VENEZUELAN VP RANGEL ON BILATERAL RELATIONS

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001561 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2014 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PTER MASS VE SUBJECT: VENEZUELAN VP RANGEL ON BILATERAL RELATIONS Classified By: AMBASSADOR CHARLES S. SHAPIRO FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) and (d) -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) The Ambassador met May 12 with VP Rangel and the FonMin Perez to complain about GOV hostility towards the US, including recent statements, the search of the Embassy warehouse, and the removal of the MILGP from Ven bases. He reiterated our total rejection of extraconstitutional actions against the GOV. Rangel blamed the US for always criticizing the GOV; apologized for the warehouse search; and reaffirmed the decision to move the MILGP. He expressed frustration with the statements and actions of opposition figures in the US; concern about the paramilitary threat; and reiterated that the GOV believed that the GOV, and the Ambassador, were involved in the April 2002 coup attempt. End Summary. -------------- GOV POLICY TO ATTACK THE US -------------- ¶2. (C) The Ambassador met May 12 with Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel and Foreign Minister Jesus Perez. DCM also attended. The Ambassador detailed US concerns about bilateral relations and recent allegations that the US supported alleged coup plotting: --The GOV's decision to constantly attack the USG, since at least August 2003, including personal attacks against the President, the Secretary, and National Security Adviser Rice. --The statements just May 11 by the GOV's ombudsman, German Mundarain, that accused the State Department of involvement with the alleged coup conspiracy of the 100 plus arrested Colombians; --The illegal May 10 search by the Guardia Nacional (GN) of the US Embassy warehouse. We are particularly concerned by statements by the lawyer of the warehouse owner that the GN Major specifically asked which warehouse was the US Embassy's so he could search it; and --The May 7 letter from MOD Garcia Corneiro giving the DATT a deadline of May 30 for the MILGP to vacate all Venezuela military installations. ¶3. (C) Regarding the 100 plus alleged "paramilitaries" that the GOV has detained, and whom the GOV claims are linked to the Coordinadora (CD) and others in the opposition, the Ambassador stressed that the US firmly supports democracy, and rejects any extraconstitutional actions in Venezuela. In terms of the Colombian paramilitary groups, the US has done more than any other country besides Colombia to oppose them. We consider such groups to be terrorists, just like the FARC, and we are seeking the extradition of their leaders on narcotics charges. We have no information on the persons just captured by the GOV; should there be any link between them and persons in the US, the US would cooperate in the investigation if the GOV so requested. -------------- -------------- RANGEL: "WE DON'T ATTACK BUT MERELY COUNTERATTACK" -------------- -------------- ¶4. (C) Rangel responded in a sweeping fashion that the GOV had never attacked the US, but rather had counterattacked. There were continuous statements by USG officials that criticized the GOV and put in doubt its legitimacy, and the GOV would not be silent. "We are a small country, but we have our dignity." Most recently, during the Interamerican Press Society meeting, A/S Noriega had sharply criticized the GOV. Florida Governor Bush just did the same. It was possible that there had been some exaggerations (by the GOV, Rangel implied),but in almost every case the US started the argument. Rangel said he had suggested to the US that both countries put aside their microphones, but the US had not done so. If the US made up information linking the GOV to the FARC, the GOV would respond. If Senator Nelson attacked the GOV, GOV Deputy Tarek Saab would return the favor. ¶5. (C) Regarding possible cooperation in the GOV investigation of the Colombians, Rangel expressed appreciation, and said that the DISIP (secret police) and DIM (military intelligence) would share information with US agencies. ¶6. (C) On the warehouse search, Rangel said he would reiterate -- he did so twice -- Venezuela Ambassador to the US Alvarez' apologies to DAS Deshazo for the search. He insisted that the GN did not know that the warehouse was occupied by the US Embassy; had it known, it would not have searched it. (Note: However, when the GN were told this by warehouse employees, they went ahead anyway and searched the place.) ¶7. (C) Rangel said that the GOV was not saying that there was a link between the USG and the "paramilitaries" that the GOV had captured (Note: One hour later, President Chavez said there was a "vast international conspiracy" to overthrow the GOV to control Venezuelan oil.) But it was a fact that accused coup plotter Roberto Alonso was in the US and made statements with impunity. Carlos Ortega and Carlos Fernandez (leaders of the 2002 paro) and journalist Patricia Poleo went to Miami to lead marches against Chavez. The Ambassador interrupted that in the US., visitors also had freedom of speech, these individuals had not committed crimes in the US., and the GOV had not sought their extradition. Rangel said that it was fine for the US to say that it does not approve of extraconstitutional activity -- "but you know that the US was involved in the April 2002 coup, members of the US military group were involved, and we will soon reveal the proof that you personally and the USG were involved." The Ambassador rejected this categorically; Rangel threatened that the GOV would reveal its proof as the US had requested. ¶8. (C) Rangel said that the removal of the MILGP from Venezuelan military bases was based on the need to use the space on these bases for other purposes. When he was MOD, he ordered the MILGP off Venezuelan facilities but the orders had never been executed. He said he believed it inappropriate for any country's military to be housed on Venezuelan facilities. The Ambassador stated that the Venezuelan military had similar space on three US military bases; Rangel said that the situations were different, the Venezuelans had no space in the equivalent to Fuerte Tiuna, which would be the Pentagon. In any case, when US generals such as Gen. Hill and Gen. Meyer openly criticized President Chavez, it is inappropriate to have US military on Venezuelan bases. ¶9. (C) Rangel said he understood the US had a very clear position on the "paramilitaries;" so did the GOV. He said there were some 1,000 Colombian paramilitaries in the border area; the 130 captured so far were just the "tip of the iceberg." Those captured included some 20 whose ID cards from Colombia said "reservist" or "professional soldier." Powerful economic interests (Rangel did not elaborate when asked) were behind this paramilitary effort, as were retired and active duty Venezuelan military officers. Perez interjected that the GOV remained concerned -- as he had noted previously to the Ambassador -- about Venezuelans in Miami who were plotting against the GOV; Rangel wound up by stating that the GOV sought "serious relations" with the US. The GOV would not accept anything else. If there had to be permanent controversy between the two countries, so be it -- but the GOV was not locked into this position. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶10. (C) Rangel was fairly wound up and insulting -- and yet was more restrained than President Chavez was in his subsequent TV speech on national security (septel). Predictably, he was firm on the decision to remove the MILGP from Fuerte Tiuna; he was apologetic about the search of the Embassy warehouse -- but we still think the GOV at some level carried out this action deliberately. Rangel appeared both energized and enthusiastic about pursuing the "paramilitary" issue, as is Chavez. Much of Rangel's presentation followed the same points -- even used the same "tip of the iceberg" language -- that Chavez used in his speech one hour later. ¶11. (C) We do not have enough information about the supposed paramilitaries. Clearly, they are not Boy Scouts and we should not dismiss the GOV claims out of hand. There is at least one victim supposedly executed by these "paramilitaries". Our working hypothesis is that they may well be Colombian campesinos hired for an illegal purpose here. But the timing is too good to be true for the GOV. They are certainly using it as a pretext to round up enemies and are flagging the paramilitaries as "proof" of US and Colombian plans to destabilize Venezuela. In this environment reparos have been relegated to minor news. Rumors are once again circulating that the GOV is planning to declare a State of Emergency. SHAPIRO NNNN 2004CARACA01561 - CONFIDENTIAL