Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04CARACAS2088
2004-06-25 20:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:  

THE CHAVEZ, CARTER, CISNEROS RUMOR MILL

Tags:  PGOV KDEM VE 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 002088 

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: THE CHAVEZ, CARTER, CISNEROS RUMOR MILL

Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR MARK WELLS FOR REASONS 1.4 (d
)

------
SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 002088

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: THE CHAVEZ, CARTER, CISNEROS RUMOR MILL

Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR MARK WELLS FOR REASONS 1.4 (d
)

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) On June 18, President Hugo Chavez, former President
Jimmy Carter and media magnate Gustavo Cisneros met behind
closed doors for two hours at Fuerte Tiuna in Caracas. While
Chavez, Cisneros and the Carter Center have all stated the
meeting was simply a first step toward improved dialogue, the
meeting has generated a flurry of media speculation over
secret pacts and negotiations. End Summary.

SIPDIS

--------------
THE OFFICIAL STORY
--------------


2. (U) The meeting between Chavez, Carter and Cisneros was
to have been conducted with total secrecy. Cisneros and
Carter flew in on Cisneros' private jet to the VIP area of
Simon Bolivar International airport outside of Caracas.
However, an individual at the airport recognized Carter and
alerted the media. The media followed Carter to Fuerte Tiuna
and broke the story.


3. (U) The Carter Center released an official press
statement on June 19, saying that the meeting between Chavez,
Carter and Cisneros had been an attempt to establish a
dialogue that would ensure the most appropriate climate for a
constitutional process in Venezuela. During the June 20
edition of "Alo Presidente," his weekly television broadcast,
Chavez commented that this meeting was the first step toward
creating a plan to cooperatively combat poverty and improve
health and education opportunities following the August 15
referendum. Chavez also assured the audience that he had not
been negotiating secret deals with the opposition. One June
22, Cisneros issued a press release that, in general terms,
corroborated these two stories.

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THE RUMOR MILL
--------------


4. (C) Pro-GOV daily "VEA", contended that Cisneros, who it
characterized as one of the most hated people in Venezuela,
had asked for the meeting to reconcile his differences with
the GOV since his media outlets are losing their audience and
that he recognizes Chavez will win the August 15 referendum.
VEA also stated that this meeting has unsettled the leaders
of Accion Democratica and COPEI, who felt that they were
excluded from negotiations to determine the outcome of the
referendum. Jose Albornoz, Secretary General of the
pro-Chavez Patria Por Todos (PPT) party, told poloff June 25
that Chavez told him the purpose of the meeting was to open
up communication with private media, which Chavez sees as his
principal opponent.


5. (U) Caracas daily "Ultimas Noticias" reported that the
Chavistas are calling Chavez a traitor for meeting with
Cisneros. Caracas daily "Tal Cual" pointed out that if
Chavez is willing to meet with a person the GOV has
repeatedly called "the lead coup plotter," the door has been
opened for meetings with the Democratic Coordinator. Both
speculated that this meeting is perhaps the first step toward
a sustainable democratic dialogue in Venezuela.


6. (C) Solidaridad Deputy Ernesto Alvarenga met with poloff
on June 23, and asserted that Chavez and Cisneros were
negotiating Chavez,s departure from power and subsequent
asylum in the Dominican Republic. Alvarenga pointed to
Dominican President Leonel Fernandez,s June 21 visit with
Chavez as evidence for his claims.

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COMMENT
--------------


7. (C) Everyone was caught unaware by the meeting. there
were only three people present and each his offered their
version. Chavez probably had hoped to keep it secret and
avoid being seen "speaking to the Devil," as he put it.
SHAPIRO


NNNN

2004CARACA02088 - CONFIDENTIAL