Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04CARACAS1940
2004-06-08 21:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:  

AMBASSADOR'S TRIP TO MARACAIBO

Tags:  PGOV KDEM VE 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001940 

SIPDIS


NSC FOR CBARTON
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD
USAID DCHA/OTI FOR RPORTER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2014
TAGS: PGOV KDEM VE
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S TRIP TO MARACAIBO


Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ABELARDO A. ARIAS FOR REASONS 1.4 (d
)

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SUMMARY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001940

SIPDIS


NSC FOR CBARTON
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD
USAID DCHA/OTI FOR RPORTER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2014
TAGS: PGOV KDEM VE
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S TRIP TO MARACAIBO


Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ABELARDO A. ARIAS FOR REASONS 1.4 (d
)

--------------
SUMMARY
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1. (C) On June 5, the Ambassador traveled to Maracaibo,
Zulia State, where Esteban Pineda, editor of the Maracaibo
daily Panorama, told him that the pro-Chavez gubernatorial
candidate suffers from incredibly low support ratings and has
few prospects in Zulia's upcoming elections. At a lunch
hosted by the Governor of Zulia, Manuel Rosales, invitees
voiced concern over the date of the recall referendum and
asserted that holding the referendum on August 15 could lead
to delays beyond August 19 deadline. When interviewed by a
Panorama journalist, the Ambassador emphasized that the U.S.
will only respect the results of the recall referendum if
there is a clean and transparent electoral process.
End Summary.

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PINEDA'S OBSERVATIONS
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2. (C) On June 5, the Ambassador traveled to Maracaibo,
Zulia State, where he met with Esteban Pineda, editor of the
pro-Chavez Maracaibo daily, Panorama. Speaking on his
business interests, Pineda reflected that he has established
working relationships with Zulia Governor Manuel Rosales and
the GoV, and that what is most important is not allowing
continued political polarization to affect the business
climate. The Ambassador and Pineda also discussed the
pro-Chavez gubernatorial candidate for Zulia, retired
National Guard General Alberto Gutierrez. Pineda remarked
that Gutierrez suffers from low support ratings and has few
prospects in upcoming elections. (The Ambassador had a
meeting scheduled with Gutierrez, but Gutierrez canceled,
saying he had been called to Caracas. In fact, he did not
leave for Caracas until the following day.) Pineda is very
proud that his varied business interests are doing well and
that he has money invested in Venezuela, not abroad. He
maintains good relations with both President Chavez and Gov.
Rosales.

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PANORAMA INTERVIEW
--------------


3. (U) The Ambassador granted also gave an interview to a
journalist from Panorama after meeting with Pineda. Asked
about the recall referendum, the Ambassador remarked that the
U.S. will only respect the results of the recall referendum
if there is a clean and transparent electoral process. The
Ambassador reiterated U.S. commitment to a peaceful,
democratic, constitutional and electoral solution to the
current political crisis in Venezuela. The Ambassador also
expressed hope that the recall referendum would lead to an
improvement in bilateral relations between the U.S. and
Venezuela, and that commented that cooperation on more
technical issues such as immigration and trade could serve as
a first step toward reconciliation.

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CONCERNS OVER THE REFERENDUM
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4. (SBU) The Ambassador attended a lunch hosted by the
Governor of Zulia Manuel Rosales (opposition -- Nuevo Tiempo
party). The recall referendum and the reparos process were
central topics of conversation. Concern was voiced over the
as yet undefined date of the recall referendum. Holding the
referendum on August 15 as the GoV proposes, they said, could
lead to delays beyond August 19. Those in attendance were
also apprehensive about the potential for political violence
during and after the recall referendum. This anxiety stems
in part from the March 6 murder of a local Accion Democratica
leader, Evangelina Carrizo, in Machiques, Zulia State.
Alfonso Marquez, Mayor of Machiques, commented that the most
unsettling aspect of the Carrizo murder is that the GoV has
demonstrated no intention to prosecute the case although the
alleged murderer has been identified.


5. (SBU) The lunch guests discussed the field of candidates
for Zulia's upcoming gubernatorial election. As stated by
Pineda, they too maintained that pro-Chavez candidate Gen.
Gutierrez only had a public opinion rating between 22% and

25%. All thought that he would not pose a substantial threat
to Governor Rosales. It was also noted that former governor
of Zulia (and rival opposition candidate),Francisco Arias
Cardenas had received less than 5% of the votes in public
polling.
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COMMENT
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6. (C) The key force in Zulia politics is Gov. Rosales.
The state chapter of the Coordinadora Democratica is
moribund. Rosales is the opposition. The state is heavily
anti-Chavista and Venezuelans ratified more signatures in the
appeals process than in any other state. Chavez regularly
accuses Rosales of being both a golpista and a secessionist.
Rumors abound that Rosales is one of the governors Chavez
would like to have jailed.
SHAPIRO


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2004CARACA01940 - CONFIDENTIAL