (C) In a six-hour speech on December 17 from the Pantheon (where Simon Bolivar is entombed),a clearly unhappy President Chavez delivered a particularly rambling discourse in which he attacked in succession "the Empire" (United States),Spain, Colombia and the international press. Speaking on [...] | 2007-12-19 11:26:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PREL VE |
07CARACAS2371 | AMBASSADOR'S DISCUSSION WITH BARUTA MAYOR HENRIQUE [...] No summary [...] | 2007-12-19 11:26:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS2380 | NEW BOLIVAR, SAME OLD ECONOMY [...] (C) Summary: The BRV is finalizing plans to change the denomination of its currency. Beginning January 1, 2008, one new bolivar (known during the transition period as the bolivar fuerte, or "strong" bolivar) will be worth 1000 old bolivars. Venezuela's Central Bank has provided what appears [...] | 2007-12-20 19:22:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PGOV VE |
07CARACAS2381 | FOOD VULNERABILITIES: BRV POLICY RESPONSES CRACK [...] (SBU) Summary: Thanks to growing demand, inflation, strict price controls and other retrograde BRV economic policies, rolling shortages of basic food staples persist. To try to cope the BRV has rolled out massive open-air markets known as MegaMercals (frequented primarily by poor Venezuelans),[...] | 2007-12-20 19:58:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EAGR VE |
07CARACAS2386 | PUBLIC REPORTING UNDERESTIMATES RISING HOMICIDE [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Venezuelan newspaper, El Universal, reported that 315 violent deaths occurred in Caracas during the first two weeks of December, an average of 15.5 per day. The chief coroner (protect) at the Caracas morgue told Poloff that the actual rate was closer to one per hour. El Un [...] | 2007-12-21 12:57:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KCRM VE |
07CARACAS2388 | CHAVISTA GOVERNOR LEADS PROTEST AT U.S. EMBASSY [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Cojedes State Governor Jhonny Yanez Rangel led a small and peaceful protest on December 20 in front of the U.S. Embassy against the arrest of three Venezuelans implicated in the Antonini "valijagate" case. Governor Rangel held a press conference outside the mission and read al [...] | 2007-12-21 19:45:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ASEC PGOV VE |
07CARACAS2396 | ASSEMBLY APPROVES 2007-2013 ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL [...] (SBU) On December 13 the National Assembly approved the BRV's "Guidelines for the 2007-2013 Economic and Social Development Plan for the Nation." The two page introduction of the 51 page document outlines President Chavez' vision to further develop "21st Century Socialism." Themes include " [...] | 2007-12-26 20:32:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EINV VE |
07CARACAS2398 | CHAVEZ'S PLAN AND URIBE'S BURDEN TO RECOVER [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: President Hugo Chavez outlined a plan designed to secure the release of three hostages of the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces (FARC) in a December 26 press conference. The plan calls for the participation of international observers from Venezuela and six other countries [...] | 2007-12-27 15:15:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER CO VE |
07CARACAS2403 | FOR NOW: CHAVEZ' POST-REFERENDUM OPTIONS [...] (C) Summary. In the wake of his constitutional referendum defeat, President Chavez declared his intention to continue to pursue changes to the constitution, but he has not specified how or when. Amending the constitution is required to make major political changes, such as the elimination of [...] | 2007-12-27 20:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS2404 | BRV HARASSMENT OF POLITICAL OPPONENTS [...] (C) Summary. Despite the Christmas release of retired Army General Francisco Uson from a military prison, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) continues to use the judicial system to intimidate its high profile opponents. The BRV recently initiated hearings against ex-judge Monica Ferna [...] | 2007-12-27 21:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV VE |
07CARACAS241 | JAPANESE AMBASSADOR WORRIED ABOUT INVESTMENT [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Ambassador met with Japanese Ambassador Matsui, at Matsui's request, on February 2 to discuss the current investment environment in Venezuela. Matsui was clearly concerned about the Japan Bank for International Cooperation's (JBIC) one billion USD loan to PDVSA. Matsui opin [...] | 2007-02-05 21:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS2410 | OPERATION TO RECOVER THREE FARC HOSTAGES BEGINS [...] (SBU) President Chavez personally kicked off what he called "phase one" of "Operation Emmanuel" on December 28 to facilitate the release of three FARC hostages. Chavez led the team of international commissioners from Caracas to the Santo Domingo airfield in the western state of Tachira on his [...] | 2007-12-28 22:09:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PTER CO VE |
07CARACAS242 | FM MADURO CONTINUES ATTACKS ON NEGROPONTE [...] (SBU) For the third time in two weeks, Minister of Foreign Affairs (FM) Nicolas Maduro attacked Deputy Secretary-designate John Negroponte, calling him a "confessed SIPDIS and convicted drug dealer". Maduro launched the latest round of insults February 4 at a Caracas military parade marking [...] | 2007-02-05 21:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS243 | VENEZUELA: JUSTICE COWED [...] (C) During the opening of the Supreme Court's 2007 judicial year, Chief Justice Omar Mora laid the legal foundation for President Chavez' "socialist" agenda, and called on the entire judicial system to support Chavez' vision. Most of the initiatives Mora announced to transform the court syst [...] | 2007-02-05 21:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS245 | ROSALES CALLS FOR UNITED FRONT AGAINST [...] (C) Summary. Zulia Governor and de facto opposition leader Manuel Rosales tried to rally opposition to President Chavez and recapture some of his lost momentum in a combative February 1 speech in Caracas. Rosales said that his Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT) would unite with several other mainstream op [...] | 2007-02-05 22:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE |
07CARACAS25 | CHAVEZ NAMES JORGE RODRIGUEZ VP AND PEDRO CARRENO [...] (C) Summary. President Hugo Chavez named former National Electoral Council (CNE) President Jorge Rodriguez to replace Jose Vicente Rangel as Vice President and Fifth Republic Movement (MVR) National Assembly deputy Pedro Carreno to replace Jessie Chacon as Interior and Justice Minister on Jan [...] | 2007-01-04 21:33:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS256 | CARDINAL PREDICTS FURTHER BRV PRESSURE ON CHURCH [...] (C) Summary. Ambassador had lunch February 1 with Cardinal Jorge Cardenal Urosa Savino at the Papal Nuncio's residence. The Venezuelan Cardinal predicted continued Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) pressure against the Catholic Church, noting that the BRV is trying to wrest control of the [...] | 2007-02-06 21:30:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
07CARACAS264 | NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CEDES POWER TO CHAVEZ [...] (C) On January 31, the Venezuelan National Assembly (AN) passed the Omnibus Enabling Law, which gives unlimited power to legislate to President Chavez for 18 months. With this act, the 100-percent pro-Chavez National Assembly eagerly and completely abdicated its responsibility as an independe [...] | 2007-02-07 21:18:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS291 | OUT OF THE GATE INFLATION SURGES [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Inflation grew 2 percent in January 2007, the second highest monthly rate in more than a decade. Prices for foodstuffs (food and non-alcoholic beverages) grew even faster at around 4 percent, and have risen 31.1 percent for the 12 months ending in January. BRV officials announce [...] | 2007-02-09 21:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON VE |
07CARACAS293 | FM MADURO RESPONDS TO SECRETARY'S COMMENTS, CUT [...] (U) SUMMARY. Minister of Foreign Affairs (FM) Nicolas Maduro continued his anti-USG comments, this time in response to Secretary Rice's February 7 remarks to the U.S. Congress on the state of democracy in Venezuela. Maduro also reiterated allegations that the U.S. is mounting a "campaign" aga [...] | 2007-02-09 21:26:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PGOV SNAR VE |
07CARACAS302 | AES AND BRV REACH AGREEMENT ON ELECTRICIDAD DE [...] (C) Summary: AES Corporation and the BRV have reached a deal for the sale of Electricidad de Caracas (EDC),Venezuela's largest private energy company. The BRV will pay AES 739 million U.S. dollars for its 82.14 percent interest in EDC and will buyout minority shareholders at the same price [...] | 2007-02-12 20:05:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG EINV PGOV VE |
07CARACAS305 | A BILLION HERE, A BILLION THERE, AND PRETTY SOON [...] (C) SUMMARY: Econoffs met with the BNP Paribas Representative to discuss the recent announcement of a USD 1 billion revolving credit facility arranged by BNP for PDVSA. The Minister of Finance recently announced plans for up to a USD 3.5 billion PDVSA bond issue, and PDVSA has also arranged fo [...] | 2007-02-13 13:20:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | ECON EPET ENRG EFIN VE |
07CARACAS306 | CHAVEZ PREPARING MAJOR CHANGES TO CONSTITUTION [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez intends to make profound "socialist" changes to the 1999 Constitution via a constitutional "reform" process this year. Chavez says this effort will "complement" the executive decree-laws that he can issue over the next 18 months courtesy of the Enabling Law (Ref [...] | 2007-02-13 16:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM EINV ECON ENRG VE |
07CARACAS32 | PRISON RIOT IN LARA STATE LEAVES 16 DEAD [...] (U) At least sixteen prisoners were killed in a riot in the early hours of January 2 at the notoriously violent Uribana prison in Lara state. Rival gangs within the prison engaged in brutal violence that left three major gang leaders among the dead, and over a dozen more inmates injured. In [...] | 2007-01-05 18:17:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PHUM SOCI VE |
07CARACAS321 | VERIZON AGREES TO SELL CANTV SHARES TO THE BRV [...] (SBU) Four days after AES agreed to sell the BRV its interest in EDC (Reftel A),the BRV and Verizon announced February 12 that they had struck a deal for the sale of Verizon's 28.51 percent controlling interest in CANTV. Verizon will be paid USD 572 million for its shares and has indicated t [...] | 2007-02-14 15:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ECPS ENRG PGOV VE |
07CARACAS329 | VENEZUELA: EU DIPLOMAT CONCERNED ABOUT RCTV AND [...] (C) EU First Secretary Denis Daniilidis (protect) told Poloff February 7 that the EU Commission is increasingly concerned about President Chavez' push to implement his "socialist revolution." Daniilidis said the EU mission is organizing a trip to Brussels for Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) [...] | 2007-02-15 13:57:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM EU VE |
07CARACAS33 | CHANGE IS IN THE AIR IN ECONOMIC MINISTRIES AS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Rodrigo Cabezas, Chairman of the National Assembly's Finance Committee, will be Venezuela's next Finance Minister, replacing current Finance Minister Nelson Merentes. The change is part of a larger re-shuffling of positions by Chavez and will likely be followed by more announce [...] | 2007-01-05 18:50:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON PGOV EFIN VE |
07CARACAS330 | VENEZUELA NOMINATIONS FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S [...] (U) Post identified a number of potential nominees for the Secretary of State's Award for International Women of Courage. Because of the abundance of deserving candidates, post has decided to nominate two Venezuelan Women of Courage for Washington's consideration. Both are working for the s [...] | 2007-02-15 15:08:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL KWMN PHUM KPAO VE |
07CARACAS332 | AFTER THE FIRST PASS, BRV GOES ON ATTACK AGAINST [...] (SBU) At a press conference on February 11, Vice President Jorge Rodriguez, Finance Minister Rodrigo Cabezas, and Minister of Light Industries and Commerce (MILCO) Maria Cristina Iglesias announced details of the BRV's anti-inflation pact. Plans include eliminating the Value Added Tax (IVA) o [...] | 2007-02-15 17:26:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS336 | CHAVEZ: DEATH TO THE U.S. "EMPIRE" [...] (SBU) Summary: President Chavez lashed out (again) at the United States on February 14 and threatened to nationalize supermarkets not abiding by government price controls. Responding to Under Secretary Burns' comments last week on U.S. foreign oil dependence, Chavez downplayed the importanc [...] | 2007-02-15 22:03:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV ECON ENRG VE |
07CARACAS35 | CHAVEZ PRESSING AHEAD WITH A SINGLE [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez has announced that his intention to form a single "revolutionary" party early in 2007 is firm, although he has not yet specified exactly when or how he plans to form the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). Chavez and other leaders of the ruling Fifth Rep [...] | 2007-01-05 21:31:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS354 | SCENESETTER FOR CODEL JACKSON LEE [...] (SBU) Embassy welcomes the visit of Congresswoman Jackson Lee, the first congressional visitor to come to Caracas since the April 23-24, 2006 visit of Representatives Delahunt and Meeks. Since winning re-election on December 3, President Hugo Chavez has launched the "socialist" phase of the " [...] | 2007-02-16 21:06:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | OVIP PREL PGOV VE |
07CARACAS357 | PRESS FREEDOM UPDATE [...] (SBU) This press freedom update comes in the wake of President Chavez assuming the power to draft and promulgate decree-laws via an Enabling Law passed January 31 by the National Assembly (reftel b). We expect Chavez and the BRV to continue employing a variety of mechanisms - legal, economic, [...] | 2007-02-16 21:27:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM SCUL VE |
07CARACAS358 | CHAVEZ TO LOWER VAT, "STRENGTHEN" CURRENCY AND [...] (SBU) Summary: On February 15, Chavez announced a two stage reduction of the value added sales tax (VAT),which will reduce the tax from 14 percent to 9 percent by July 2007. He also presented a plan for "monetary reform," removing three zeroes places from the bolivar by 2008, to create th [...] | 2007-02-16 21:28:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ENRG PGOV VE |
07CARACAS359 | SHELL'S OIL SECTOR OUTLOOK: WAIT AND SEE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Shell has been monitoring the strategic association migration negotiations closely and will base future investment decisions on their outcomes. It believes the strategic association partners' decision not to engage the BRV and offer opening negotiating positions was a grave erro [...] | 2007-02-16 21:29:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS361 | VENEZUELA: CHAVEZ PICKS NEW CHIEF JUSTICE [...] (C) On February 7, Chavez' hand-picked candidate, Luisa Estella Morales, was elected Chief Justice of the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ). Morales, who also sits on the President's constitutional reform committee, retained the presidency of the TSJ Constitutional Chamber and, as [...] | 2007-02-20 02:02:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM KJUS VE |
07CARACAS363 | SUPREME COURT JUSTICE: "THERE IS NO JUSTICE IN [...] (C) Perhaps the sole remaining opposition-leaning Supreme Court Justice Blanca Rosa Marmol bluntly told Poloff during a February 13 meeting that justice no longer existed in Venezuela, as the BRV had fired, intimidated, or co-opted once independent judges, and packed the judiciary with sympat [...] | 2007-02-21 11:20:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KJUS VE |
07CARACAS366 | 2007 SPECIAL 301 RECOMMENDATION: KEEP VENEZUELA [...] Summary: (SBU) The BRV's protection and enforcement of IPR continues to deteriorate. The market for legitimate music CDs is eclipsed by piracy, with piracy rates for CDs, DVDs, and business software hovering around 80 percent. SAPI, the agency that oversees IPR enforcement and issues patent [...] | 2007-02-21 14:38:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | KIPR VE |
07CARACAS38 | CNPC'S VENEZUELAN WOES [...] (C) SUMMARY: CNPC executives stated Sinovensa, the joint venture between PDVSA and CNPC that produces Orimulsion, no longer produces the product on orders of the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum (MEP). CNPC views the situation as an expropriation and has reserved its rights to arbitration. T [...] | 2007-01-08 14:04:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS404 | CHAVEZ' FIRST DECREE UNDER THE ENABLING LAW: [...] (SBU) Summary: The decree-law against speculation and hoarding, the first executive decree introduced by Chavez under the Enabling Law, was published, as amended, in Venezuela's Official Gazette on February 21. This measure criminalizes the hoarding and price speculation of food products sub [...] | 2007-02-26 20:49:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON PGOV VE |
07CARACAS411 | OIL NATIONALIZATION DECREE RAISES QUESTIONS [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Chavez stated on February 26 that the oil nationalization decree required the four strategic associations, the three profit sharing agreements, the Chinese Orimulsion company Orifuels Sinoven S.A. and any other companies "that carry out commercial activities in the Faja [...] | 2007-02-27 16:09:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS423 | ACTION REQUEST: BRV QUERIES ON MILITARY [...] (C) This is an Action Request; See Paragraph 3, and action recommendation in Paragraph 5. 2. (C) BACKGROUND: In May 2006 the Department announced that the BRV was not fully cooperating with the global war on terrorism. As a result, the USG, though the Arms Export Control Policy, "suspende [...] | 2007-02-28 19:25:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MASS PGOV PM PREL VE |
07CARACAS424 | NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CONDEMNS U.S. "WAR PREPARATIONS" [...] (SBU) Summary. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's (BRV) anti-American foreign policy recently reached new rhetorical depths. The National Assembly unanimously passed a February 22 resolution that condemns U.S. "war preparations" against Iran (sic) and exhorts all countries to "confront t [...] | 2007-03-01 14:07:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL KNNP PTER IR VE |
07CARACAS426 | BRV PUBLISHES OIL NATIONALIZATION DECREE [...] (C) SUMMARY: The oil nationalization decree, which was published on February 26 but publicly available on February 27, requires the four strategic associations, the three profit sharing agreements, the Chinese Orimulsion company Orifuels Sinoven S.A. and any related entities "that carry out c [...] | 2007-03-01 16:16:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS434 | CODEL JACKSON LEE VISITS CARACAS [...] (SBU) Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee visited Caracas February 19-22. During her visit, she met with representatives of civil society, visited an Embassy supported orphanage, met with union leaders, U.S. businesses, U.S. oil company executives, representatives of the Foreign Ministry, Nation [...] | 2007-03-02 13:41:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL ECON VE |
07CARACAS444 | LIKELY CHAVEZ RANTS IN ARGENTINA AND BOLIVIA [...] (S) Summary. President Chavez announced February 28 that he will visit Argentina and Bolivia starting on March 9-10, the same time that the President is visiting Brazil, Uruguay, and Colombia. Chavez is publicly criticizing the President's upcoming visit to Latin America and is helping organi [...] | 2007-03-02 18:41:00 | Embassy Caracas | SECRET | PREL ETRD VE AR |
07CARACAS446 | HOW, WHY VENEZUELA'S 2007 ENABLING LAW DIFFERS [...] (C) The BRV frequently tries to argue that the Enabling Law (Ley Habilitante) passed January 31 giving Chavez broad power to legislate by decree for the next 18 months is no different from past decree laws. A review of previous Enabling Laws, however, shows that the current law is much broad [...] | 2007-03-02 19:11:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS448 | INSIGHT INTO 3.5 BILLION USD JAPANESE LOAN TO PDVSA [...] (C) SUMMARY: Mitsui & Co. Ltd., Marubeni Corporation, and the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC) announced the closing of an agreement with PDVSA on February 23 for 3.5 billion USD, 15 year loan facilities in exchange for contracts that gave both companies rights to negotiate and [...] | 2007-03-02 20:05:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS470 | FOOD SECURITY IN THE BRV: MERCAL'S WOES [...] (SBU) Summary: Mission Mercal, the BRV's subsidized food distribution network, is plagued with corruption, inefficiency, and mismanagement. Shortages in basic staples have developed in large part because Mercal has fallen 2-3 months behind in imports. Once the poster child of the BRV's mis [...] | 2007-03-05 18:22:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EAGR ECON PGOV VE |
07CARACAS472 | STATOIL: VERY ANNOYED VIKINGS [...] (C) SUMMARY: According to Statoil, the three key issues in the strategic association migrations are compensation, governance, and taxes. Statoil believes it has six months to negotiate the terms of the migration. Financing arrangements will not be a serious issue. Senior BRV energy official [...] | 2007-03-05 20:41:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS473 | EU AND DOMESTIC OBSERVERS RELEASE FINAL ELECTION [...] (C) The recently released European Union (EU),Ojo Electoral, and Sumate final observation reports on the 2006 presidential election reinforced criticisms of the preliminary versions (Ref A). All criticized President Chavez for his illegal use of government resources in the campaign, BRV off [...] | 2007-03-05 20:43:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS474 | CHAVEZ: NEGROPONTE A "PROFESSIONAL ASSASSIN" [...] (SBU) President Chavez launched his latest round of anti-American insults March 4 as a special guest on the first edition of former-Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel's new Sunday television talk show, "Jose Vicente, Today." Chavez called the Deputy Secretary a "professional assassin," and ac [...] | 2007-03-05 20:46:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS489 | MPPFA ANNOUNCES LOYAL AMBASSADORS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. The Venezuelan Ministry of People's Power for Foreign Affairs (MPPFA) announced a series of new ambassadorial assignments for Argentina, Peru, Paraguay, Central America, and the Caribbean in February. Following the December election, Chavez has moved quickly to place close an [...] | 2007-03-07 11:29:00 | Embassy Caracas | SECRET | PGOV PINR PREL VE |
07CARACAS493 | BONOS DEL SUR: ROUND 2 [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Venezuela will issue another round of the "Bonos del Sur" on March 8 worth USD 1.5 billion. Preliminary reports indicate that the issuance is more than nine times oversubscribed. Demand for these Venezuelan-Argentinian bonds is well ahead of supply, as the Argentinian half offe [...] | 2007-03-07 16:45:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS502 | VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT DECLARES THE PRESIDENT [...] (C) The National Assembly criticized the President's upcoming trip to Latin America by unanimously adopting a resolution on March 6 that declares the President "persona non-grata" in Latin America and rejects any attempts by him to thwart regional integration and counter Venezuela. Senior Ve [...] | 2007-03-08 15:01:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS504 | EXXONMOBIL: OUT BY JULY 1? [...] (C) SUMMARY: ExxonMobil (XM) appears to be edging closer to going to arbitration with the BRV over the migration of the Cerro Negro strategic association. However, it still holds out hope that it will be able to sell its stake in the association. XM does not expect to be in Venezuela by July [...] | 2007-03-08 15:35:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS505 | CARACAS-TEHRAN FLIGHT: BUILDING A BOLIVARIAN [...] (SBU) Summary: On March 2, an Iran Air Boeing 747 touched down in Caracas, carrying 60 passengers on the inaugural flight of the Caracas-Damascas-Tehran route. Iran Air will operate this route once a week as a code-share with Conviasa, the BRV's fledgling state carrier. The inauguration of t [...] | 2007-03-08 15:42:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL EAIR VE |
07CARACAS511 | MITSUBISHI GOES AFTER MAJOR REFINERY DEAL [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Mitsubishi trading company is putting together a USD 1.795 billion financing deal tied to the deep conversion project at the Puerto La Cruz refinery. The company believes the deal will come to fruition in one to two years. Mitsubishi also is involved in the shipment of base [...] | 2007-03-08 20:04:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON JA VE |
07CARACAS512 | PDVSA AND MPPEP ANNOUNCE 2006 RESULTS: BEWARE THE [...] (SBU) Minister for People's Power of Energy and Petroleum (MPPEP) and PDVSA President Rafael Ramirez presented a consolidated financial report on their 2006 results on March 4. The end of year report details PDSVA's activities this past year, including much of its social participation. Accor [...] | 2007-03-08 21:07:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EPET EINV VE |
07CARACAS52 | CHAVEZ NAMES A "YES" CABINET/PREVIEWS HIS [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez used the televised January 8 swearing-in ceremony for his new cabinet to preview his plans to steer his government toward "socialist" reforms, including expropriations of privatized industries and the revision of Venezuela's commercial code. He also harshly crit [...] | 2007-01-09 21:02:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM PINR VE |
07CARACAS526 | CUBAN OIL CONCERNS RESURFACE [...] (U) Action Requested. Please see paragraph 10. 2. (C) SUMMARY: A senior PDVSA official indicated that the Petrozuata upgrader, which is operated by ConocoPhillips, would be required to process non-Venezuelan crude in the near future. It is not clear where the crude would come from, but [...] | 2007-03-09 16:06:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS528 | BP: TRYING TO KEEP A STIFF UPPER LIP [...] (C) SUMMARY: The USD 250 million in crude that BP and Total received for the Jusepin field was based on capital recovery rather than book or market value. The deadline for negotiations on the strategic associations appears to be June 26 instead of May 1. BP is concerned about support service [...] | 2007-03-09 17:17:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS53 | TO THE MAT: CHAVEZ TAKES ON INSULZA AND CHURCH [...] (C) SUMMARY In a blustery January 8 address to commemorate the swearing-in of his new cabinet (septel),President Chavez again declared that the non-renewal of RCTV's broadcast license was "irreversible." Chavez lashed out at two actors who urged reconsideration of the RCTV decision, OAS S [...] | 2007-01-09 21:06:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
07CARACAS531 | VENEZUELA'S BRAIN DRAIN: SEARCHING FOR A PLAN B, [...] (SBU) Over the last two months, President Chavez has heralded a "deepening of the Bolivarian Revolution" with a series of actions, including nationalization of key industries, new threats to foreign investors, aggressive attacks on private industry, and granting himself the power to legislate [...] | 2007-03-09 20:58:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | CVIS CASC ECON SOCI VE |
07CARACAS534 | CHAVEZ AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: DUELING GOSPELS [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez recently renewed his public attacks on the Catholic Church by contrasting the attitude of his "good friend" San Cristobal Bishop Mario Moronta with the "oligarchs" of Venezuela's Episcopal Conference. Chavez highlighted Bishop Moronta's exhortation in a pastora [...] | 2007-03-12 13:54:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM VE |
07CARACAS542 | BRV RESPONDS TO HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT [...] (SBU) BRV officials reacted angrily to the Venezuela section of the March 6 release of the Department's 2006 Human Rights Report, but their response has been overshadowed by other events. BRV Human Rights Ombudsman German Mundarain said the USG lacked the "moral authority" to speak on human r [...] | 2007-03-12 20:49:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL VE |
07CARACAS55 | IRAN - BRV VIEWS ON UNSCR 1737 [...] (C) PolCouns delivered the points on UN Security Council Resolution 1737 regarding Iran's nuclear and missile programs (reftel) to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director for North American and Multilateral Affairs Yaneth Arocha. Uncharacteristically for the Bolivarian Ministry of Foreign Affair [...] | 2007-01-09 21:30:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | MNUC KNNP KDGOV VE |
07CARACAS554 | THE FIFTH MOTOR OF THE REVOLUTION SHIFTS INTO [...] (U) Summary: On February 28, Minister of Popular Power for Participation and Social Development David Velazquez and other senior BRV officials announced the BRV's intention to form 32,000 new communal councils (Consejos Comunales) during a crowded inaugural kick-off in Caracas. These new coun [...] | 2007-03-14 13:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ECON VE |
07CARACAS564 | NOTIFICATION OF CHANGES TO LOCAL TAX LAW PURSUANT [...] (U) This is an action request; please see paragraph 4. 2. (U) Ambassador Brownfield received a letter on March 9 from the Superintendent of Customs and Taxation (SENIAT) informing Post of partial reforms to Venezuelan income tax law in 2006 and 2007. SENIAT delivered this letter pursuant [...] | 2007-03-15 14:57:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | EFIN ECON VE |
07CARACAS567 | PRO-CHAVEZ PARTIES PUT BRAKES ON FORMATION OF A [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez' efforts to impose the formation of a United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) on pro-Chavez parties has sparked significant, public divisions among his supporters. The main Chavista party, the Fifth Republic Movement (MVR),is on board with the PSUV, but three [...] | 2007-03-15 15:42:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM VE |
07CARACAS568 | A STRONG BOLIVAR FOR A STRONG BOLIVARIAN [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The Central Bank plans to introduce a new currency in Venezuela on January 1, 2008. The new currency, to be called the "Bolivar Fuerte" (or Strong Bolivar),and will have the same value as the current Bolivar, minus three zeros. Prices are supposed to be quoted in the new curr [...] | 2007-03-15 16:37:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS569 | VENEZUELA: A NEW TIME LAUNCHES NATIONALLY [...] (C) Zulia Governor and former opposition presidential candidate Manuel Rosales launched his Zulia-based Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT, or A New Time in English) as a national "alternative opposition" party March 3. The new UNT incorporates Rosales' trusted Zulian advisers and popular Caracas personal [...] | 2007-03-15 19:15:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS574 | CHAVEZ SHADOWS POTUS TOUR, PROMISING AID AND LATIN [...] (SBU) Summary: During Chavez' March 9-13 "shadow tour" of President Bush's Latin American trip, he continued to aggressively push forward his own brand of dollar diplomacy and the "Bolivarian alternative" of regional financing and integration to counter USG initiatives in the region. Chavez [...] | 2007-03-16 12:52:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON PREL EINT VE |
07CARACAS584 | THE ANTI-BUSH "SHADOW TOUR": CHAVEZ ON THE [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez visited Argentina, Bolivia, Nicaragua, Haiti, and Jamaica March 8-13 in an obvious, but in our view unsuccessful, effort to upstage the President's March 8-14 visit to Latin America (Refs B-D). Upon his return to Venezuela, an unusually defensive Chavez appeared [...] | 2007-03-19 14:36:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE |
07CARACAS587 | NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SETS AGENDA [...] (C) Despite ceding almost total legislative power to President Chavez in late January, the National Assembly (NA) has incorporated 26 laws into its legislative agenda, in addition to Chavez' planned constitutional amendments. The agenda includes some important, controversial laws, such as th [...] | 2007-03-19 16:49:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS59 | CHAVEZ ANNOUNCES PLANS TO NATIONALIZE STRATEGIC [...] (SBU) President Chavez took the opportunity during the swearing-in ceremony for new ministers on January 8 to announce plans to "nationalize telecommunications and strategic areas such as water, (and) electrical energy." He added, "all that was privatized, nationalize them" and specifically s [...] | 2007-01-09 22:10:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG PGOV EPET EINV VE |
07CARACAS591 | STUDENT LEADER SEEKS ASYLUM [...] (SBU) SUMMARY. Opposition student leader Nixon Moreno emerged from nine months of hiding and petitioned for political asylum March 13 at the Papal Nunciature. The BRV is pursuing criminal charges against Moreno for attempted murder and threatening a policewomen during student clashes at the U [...] | 2007-03-19 21:41:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM SCUL SOCI VE |
07CARACAS597 | CHAVEZ' ETHANOL HYPOCRISY [...] (SBU) Summary: Subsequent to the ethanol cooperation agreement President Bush signed with Brazil on March 9, Chavez has labeled ethanol as "immoral," accusing the United States of turning "food into fuel." The BRV's reaction is indicative of its hypocrisy. It has actively pursued a domestic [...] | 2007-03-20 21:01:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ENIV ENRG PREL VE CU |
07CARACAS610 | VENEZUELA SIGNS TREATY WITH TNT ON SHARED GAS [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: President Chavez and Trinidad and Tobago (TNT) Prime Minister Patrick Manning signed an accord to unify the reserves of two offshore gas fields on March 20. The accord is the first unitization agreement signed in the Western Hemisphere. The agreement will permit both countries [...] | 2007-03-22 17:24:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS616 | CHAVEZ BLASTS PRO-CHAVEZ PARTIES FOR NOT DISSOLVING [...] (C) Summary. During a March 18 television broadcast, President Chavez strongly criticized and questioned the political loyalty of three prominent pro-Chavez parties, Podemos, Patria Para Todos, and the Communist Party. He urged them to either dissolve and merge into his proposed United Soci [...] | 2007-03-22 21:09:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM VE |
07CARACAS617 | VENEZUELA: A NEW TIME BUILDING SLOWLY [...] (C) Omar Barboza, Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT) party President and confidant of Zulia Governor and de facto opposition leader Manuel Rosales, reviewed the UNT's organizational plans for PolCouns and PolOffs on March 20. Only three weeks into its transition as a national party (Ref A),UNT leaders a [...] | 2007-03-22 21:18:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS62 | CHAVEZ' SWEARING IN: "SOCIALISM OR DEATH" [...] (C) Summary. At his carefully choreographed January 10 inauguration ceremony, President Chavez staunchly defended and elaborated on his plans to enact profound "socialist" changes in Venezuela as the embodiment of the "will of the people." The Venezuelan president reiterated his intention to [...] | 2007-01-10 21:20:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
07CARACAS634 | ACTION REQUEST: CLOSURE OF VMAO [...] (C) This is an Action Request -- see Paragraph 3. 2. (C) Post requested February 28 guidance on the status of the Venezuelan Air Force's purchases currently in the pipeline and regarding the removal of items in the Venezuelan Military Acquisitions Office (VMAO) in Miami, Florida. Based on [...] | 2007-03-26 18:16:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MASS PGOV PM PREL VE |
07CARACAS637 | VENEZUELAN JEWISH COMMUNITY COURTS INTERNATIONAL [...] (C) Summary. The Confederation of Jewish Associations in Venezuela (CAIV) attracted considerable international support and media attention for its 40th anniversary celebration on March 24. Argentine First Lady and Senator Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner electrified the audience of several hu [...] | 2007-03-26 21:43:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS655 | NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DEMANDS U.S. WITHDRAWAL FROM IRAQ [...] (C) Summary. The National Assembly passed a March 20 resolution calling for an immediate withdrawal of U.S. and coalition troops from Iraq. This latest resolution comes on the heels of a February 22 resolution condemning U.S. "war preparations" against Iran (reftel). Having conceded to Chav [...] | 2007-03-28 21:29:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE IZ |
07CARACAS657 | CHAVEZ USHERS IN NEW WAVE OF LAND EXPROPRIATIONS [...] (U) Summary: During his weekly television program "Alo Presidente" on March 25, Chavez announced the expropriation of 16 estates totaling 330,796 hectares (800,000 acres) of "idle land" in seven Venezuelan states. He added that the armed forces would confiscate and help run an additional 13 [...] | 2007-03-29 14:55:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV VE |
07CARACAS659 | BRV DRAMATICALLY REDUCES EXXONMOBIL'S OPTIONS [...] (C) SUMMARY: The BRV dramatically reduced ExxonMobil's (XM) options in the strategic association migration negotiations by ruling out the sale of XM's stake in Cerro Negro to third parties. The BRV also stated that the only Citgo/PDVSA asset that could be used to compensate XM is the Chalmet [...] | 2007-03-29 18:53:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS66 | BRV CONTINUES PRESSURING OIL COMPANIES [...] (C) SUMMARY: The BRV ordered strategic associations to cut production in order to meet OPEC cuts. The order violates the associations' contracts. Continued rhetoric about nationalization raises questions about the development of the Faja. END SUMMARY. ----------------------- ADDING INSU [...] | 2007-01-11 19:28:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS666 | SERVICE COMPANIES: THE NOOSE BEGINS TO TIGHTEN [...] (C) SUMMARY: PDVSA is considering the formation of one or more service companies that will compete directly with the private sector. In addition to this threat, service companies still face payment delays and a myriad of administrative hurdles in dealing with PDVSA. As a result, private sec [...] | 2007-03-30 17:34:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS669 | CHINESE POLITBURO COMES TO TOWN [...] (SBU) Summary: During Chinese Politburo Member Li Changchun's visit to Caracas March 25-27, Venezuela and China signed six new cooperative agreements in the petroleum sector and reaffirmed a USD 6 billion joint development fund. Chavez assured China that Venezuela would be a trustworthy oil s [...] | 2007-03-30 20:04:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ENIV ENRG EPET PGOV VE CH |
07CARACAS673 | DEMARCHE ON BUILDING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT FOR [...] No summary [...] | 2007-04-02 14:07:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL PHUM ZI VE |
07CARACAS686 | MEETING WITH BANKING SUPERINTENDENT: MONEY [...] (C) Econoffs met with Banking Superintendent Trino Diaz and Director of Venezuela's Financial Intelligence Unit (UNIF) Francisco Canela March 29 to discuss the sector's outlook and to follow-up several anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism finance demarches (refs A and B). Diaz was confide [...] | 2007-04-02 20:44:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN KTFN VE |
07CARACAS688 | PRESS FREEDOM UPDATE [...] (SBU) This press freedom update comes in the wake President Chavez' plans to "deepen" his revolution and implement "21st century socialism" despite increasing international scrutiny. Within this context, the BRV continues its attacks against independent media outlets. We expect Chavez to con [...] | 2007-04-02 21:30:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM SCUL VE |
07CARACAS689 | JAILED OPPOSITION GOVERNOR ESCAPES [...] (SBU) Summary. Eduardo Lapi, former opposition governor of Yaracuy state, reportedly escaped from San Felipe prison late March 31 or early April 1. Lapi, who was identified as a political prisoner in the 2006 Country Report on Human Rights Practices, was arrested in May 2006 on corruption c [...] | 2007-04-02 21:50:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS699 | CHAVEZ TAKES AIM AT UNION AUTONOMY/CTV PREPARES [...] (C) Summary. During his March 24 speech to promote the creation of a single, pro-government party, President Chavez called union autonomy a "capitalist trap" and demanded that unions join his proposed United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) as part of a "workers front." Manuel Cova, Secret [...] | 2007-04-04 17:56:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ELAB PHUM PGOV VE |
07CARACAS700 | CNPC'S TAKE ON RECENT BILATERAL AGREEMENTS [...] (C) SUMMARY: CNPC was guardedly optimistic about the recent signing of bilateral petroleum agreements between China and Venezuela (Reftel A). CNPC believes the BRV is still open to foreign investment in the hydrocarbon sector. However, the company is frustrated with negotations to migrate Si [...] | 2007-04-04 21:18:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS701 | VENEZUELAN ARMY HOSTS U.S. MILITARY DELEGATION [...] (C) SUMMARY. An eight person U.S. Army delegation attended a March 26-30 Conference of American Armies (CAA) seminar on Disaster Relief in Venezuela, the first U.S. military delegation hosted in-country since 2003. U.S. participants were generally well received. Failure to conduct the exerci [...] | 2007-04-04 21:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | MARR MASS PGOV PM PREL VE |
07CARACAS709 | AN - TSJ SHOWDOWN MASKS FIGHT FOR SPOILS, CONTROL, [...] (C) A dispute between the National Assembly (NA) and Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ) began in late March when the NA condemned a controversial TSJ Constitutional Chamber decision to modify an article of the Venezuelan tax law and opened an investigation that could lead to the justices' impe [...] | 2007-04-10 16:10:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS71 | CHAVEZ'S WAY AHEAD: WORDS TO DEEDS [...] (C) SUMMARY In the wake of President Chavez's January 10 swearing-in, Post offers the following preliminary assessment of how Chavez intends to unfold his "socialist" project in coming months. Chavez has been foreshadowing most of these moves, and we take him at his word. Untethered by vo [...] | 2007-01-12 11:39:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM VE |
07CARACAS710 | MORE BRV POLICY CONTRADICTIONS: IPR "REFORM" AND [...] (SBU) Summary: Venezuela's withdrawal from the Andean Community (CAN) in April 2006 has created legal uncertainty as to both the present and future legal framework of IPR. Venezuela must now deal with an awkward reality of three concurrent IPR regimes - vestiges of the CAN, outdated domestic [...] | 2007-04-10 16:46:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD KIPR OTRA VE |
07CARACAS718 | EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT THE [...] (SBU) The BRV is spending more money than ever before on the back of historically high oil prices. Despite these high oil prices, PDVSA appears to have cash flow problems stemming from its role as the BRV's cash cow. Official production figures exceed most analyst estimates, and PDVSA's abili [...] | 2007-04-11 16:01:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN EPET EINV ENRG VE |
07CARACAS721 | CONOCOPHILLIPS HANGS TOUGH FOR NOW [...] (C) SUMMARY: ConocoPhillips (CP) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim Mulva told Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez that CP will turn over operational control of the Petrozuata and Hamaca strategic associations as well as the Corocoro project in the Gulf of Paria on May 1. CP will not contin [...] | 2007-04-11 20:58:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS725 | VENEZUELA: POLITICAL PRISIONER CONDITIONS WORSEN [...] (C) There are indications that the BRV is stepping up its efforts to demean, discourage, and disillusion its political prisoners. Former police commissioners Ivan Simonovis, Lazaro Forero, and Henry Vivas launched a hunger strike April 10 to protest the deplorable conditions in the prison to [...] | 2007-04-12 14:59:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS733 | ENERGY MINISTER RAMIREZ' MAY 3 SPEECH IN HOUSTON [...] (U) This is an action request. Please see Paragraph 3. 2. (SBU) Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez is scheduled to give a major speech on May 3 at the 2007 Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas. The speech will occur two days after PDVSA assumes operational control of the four strat [...] | 2007-04-12 21:23:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS741 | PDVSA BONDS POSTMORTEM [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: On April 12, PDVSA issued USD 7.5 billion worth of bonds. The issuance, an increase over the USD 5 billion originally offered, was divided between three securities, yielding 5.25 percent, 5.3 percent and 5.5 percent, and maturing in 2017, 2027, and 2037, respectively. The bonds [...] | 2007-04-13 21:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN ENRG VE |
07CARACAS763 | CAPRILES BACK IN COURT [...] (C) SUMMARY. Opposition mayor of Baruta municipality Henrique Capriles Radonski appeared in appeals court April 16, following the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's (BRV) decision to appeal a lower court's ruling to acquit him December 15. The prosecution argued Capriles failed to impede the [...] | 2007-04-17 20:33:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | KDEM PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
07CARACAS766 | CHAVEZ PRESSES RADICAL AGENDA DURING FIFTH [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez exploited the April 11-13 commemorations of the fifth anniversary of the short-lived April 2002 coup to convey some of his most extreme political positions to date, and to buttress "Bolivarian" myths. Specifically, the Venezuelan president ruled out any meaningfu [...] | 2007-04-18 12:46:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
07CARACAS777 | CHAVEZ PRAISES IRANIAN ASSISTANCE AND DEFENDS [...] (SBU) Summary. President Chavez continues to increase his political support for Iran and facilitate Iran's plans to establish closer relations with the rest of Latin America. Chavez vigorously defended Iran's nuclear ambitions at a recent international women's conference hosted by the Bolivar [...] | 2007-04-18 20:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS781 | THE FIRST SOUTH AMERICAN ENERGY SUMMIT [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Chavez described the First South American Energy Summit (Summit),which was held on Margarita Island on April 17, as a "perfect summit." Chavez ducked a fight with Brazil over ethanol and used the event to showcase his vision of South American integration -- effectively [...] | 2007-04-18 23:09:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECIN ECON ENRG EPET EINV VE |
07CARACAS787 | VENEZUELA: PROPOSAL SUBMISSION FOR G/TIP FUNDING [...] (U) Per reftel, Post submits the following executive summary of an anti-trafficking in persons project proposal for G/TIP funding. -------------------- Project Information -------------------- 2. (U) Please find the requested project information below: -- Name of the applicant: Internat [...] | 2007-04-20 21:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | PHUM ELAB KCRM ASEC PREL SMIG VE |
07CARACAS789 | VENEZUELA CONDEMNS POSADA CARRILES' RELEASE ON BAIL [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez, Foreign Minister Maduro, and the National Assembly have all condemned a U.S. federal judge's decision to order Luis Posada Carriles' release on bail. They have also reiterated the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's (BRV's) demands that Posada Carriles be extrad [...] | 2007-04-20 21:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PTER VE |
07CARACAS805 | 2007 VENEZUELA RECALL PROCESS: A PRIMER [...] (SBU) Summary. Venezuela's constitution permits the recall of elected officials through a petition and referendum process. Venezuelans exercised this mechanism most notably in 2004, in seeking to recall President Chavez. Venezuelans continue to use this constitutional authority actively; the [...] | 2007-04-24 12:22:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS812 | POOR TURNOUT AT RCTV SOLIDARITY MARCH [...] (C) Summary. The highly publicized April 21 opposition demonstration to protest the government's decision to revoke independent television station Radio Caracas Television's (RCTV's) broadcasting license on May 28 failed to generate a significant show of public support. The march's coordinato [...] | 2007-04-24 21:04:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM SCUL VE |
07CARACAS820 | CHAVEZ' SINGLE PARTY: BY UNITING, HE DIVIDES [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez is aggressively forging ahead with his proposal to forge a single pro-government party, the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). Swearing in over 16,000 red-shirted party promoters on April 19, Chavez announced that a party inscription drive to attract ove [...] | 2007-04-26 15:27:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS823 | INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO BRV: RCTV CLOSURE [...] (C) SUMMARY. As the May 28 deadline for the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's (BRV's) closure of independent television station Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) approaches, prominent international organizations, legislative bodies, and local support groups are becoming more vocal. Numerous in [...] | 2007-04-26 19:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KDEM SCUL VE |
07CARACAS825 | OIL COMPANIES SIGN "MOU'S" TRANSFERRING [...] (C) SUMMARY: Ten foreign oil companies signed documents on April 25 transferring operational control of their respective projects to PDVSA or one of its affiliates. Chevron and ExxonMobil broadly differ in their interpretations of the nature of the documents. The documents do not deal with a [...] | 2007-04-26 20:35:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS83 | BRV RAISES STAKES IN THE FAJA [...] (C) SUMMARY: Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez announced at a press conference on January 15 that the BRV would enact a law that "nationalized" the four strategic associations in the Faja. Ramirez's comments appeared to confuse the concepts of "control" and "nationalization" to take advantage o [...] | 2007-01-16 15:49:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS833 | CHEVRON PROVIDES MORE DETAILS ON MOU [...] (C) SUMMARY: Chevron believes production at the Hamaca strategic association will decline 30% due to morale issues related to uncertainty among employees. Chevron expects the BRV to adopt a more private sector friendly hydrocarbons policy by 2009 due to production declines and fiscal pressure [...] | 2007-04-27 18:51:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS84 | CANTV'S PRESIDENT DISCUSSES NATIONALIZATION WITH [...] (C) Summary: Econoffs met with CANTV President Gustavo Roosen and senior staff on January 11 to get their take on Chavez, plans to nationalize the Venezuelan telecommunications giant, of which Verizon owns 28.5 percent. Roosen noted that Chavez surprised everyone with the timing of his annou [...] | 2007-01-16 15:56:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ECPS ENRG PGOV VE |
07CARACAS843 | POLITICAL PARTIES AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS APPEAL [...] (C) Summary. Opposition political parties and judicial NGO Foro Penal capitalized on the presence of regional heads of state at the April 17 Energy Summit to draw attention to President Chavez and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's (BRV's) authoritarian tendencies. Opposition politicians m [...] | 2007-04-30 21:56:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KDEM SCUL VE |
07CARACAS861 | CHAVEZ: WORKERS UNITE - BEHIND ME! [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez blasted pro-government union leaders in televised April 30 and May 1 speeches and appealed directly to workers to foster unity by joining his new United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). Leaders of both the opposition Confederation of Venezuelan Workers (CTV) [...] | 2007-05-03 18:01:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ELAB PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS866 | BRV STEPS UP PROSECUTION AND HARASSMENT OF [...] (C) Summary: Since the five-year commemoration of Chavez' temporary ouster in April 2002, the BRV appears to be taking a harder line against political prisoners. The deplorable prison conditions (Ref A) for ex-police commissioners Ivan Simonovis, Henry Vivas, and Lazaro Forero, and the eight [...] | 2007-05-03 20:06:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KDEM VE |
07CARACAS869 | IMF AND WORLD BANK: SO LONG AND THANKS FOR THE [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: On April 30, President Chavez announced that Venezuela would withdraw from the IMF and World Bank. The announcement, which followed action taken in March by Venezuela to pay off the last of its IMF and World Bank debt and continued negotiations regarding a Bank of the South, tr [...] | 2007-05-03 22:23:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN VE |
07CARACAS9 | ENDING 2006 ON A HIGH [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: The Caracas Stock Exchange (BVC) is set to end 2006 at a record high (up 155 pct) as investors constrained by currency controls and sitting on piles of cash continue to seek out means to boost returns. As 2006 drew to a close, the BVC's high demonstrates the bubble mentality t [...] | 2007-01-03 15:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN VE |
07CARACAS90 | FM MADURO INSULTS NEGROPONTE [...] (U) On January 12, Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro called U.S. National Intelligence Director John Negroponte a "criminal" after Negroponte expressed concern over the state of democracy in Venezuela and Bolivia during a hearing before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Grossly misch [...] | 2007-01-16 22:49:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
07CARACAS906 | THE THIRD MOTOR OF CHAVEZ' REVOLUTION: [...] (C) Summary. President Hugo Chavez and his brother Adan Chavez, are leading ambitious Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) efforts to transform the country's educational system from top to bottom. The proposed reforms and a public education "Morality and Enlightenment" campaign are designe [...] | 2007-05-04 20:16:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB SOCI VE |
07CARACAS907 | PRESS FREEDOM UPDATE [...] No summary [...] | 2007-05-04 21:39:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KDEM SCUL VE |
07CARACAS91 | CHAVEZ AND AHMADINEJAD UNITE TO SAVE THE WORLD [...] (U) President of Iran Mohammed Ahmadinejad kicked off a Latin American tour with a short (hours-long) January 13 stop in Caracas to visit with President Chavez. The trip marks Ahmadinejad's second trip to Caracas in less than six months, having also visited with Chavez in September of last y [...] | 2007-01-16 22:49:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM VE |
07CARACAS92 | RCTVQ,S LAST DITCH FIGHT AGAINST BRV CLOSURE [...] (C) Summary: In a January 11 lunch with ChargQ, Polcouns and A/PAO, RCTV President Marcel Granier outlined his plans for a last ditch defense against the closure of RCTV. He believes he has a strong case under both domestic and international law, but doubts the fairness of the former and e [...] | 2007-01-16 22:53:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM VE |
07CARACAS920 | AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH FORMER VP RANGEL - MAY 4 [...] (C) Summary. The Ambassador met former Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel May 4 and probed as to how the USG could best initiate a pragmatic, bilateral dialogue with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV). Rangel said President Chavez wants dialogue, but U.S. criticism of BRV policies un [...] | 2007-05-08 15:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE |
07CARACAS930 | VENEZUELA'S DEBT PICTURE [...] (SBU) Venezuela's debt profile is changing, with the BRV financing more domestically and incurring additional debt and liabilities through PDVSA and the Central Bank. External debt as a percentage of GDP remains low (16 percent of GDP) by historical and regional terms; however, "total debt" ( [...] | 2007-05-09 20:42:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | EFIN VE |
07CARACAS931 | CHAVISTAS USE RECALL REFERENDA TO SETTLE SCORES [...] (C) Summary: In late 2006, most of Venezuela's governors, mayors, and local legislators completed the mid-point of their term, at which point they became vulnerable to being recalled. The National Electoral Council has approved requests to initiate recall proceedings against more than 200 mo [...] | 2007-05-09 21:18:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS949 | MFA LAUNCHES PUBLIC RELATIONS BLITZ ON RCTV [...] (C) SUMMARY. Minister of Popular Power for Foreign Affairs Nicolas Maduro convoked the diplomatic corps May 8 to outline the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's (BRV's) justifications for revoking the broadcasting license of independent media outlet Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) on May 28. Th [...] | 2007-05-11 14:21:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM SCUL VE |
07CARACAS959 | AN ECONOMIC SNAPSHOT: THE CRACKS ARE SHOWING [...] (SBU) Inflation continues to rise despite government efforts to talk it down, and the government's tools to drain liquidity are increasingly ineffective. Foreign exchange reserves have fallen by 33.5 percent this year. Government spending continues apace, with the BRV running a large, though [...] | 2007-05-11 21:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN SOCI VE |
07CARACAS967 | UPDATE ON THE FAJA STRATEGIC ASSOCIATION MIGRATION [...] (C) SUMMARY: International oil companies (IOCs) believe PDVSA's assumption of operational control on May 1 went relatively smoothly. IOCs stated production numbers are holding stable, but the companies believe PDVSA will begin having problems operating the upgraders by the end of the year. A [...] | 2007-05-15 13:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON ELAB VE |
07CARACAS968 | PSUV MEMBERSHIP DRIVE STARTS SLOW, PICKS UP WITH [...] (C) Summary. Over one million voters have reportedly joined President Chavez' United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) during the first three weekends of party registration. With only three more weekends left in the PSUV's initial membership drive, the PSUV may fall short of Chavez' outsize [...] | 2007-05-15 13:20:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ELAB PREL VE |
07CARACAS978 | EU PLANS RESPONSE TO RCTV CLOSURE [...] (C) Summary: The international protest against the closure of independent media outlet Radio Caracas Television (RCTV) may be aided if the European Union (EU),which has so far been quiet, adds its voice to the chorus of dissent. Five EU Parliamentarians will visit Venezuela May 16-18 and are [...] | 2007-05-17 18:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM VE |
07CARACAS988 | VENEZUELAN PRODUCTION AND OPERATING TRENDS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Private sector contacts place overall Venezuelan production at 2.1 to 2.3 million barrels a day, down from previous estimates of 2.4 to 2.6. The BRV has lifted OPEC production cuts on the four Faja strategic associations. PDVSA has been unable to find additional drilling rigs d [...] | 2007-05-18 20:34:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET ENRG EINV ECON VE |
07CARACAS990 | BATTLE OVER RCTV'S CLOSURE HEATS UP [...] (C) Summary. RCTV lost the first of its legal appeals to fend off the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's (BRV's) plans to close the independent broadcaster on May 28. Battlelines are hardening between the BRV and proponents of RCTV and freedom of expression. The BRV is forcing private statio [...] | 2007-05-18 21:01:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV KDEM ELAB VE |
07DUBAI394 | FORMER DUBAI DIAMOND EXCHANGE CEO ALLEGES SLACK CONTROLS ON [...] This is an action request for EB/ESC, see paragraph 14. 2. (S) SUMMARY: The former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Dubai Diamond Exchange (DDE),Noora Jamsheer, expressed concern to ConGenoff about the integrity of the UAE's adherence to the Kimberly Process (KP) to stem the trade in co [...] | 2007-06-20 10:08:00 | Consulate Dubai | SECRET//NOFORN | EFIN EMIN PTER ETTC KCRM VE IR AE |
07GEORGETOWN109 | RIO GROUP SUMMIT SET FOR MARCH 3 IN [...] (U) Summary: The 2007 Rio Group Summit of Heads of State will be held in Georgetown, Guyana on March 3, preceded by a Foreign Ministers meeting on March 1, and a National Coordinators meeting on February 28. GoG insiders characterize the Summit as unlikely to attract a large turnout and larg [...] | 2007-01-26 18:17:00 | Embassy Georgetown | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ECIN PINR XM VE GY |
07GEORGETOWN141 | GUYANA PREPARES FOR FIRST PETROCARIBE OIL DELIVERY [...] (U) Petrocaribe is making its formal debut in Guyana in May amid unrealistic expectations. Optimistic Guyanese government leaders are prepared to reap its promised benefits but unprepared for the logistics and ramifications of doing business under the untested program. GoG officials also exp [...] | 2007-02-07 20:16:00 | Embassy Georgetown | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET PREL ENRG PBTS XL VE GY |
07GEORGETOWN283 | JAGDEO ON HUMAN RIGHTS, DRUGS AND VENEZUELA [...] (C) Summary: The Ambassador met with President Bharrat Jagdeo in his office and at his request on March 15 to discuss the INCSR and Human Rights Report. Jagdeo objected to the methodology and tone of both documents, describing them as on-going irritants, and said he hoped to discuss their o [...] | 2007-03-16 20:35:00 | Embassy Georgetown | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV PHUM ECON PBTS KCRM VE GY |
07GEORGETOWN363 | NEW VENEZUELAN AMBASSADOR STILL A NO SHOW [...] (C) Dario Morandy Figuera, publicly announced last month by Venezuela's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) as the new Ambassador to Guyana, has still not formally arrived in Guyana. Although he did visit Guyana during the recent Rio Group Summit, he had to return to Caracas as the GoG had yet [...] | 2007-04-11 20:43:00 | Embassy Georgetown | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL GY VE |
07GEORGETOWN501 | GUYANA CONCERNED BY THE GROWING IRAN-VENEZUELA [...] (C) DCM delivered demarche on the growing Iran-Venezuela relationship to MFA Director General Elisabeth Harper on May 18. Amb. Harper took particular note of the points on weapons technology cooperation. She said that given the Venezuelan claim on two-thirds of Guyana's territory, Guyana "v [...] | 2007-05-18 18:12:00 | Embassy Georgetown | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MASS PTER VE IR GY |
07GRENADA157 | GRENADA WEEKLY ACTIVITY REPORT OCTOBER 28 - NOVEMBER 03, [...] (U) Embassy Grenada's weekly activity report (GWAR) provides a little detail about events of interest that do not merit longer reporting at this time. 2. (U) Begin GWAR Text: A. Cuba's Ambassador In Grenada Attacks Embargo Unchallenged The Cuban ambassador to Grenada, Margarita Delgado [...] | 2007-11-07 15:58:00 | Embassy Grenada | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL EPET EINV PGOV GJ CU VE |
07HANOI1062 | CPV GENERAL SECRETARY STOKES FRATERNAL TIES HALF A WORLD [...] (SBU) Vietnam's State-run press has characterized Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) General Secretary Nong Duc Manh's official visits to Venezuela and Cuba from May 30 to June 1 and June 1 to June 3, respectively, as "successes" that have enhanced Vietnam's "solidarity, friendship and traditiona [...] | 2007-06-06 10:18:00 | Embassy Hanoi | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PREL SOCI ETRD EPET ETTC VM CU VE |
07HAVANA198 | CASTRO CALLS IN TO CHAVEZ' RADIO SHOW [...] (U) Summary: Media Tuesday evening February 27 aired a tape of Fidel Castro's call to Hugo Chavez during the latter's on-air radio show called "Alo Presidente." We believe the half-hour conversation was genuine, and did not appear edited. Castro and Chavez commented on Tuesday's stock-marke [...] | 2007-03-01 19:57:00 | US Interests Section Havana | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV ECON VE CU |
07HELSINKI842 | FINLAND: DEMOCRACY IN VENEZUELA [...] No summary [...] | 2007-11-20 10:08:00 | Embassy Helsinki | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM WHA EUN VE FI |
07HELSINKI843 | FINLAND: DEMOCRACY IN VENEZUELA [...] (SBU) Polchief delivered reftel demarche Nov. 19 to Jukka Pietikainen, Director of the Finnish MFA's Unit for Latin America. Pietikainen said that the UK had initially circulated a draft statement to EU partners condemning the Chavez Regime's proposed constitutional reforms in strong terms an [...] | 2007-11-20 11:04:00 | Embassy Helsinki | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM WHA EUN VE FI |
07KINGSTON1036 | JAMAICA: JLP'S GENERAL SECRETARY SPEAKS FRANKLY [...] (SBU) Deputy Director for WHA/CAR Karen Williams, DCM, and poloff recently met with Karl Samuda - MP and General Secretary for the Jamaican Labour Party (JLP). Samuda spoke SIPDIS frankly about the state of Jamaica and proposed changes to the Government of Jamaica (GOJ) should the JLP win. [...] | 2007-07-03 19:32:00 | Embassy Kingston | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG JM KCOR PGOV PINR PREL SOCI VE XL |
07KINGSTON887 | JAMAICA: PNP FACES INTERNAL PROBLEMS/LACK OF [...] (SBU) Poloff recently met with longtime People's National Party (PNP) activist and organizer Karen Cross to discuss recent media reports of problems within the PNP which could impact the outcome of the upcoming elections (due by October 2007). During the meeting, Cross confirmed that there is [...] | 2007-06-06 18:09:00 | Embassy Kingston | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG JM KCOR PGOV PINR PREL SOCI VE XL |
07LAPAZ1347 | BOLIVIAN AND VENEZUELAN OIL COMPANIES PLAN [...] (S) The GOB issued a decree on May 13 enabling state oil company YPFB to form partnerships to explore 21 areas for natural gas and oil. Following the decree issuance, Bolivian officials announced that YPFB is discussing the formation of a joint exploration company with Venezuela's PDVSA. Reft [...] | 2007-05-15 19:06:00 | Embassy La Paz | SECRET | ECON EINV ENRG EPET PREL IR VE BL |
07LAPAZ1401 | GOB INSISTS VENEZUELAN ASSISTANCE IS NOT [...] (U) In a meeting between the Bolivian and Venezuelan militaries May 21, Venezuelan Ambassador Julio Montes announced that his country donated $30 million last year to Bolivia, part of which the GOB will use to improve military barracks. Montes suggested revamping the Bolivian military to defe [...] | 2007-05-22 18:19:00 | Embassy La Paz | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ECON MARR MASS MOPS BL VE |
07LAPAZ1428 | BOLIVIAN RESPONSE ON RCTV CLOSURE [...] No summary [...] | 2007-05-24 12:11:00 | Embassy La Paz | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL SCUL VE BL |
07LAPAZ2270 | PETROANDINA: A STILL BIRTH? [...] (C) The birth of Petroandina took place with great fanfare during the August 9-10 visit of President Chavez to Bolivia. Petroandina was one of a myriad of announced projects, donations, and associations that were portrayed as the answer to Bolivia's energy puzzle. Detailed plans, however, [...] | 2007-08-17 21:23:00 | Embassy La Paz | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL EPET VE BL |
07LAPAZ3153 | VENEZUELA-BOLIVIA: HOW MUCH FIRE BEHIND THE SMOKE? [...] (C) Summary. A common cry among opposition circles is that Hugo Chavez is pulling Evo's strings, particularly as Morales forcefully pushes forward to adopt a new constitution that would provide for indefinite reelection. Evo for his part does nothing to hide his admiration for Chavez; on the c [...] | 2007-11-30 23:14:00 | Embassy La Paz | SECRET | PGOV PREL PINR VE CU BL |