GOV GLOATS OVER CARTER LETTER ON SIGNATURE TALKS

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001384

SIPDIS


NSC FOR CBARTON
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD
STATE PASS USAID FOR DCHA/OTI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2014
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM VE
SUBJECT: GOV GLOATS OVER CARTER LETTER ON SIGNATURE TALKS

REF: CARACAS 1346

Classified By: Abelardo A. Arias, Political Counselor,
for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d).

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Summary
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1. (C) The GOV released on April 22 a letter sent a week
earlier by former President Carter to President Hugo Chavez
registering concerns over delays in the signature appeals
process negotiations. The letter offered recommendations to
the GOV on the parameters of the appeals process and proposed
an OAS-Carter Center observation mission to monitor them.
Official press stripped the date from the letter and implied
that President Carter had congratulated the GOV on the
completed appeals process negotiations. Private media
emphasized Carter's criticisms of GOV foot-dragging during
the signature verification process. The Carter Center (TCC)
representatives publicly lamented the GOV's decision to
release "private correspondence," especially after
negotiations had concluded, and privately explained to
government opponents the Carter Center position. The
letter's release briefly influenced opposition discussions
about participating in the appeals process, but seems to have
had little damaging effect. End summary.

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The Velvet Glove Approach
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2. (U) Former President Jimmy Carter sent a letter to
President Hugo Chavez on April 16, before the National
Electoral Council (CNE) decided on April 21 on rules for the
signature appeals process ("reparos") for the presidential
referendum (ref). The letter congratulates the CNE, the
Coordinadora Democratica (CD),and the Comando Ayacucho (the
pro-Chavez campaign committee) for the efforts being made to
find an acceptable appeals mechanism. The letter notes that
the verification process had suffered long delays and
uncertainties, causing Venezuelans to doubt the integrity of
their democratic institutions. Carter recommends specific
features for the appeals process, such as the use of registry
books for those contesting the CNE's decision concerning
their signature. Carter also offers observers for the
appeals process, and supports the Comando Ayacucho's proposal
to include new observers from UNDP and the European Union.

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Spin...
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3. (C) After the CNE made its announcement, the GOV press
agency Venpres released the letter on April 21, leaving off
the date. The Venpres headline read "Carter Recognizes
Efforts of the Executive on the Appeals Process." The timing
of the release implied that President Carter had
congratulated the GOV for reaching an acceptable agreement,
implying that the opposition should take the deal. Even OAS
chief observer Marcelo Alvarez_ was confused by the press.
Despite knowing about the letter last week, Alvarez_ told
PolOff, he thought Venpres was referring to a new letter.

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Counter-Spin
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4. (U) Private media played up Carter's criticisms of the GOV
for the delays in the verification process. Caracas daily El
Universal said Carter expressed "worry." News channel
Globovision said Carter's message was that the appeals
mechanism would revive confidence of Venezuelans in the CNE.
CD negotiator Alberto Quiros pointed out on a Globovision
interview that Carter's letter was written before the
mechanism was defined. The Carter Center (TCC) tried to
correct the story to Venezuelan press.

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TCC Regrets Confusion
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5. (C) TCC Latin America chief Jennifer McCoy told the
Ambassador by e-mail, that it was "unfortunate" that the GOV
released the private letter under confusing conditions. She
said the letter had been intended to encourage the GOV
negotiators to agree quickly to a workable appeals mechanism.
McCoy said TCC would clarify to opposition leaders that TCC
has not taken a position on the appeals proposal and would
not advise them on whether to accept it.

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Comment
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6. (C) We do not know whether Carter's letter caused the
Chavistas to be more flexible during the negotiations. The
letter's release, however, was clearly a GOV attempt to
suggest that President Carter endorses the CNE's proposed
appeals process just at the time that the opposition is
debating whether to participate. The letter's splash has
been brief, and does not appear to have had great negative
effect on opposition deliberations about going to the reparos.

SHAPIRO


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2004CARACA01384 - CONFIDENTIAL