FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER CHADERTON STICKS TO MESSAGE

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001431

SIPDIS


NSC FOR C. BARTON
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2013
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM VE
SUBJECT: FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER CHADERTON STICKS TO MESSAGE


CLASSIFIED BY: AMB. CHARLES A.SHAPIRO FOR REASON 1.4 (D).


1. (C) THE AMBASSADOR HAD BREAKFAST WITH FORMER FOREIGN
MINISTER, NOW AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE TO FRANCE, ROY CHADERTON
APRIL 22. CHADERTON LAMENTED THE POOR STATE OF
U.S.-VENEZUELA RELATIONS, AND BLAMED THE SITUATION ON
SCHEMING COLOMBIANS AND ON MEDIA OWNERS LIKE GUSTAVO
CISNEROS. THE AMBASSADOR TOLD CHADERTON STRONGLY THAT
RELATIONS ARE POOR BECAUSE OF PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ. THE
PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA HAS BEEN IMPLACABLY HOSTILE TOWARD THE
UNITED STATES, HAS INSULTED PRESIDENT BUSH, AND HAS
THREATENED TO CUT OFF OIL SALES TO THE U.S., THE AMBASSADOR
REMINDED THE FORMER MINISTER. TO TRY TO BLAME POOR RELATIONS
ON COLOMBIAN ACCUSATIONS THAT VENEZUELA IS ASSISTING THE FARC
OR ON MEDIA OWNERS, COMPLAINTS ABOUT INFRINGEMENT ON FREEDOM
OF EXPRESSION IS SPECIOUS, THE AMBASSADOR SAID.


2. (C) SEVERAL TIMES, CHADERTON RETURNED TO POSSIBILITY OF
INCREASING COOPERATION IN SPECIFIC TECHNICAL AREAS. EACH
TIME, THE AMBASSADOR RESPONDED THAT THE ISSUE IS AN
INCREASINGLY AUTHORITARIAN GOVERNMENT THAT COMMITS HUMAN
RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND TAKES REVENGE AGAINST PEOPLE WHO SIGNED
THE PETITIONS FOR THE RECALL REFERENDUM, AND A PRESIDENT WHO
INSULTS THE UNITED STATES AT EVERY OPPORTUNITY. WHEN
CHADERTON REITERATED HIS LAMENT ABOUT THE NON-DEMOCRATIC
NATURE OF THE OPPOSITION, THE AMBASSADOR TOLD HIM HIS
ANALYSIS WAS OUT OF DATE, THAT THE OPPOSITION HAD EVOLVED,
HAD MATURED AND HAD SIDELINED THE MORE RADICAL, COUP PLOTTING
GROUPS, LIKE THE "BLOQUE DEMOCRATICO." SINCE THE MAY 29,
2003 OAS AGREEMENT, THE AMBASSADOR NOTED, THE OPPOSITION HAD
FOCUSED ON THE RECALL REFERENDUM ONLY TO HAVE THE NATIONAL
ELECTORAL COUNCIL (CNE) STEAL THE SIGNATURE VERIFICATION
PROCESS UNDER GOV ORDERS. YOU CANNOT PICK YOUR OPPOSITION;
THE OPPOSITION SELECTS ITS OWN LEADERSHIP, THE AMBASSADOR
REMINDED THE FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER.

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OTHER MATTERS
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3. (C) DISCUSSING THE VISIT OF SENATOR BILL NELSON (D-FL),
CHADERTON CONCLUDED THAT VENEZUELAN AMBASSADOR TO THE U.S.
BERNARDO ALVAREZ MIGHT HAVE BEEN OVER-CONFIDENT IN HIS REPORT
TO CARACAS ABOUT WHAT NELSON WOULD SAY PUBLICLY AFTER HIS
TRIP. CHADERTON SAID PRESIDENT CHAVEZ INSTRUCTED HIS STAFF
TO HOLD AGREMENT FOR AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD THE SAME AMOUNT OF
TIME THAT WE HAD DELAYED AGREMENT FOR ALVAREZ. CHADERTON
ALSO SAID FOREIGN MINISTER JESUS PEREZ HAS BROUGHT BACK
FORMER MFA CHIEF OF ADMINISTRATION MADRIZ BUSTAMANTE.
CHADERTON EXPENDED A GREAT DEAL OF EFFORT GETTING MADRIZ, A
RADICAL CHAVISTA, MOVED OUT OF THE MFA, ONLY TO HAVE PEREZ
ACQUIESCE IN HIS RETURN. CHADERTON FEARS MADRIZ WILL PURGE
THOSE WHO ARE NOT WITH THE PROCESS.

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COMMENT
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4. (C) IT IS NOT SURPRISING THAT CHADERTON, NOT HAVING THE
PRIZE OF THE VENEZUELAN EMBASSY IN PARIS YET IN HAND, HAS NOT
CHANGED HIS MESSAGE SINCE LEAVING THE FOREIGN MINISTRY. HE
SPOKE PROUDLY OF HIS LONGSTANDING DISGUST WITH THE VENEZUELAN
MEDIA. SEEN THROUGH THIS OPTIC, THE MEDIA ARE TO BLAME FOR
VENEZUELA'S PROBLEMS. THE PROBLEM IS THE MEDIA, NOT THE
FAILED POLICIES OF THE GOVERNMENT OR CHAVEZ'S HOSTILE
RHETORIC TOWARDS ALL WHO ARE NOT PART OF HIS "REVOLUTIONARY"
PROCESS. GIVEN CHADERTON'S REPUTATION FOR PROTECTING
VENEZUELA'S CAREER DIPLOMATIC SERVICE FROM POLITICIZATION AND
FOR UNDERSTANDING INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, HOWEVER, IT IS
SURPRISING THAT CANNOT SEE THE NEGATIVE EFFECT OF HIS
GOVERNMENT'S HOSTILE RHETORIC ON BILATERAL RELATIONS. NO
DOUBT THAT CHAVEZ CAN CONTINUE TO COUNT ON A LOYAL AMBASSADOR
WHEN CHADERTON GOES TO EUROPE.
SHAPIRO

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2004CARACA01431 - CONFIDENTIAL