AMBASSADOR'S PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS TO FM

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 003116 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2014 TAGS: PREL PGOV VE SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS TO FM REF: STATE 213121 Classified By: Ambassador Brownfield. REASON 1.5 (B) ¶1. (U) Ambassador, accompanied by DCM, presented copies of his credentials to Foreign Minister Perez late afternoon Oct. ¶1. Perez was accompanied by Chief of Staff Jesus Avancini and a MFA notetaker Pulido. Ambassador was the last of several ambassadors who presented credentials to the FM that afternoon. Perez had returned from the U.S. (UN and OAS) the day before. ¶2. (C) After 15 minutes of pleasantries (Texas, Barinas, Venezuelan rodeo),Ambassador worked through reftel (notal) talking points, emphasizing: - USG would not back off our fundamental principles, but we could adjust the tone and volume of our dialogue if they did as well; - We had a list of issues requiring attention; we assumed they had their own list; - We were not going to solve bilateral issues by starting at the top; senior government meetings would come at the end, not the beginning; - If we were going to make progress, we needed channels of communication, particularly at working levels; we would continue to reach out to GOV to try to address bilateral issues. Following two cell phone interruptions from the President, Perez said he agreed with the step by step approach. He wanted an improved bilateral relationship. ¶3. (U) Following meeting, FM and Ambassador met with the press outside his office. Ambassador noted he had presented credentials, and discussed how 190 years of bilateral relations gave us a good starting point to address issues of democracy, prosperity, and security. Press asked Ambassador whether USG was willing to improve relations with the GOV. Ambassador said we were willing to explore improved relations on both bilateral and regional issues. Brownfield NNNN 2004CARACA03116 - CONFIDENTIAL