1. (C) DCM, accompanied by POLCOUNS, delivered reftel
demarche on Venezuela,s deteriorating democracy and human
rights situation on October 22 to Argentine MFA Under
Secretary for Latin American Policy, Ambassador Dario

SIPDIS
Alessandro. Alessandro was accompanied by his deputy, the
Director General for Latin American Policy, Minister Jose
Maxwell. DCM also left the reftel talking points with
Alessandro as a non-paper. Alessandro said that the GOA took
note and would study our request. He commented that the
first two points (i.e. the potential arrest warrants for
SUMATE leaders and the proposed prohibition of foreign
funding for certain NGO supporting human rights and
democracy-building programs) were of &real concern8 to the
GOA. Alessandro was less emphatic on the draft press law
noting that some sectors of the Venezuelan media had
contributed to the problem by often behaving irresponsibly.
He said that the solution on the press issue would be for
both sides to come to an agreement that would limit some of
the personal attacks made by the media but would avoid
legislation that would limit press rights.



2. (C) Alessandro said that Argentina had been helpful on
Venezuela. (Note: Alessandro was referring to Kirchner's
past pressure on Chavez to hold the recall referendum and his
two meetings with representatives of the Coordinadora
Democratica earlier this year. End Note). The DCM responded
that if the GOA came to the decision that it was unwilling to
issue a public statement, we hoped the GOA might consider
speaking privately with the Venezuelans regarding these
issues, stressing the potential impact of these measures
throughout the hemisphere. Alessandro agreed to consider
this request as well and told the DCM that he would keep in
touch on these issues.


GUTIERREZ