UPDATE ON THE USAID/OTI VENEZUELA PROGRAM

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 CARACAS 000501

SIPDIS


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID KDEM PHUM VE
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON THE USAID/OTI VENEZUELA PROGRAM

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

1. USAID'S OFFICE OF TRANSITION INITIATIVES (OTI) BEGAN ITS
VENEZUELA PROGRAM IN NOVEMBER 2002 TO SUPPORT THE PRIMARY
USG GOAL OF SUPPORTING DEMOCRACY AND DEMOCRATIC SOLUTIONS TO
VENEZUELA'S POLITICAL CRISIS. USAID'S OVERALL GOAL IN
VENEZUELA IS TO SUPPORT A POLITICAL PROCESS THAT IS
DEMOCRATIC, CONSTITUTIONAL, ELECTORAL AND PEACEFUL.
SPECIFICALLY THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON: SUPPORT TO ELECTORAL
PROCESSES, SUPPORT OF A FAVORABLE ELECTORAL ENVIRONMENT,
FACILITATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIALOGUE BETWEEN GOVERNMENT
AND OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS, AND PUBLIC CIVIC EDUCATION. TO
SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM, USAID IS FUNDING THE FOLLOWING PARTNER
ORGANIZATIONS: THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE FOR
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, THE INTERNATIONAL REPUBLICAN
INSTITUTE, THE CARTER CENTER, DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVES,
INC., AND A LARGE NUMBER OF VENEZUELAN CIVIL SOCIETY
ORGANIZATIONS. THE PROGRAM IS SCHEDULED TO RUN THROUGH EARLY
FY 2005. END SUMMARY.
--------------
BACKGROUND
--------------

2. POST HAS WITNESSED ENCOURAGING MOVEMENT TOWARDS A
PEACEFUL OUTCOME OF VENEZUELA'S CURRENT POLITICAL CRISIS.
ONE YEAR AGO THE COUNTRY WAS SHUT DOWN BY A NATIONAL STRIKE
WHOSE GOAL WAS TO FORCE THE RESIGNATION OF PRESIDENT CHAVEZ.
THE OPPOSITION HAS SINCE CHOSEN A PATH FOR POLITICAL CHANGE
BASED ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT OF CITIZENS TO RECALL
ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS HALF WAY THROUGH THEIR TERMS OF
OFFICE. THIS CHANGE OF STRATEGY RESULTED IN TWO RECENT
SIGNATURE-GATHERING EXERCISES: NOVEMBER 21 - 24 TO RECALL
37 OPPOSITION MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY; AND NOVEMBER
28 TO DECEMBER 1 TO RECALL PRESIDENT CHAVEZ AND 30 PRO-
GOVERNMENT LEGISLATORS. THE TWO EVENTS WERE CARRIED OUT IN
A PEACEFUL ATMOSPHERE AND WERE SUBSEQUENTLY DECLARED
FUNDAMENTALLY FREE OF FRAUD BY THE CARTER CENTER AND THE
ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES. THE OPPOSITION ANNOUNCED
THAT IT HAD COLLECTED 3.6 MILLION SIGNATURES DURING THE
SIGNATURE DRIVE TO PETITION FOR A RECALL REFERENDUM AGAINST
PRESIDENT CHAVEZ, SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN THE 2.4 MILLION
NEEDED.

3. IF THE NATIONAL ELECTORAL COUNCIL FINDS THAT THE
OPPOSITION HAS MET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR CALLING A REFERENDUM
AGAINST PRESIDENT CHAVEZ, AND THE REFERENDUM IS SUCCESSFUL,
THIS WOULD BE FOLLOWED A MONTH LATER (POSSIBLY SOMETIME IN
JUNE) BY A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION - FOLLOWED BY ELECTIONS FOR
GOVERNORS AND MAYORS IN LATE JULY. IN DECEMBER 2006, THERE
WILL BE ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND AN ELECTION FOR
ALL NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS. IF THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT
IS ANY GAUGE, ALL OF THESE ELECTORAL EVENTS ARE LIKELY TO BE
CARRIED OUT IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF MUTUAL DISTRUST AND
ACCUSATIONS BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE OPPOSITION. USAID
VENEZUELA'S PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE MAJORITY OF
VENEZUELANS WHO DEEPLY WISH TO MOVE FORWARD POLITICALLY SO
AS TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE GRAVE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS
CURRENTLY BESETTING THE COUNTRY.
--------------
USAID SUPPORT
--------------

4. USAID IS SUPPORTING TWO COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH THE
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
(NDI). THE FIRST AGREEMENT PROVIDES $770,000 TO WORK WITH
CIVIL SOCIETY TO HELP ENSURE THE TRANSPARENCY AND INTEGRITY
OF ELECTORAL PROCESSES THROUGH DOMESTIC OBSERVATION. THIS
PROJECT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH A CONSORTIUM OF GROUPS
AFFILIATED BOTH WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE OPPOSITION.
SPECIFICALLY THE CONSORTIUM WILL FOCUS ON OBSERVING:
POLITICAL/CIVIL/HUMAN RIGHTS, THE QUALITY OF THE ELECTORAL
PROCESS INCLUDING ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES, AND MEDIA
REPORTING.

5. THE SECOND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH NDI PROVIDES
$550,000 TO STRENGTHEN POLITICAL PARTIES AND ENCOURAGE
COALITION BUILDING. THIS PROJECT IS JUST GETTING UNDERWAY
WITH THE RECENT ARRIVAL OF THE PROJECT MANAGER BUT ALREADY
HAS MADE A NUMBER OF KEY CONTACTS IN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE
OPPOSITION WHO HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SUPPORT
THE PROJECT.

6. USAID IS ALSO SUPPORTING TWO COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH
THE INTERNATIONAL REPUBLICAN INSTITUTE (IRI). THE FIRST,
FOR $450,000, IS TO PROVIDE TRAINING TO POLITICAL PARTIES ON
THE DESIGN, PLANNING, AND EXECUTION OF ELECTORAL CAMPAIGNS.
THIS IS BEING DONE THROUGH "CAMPAIGN TRAINING SCHOOLS"
TARGETING CAMPAIGN MANAGERS. THE EMPHASIS IS ON THE
DEVELOPMENT OF VIABLE CAMPAIGN STRATEGIES AND EFFECTIVELY
COMMUNICATING PARTY PLATFORMS TO VOTERS. DIVIDED INTO SIX
TWO-DAY MODULES, THE TRAINING IS BEING OFFERED IN FIVE
REGIONAL CENTERS. TO DATE THE FIRST MODULES HAVE BEEN
OFFERED IN CARACAS (INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE
STATES OF VARGAS (ARAGUA, GUARICO AND AMAZONAS),ZULIA
(TACHIRA, FALCON, BARINAS, MERIDA, TRUJILLO AND APURE),
ANZOATEGUI (AMACURO, MONAGAS, SUCRE, AND NUEVA ESPARTA)AND
CARABOBO (LARA, COJEDES, GUARICO, AND YARACUY). PARTICIPANT
RESPONSE HAS BEEN UNIFORMLY ENTHUSIASTIC, AND AT LEAST IN
ZULIA STATE, INVOLVED PARTICIPANTS FROM A BROAD SPECTRUM OF

CARACAS 00000501 001.2 OF 003

OGRAM IN NOVEMBER 2002 TO SUPPORT THE PRIMARY
USG GOAL OF SUPPORTING DEMOCRACY AND DEMOCRATIC SOLUTIONS TO
VENEZUELA'S POLITICAL CRISIS. USAID'S OVERALL GOAL IN
VENEZUELA IS TO SUPPORT A POLITICAL PROCESS THAT IS
DEMOCRATIC, CONSTITUTIONAL, ELECTORAL AND PEACEFUL.
SPECIFICALLY THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON: SUPPORT TO ELECTORAL
PROCESSES, SUPPORT OF A FAVORABLE ELECTORAL ENVIRONMENT,
FACILITATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIALOGUE BETWEEN GOVERNMENT
AND OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS, AND PUBLIC CIVIC EDUCATION. TO
SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM, USAID IS FUNDING THE FOLLOWING PARTNER
ORGANIZATIONS: THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE FOR
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, THE INTERNATIONAL REPUBLICAN
INSTITUTE, THE CARTER CENTER, DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVES,
INC., AND A LARGE NUMBER OF VENEZUELAN CIVIL SOCIETY
ORGANIZATIONS. THE PROGRAM IS SCHEDULED TO RUN THROUGH EARLY
FY 2005. END SUMMARY.
--------------
BACKGROUND
--------------

2. POST HAS WITNESSED ENCOURAGING MOVEMENT TOWARDS A
PEACEFUL OUTCOME OF VENEZUELA'S CURRENT POLITICAL CRISIS.
ONE YEAR AGO THE COUNTRY WAS SHUT DOWN BY A NATIONAL STRIKE
WHOSE GOAL WAS TO FORCE THE RESIGNATION OF PRESIDENT CHAVEZ.
THE OPPOSITION HAS SINCE CHOSEN A PATH FOR POLITICAL CHANGE
BASED ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT OF CITIZENS TO RECALL
ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS HALF WAY THROUGH THEIR TERMS OF
OFFICE. THIS CHANGE OF STRATEGY RESULTED IN TWO RECENT
SIGNATURE-GATHERING EXERCISES: NOVEMBER 21 - 24 TO RECALL
37 OPPOSITION MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY; AND NOVEMBER
28 TO DECEMBER 1 TO RECALL PRESIDENT CHAVEZ AND 30 PRO-
GOVERNMENT LEGISLATORS. THE TWO EVENTS WERE CARRIED OUT IN
A PEACEFUL ATMOSPHERE AND WERE SUBSEQUENTLY DECLARED
FUNDAMENTALLY FREE OF FRAUD BY THE CARTER CENTER AND THE
ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES. THE OPPOSITION ANNOUNCED
THAT IT HAD COLLECTED 3.6 MILLION SIGNATURES DURING THE
SIGNATURE DRIVE TO PETITION FOR A RECALL REFERENDUM AGAINST
PRESIDENT CHAVEZ, SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN THE 2.4 MILLION
NEEDED.

3. IF THE NATIONAL ELECTORAL COUNCIL FINDS THAT THE
OPPOSITION HAS MET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR CALLING A REFERENDUM
AGAINST PRESIDENT CHAVEZ, AND THE REFERENDUM IS SUCCESSFUL,
THIS WOULD BE FOLLOWED A MONTH LATER (POSSIBLY SOMETIME IN
JUNE) BY A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION - FOLLOWED BY ELECTIONS FOR
GOVERNORS AND MAYORS IN LATE JULY. IN DECEMBER 2006, THERE
WILL BE ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND AN ELECTION FOR
ALL NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS. IF THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT
IS ANY GAUGE, ALL OF THESE ELECTORAL EVENTS ARE LIKELY TO BE
CARRIED OUT IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF MUTUAL DISTRUST AND
ACCUSATIONS BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE OPPOSITION. USAID
VENEZUELA'S PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE MAJORITY OF
VENEZUELANS WHO DEEPLY WISH TO MOVE FORWARD POLITICALLY SO
AS TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE GRAVE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS
CURRENTLY BESETTING THE COUNTRY.
--------------
USAID SUPPORT
--------------

4. USAID IS SUPPORTING TWO COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH THE
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
(NDI). THE FIRST AGREEMENT PROVIDES $770,000 TO WORK WITH
CIVIL SOCIETY TO HELP ENSURE THE TRANSPARENCY AND INTEGRITY
OF ELECTORAL PROCESSES THROUGH DOMESTIC OBSERVATION. THIS
PROJECT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH A CONSORTIUM OF GROUPS
AFFILIATED BOTH WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE OPPOSITION.
SPECIFICALLY THE CONSORTIUM WILL FOCUS ON OBSERVING:
POLITICAL/CIVIL/HUMAN RIGHTS, THE QUALITY OF THE ELECTORAL
PROCESS INCLUDING ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES, AND MEDIA
REPORTING.

5. THE SECOND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH NDI PROVIDES
$550,000 TO STRENGTHEN POLITICAL PARTIES AND ENCOURAGE
COALITION BUILDING. THIS PROJECT IS JUST GETTING UNDERWAY
WITH THE RECENT ARRIVAL OF THE PROJECT MANAGER BUT ALREADY
HAS MADE A NUMBER OF KEY CONTACTS IN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE
OPPOSITION WHO HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SUPPORT
THE PROJECT.

6. USAID IS ALSO SUPPORTING TWO COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH
THE INTERNATIONAL REPUBLICAN INSTITUTE (IRI). THE FIRST,
FOR $450,000, IS TO PROVIDE TRAINING TO POLITICAL PARTIES ON
THE DESIGN, PLANNING, AND EXECUTION OF ELECTORAL CAMPAIGNS.
THIS IS BEING DONE THROUGH "CAMPAIGN TRAINING SCHOOLS"
TARGETING CAMPAIGN MANAGERS. THE EMPHASIS IS ON THE
DEVELOPMENT OF VIABLE CAMPAIGN STRATEGIES AND EFFECTIVELY
COMMUNICATING PARTY PLATFORMS TO VOTERS. DIVIDED INTO SIX
TWO-DAY MODULES, THE TRAINING IS BEING OFFERED IN FIVE
REGIONAL CENTERS. TO DATE THE FIRST MODULES HAVE BEEN
OFFERED IN CARACAS (INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE
STATES OF VARGAS (ARAGUA, GUARICO AND AMAZONAS),ZULIA
(TACHIRA, FALCON, BARINAS, MERIDA, TRUJILLO AND APURE),
ANZOATEGUI (AMACURO, MONAGAS, SUCRE, AND NUEVA ESPARTA)AND
CARABOBO (LARA, COJEDES, GUARICO, AND YARACUY). PARTICIPANT
RESPONSE HAS BEEN UNIFORMLY ENTHUSIASTIC, AND AT LEAST IN
ZULIA STATE, INVOLVED PARTICIPANTS FROM A BROAD SPECTRUM OF

CARACAS 00000501 001.3 OF 003

OGRAM IN NOVEMBER 2002 TO SUPPORT THE PRIMARY
USG GOAL OF SUPPORTING DEMOCRACY AND DEMOCRATIC SOLUTIONS TO
VENEZUELA'S POLITICAL CRISIS. USAID'S OVERALL GOAL IN
VENEZUELA IS TO SUPPORT A POLITICAL PROCESS THAT IS
DEMOCRATIC, CONSTITUTIONAL, ELECTORAL AND PEACEFUL.
SPECIFICALLY THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON: SUPPORT TO ELECTORAL
PROCESSES, SUPPORT OF A FAVORABLE ELECTORAL ENVIRONMENT,
FACILITATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DIALOGUE BETWEEN GOVERNMENT
AND OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS, AND PUBLIC CIVIC EDUCATION. TO
SUPPORT THIS PROGRAM, USAID IS FUNDING THE FOLLOWING PARTNER
ORGANIZATIONS: THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE FOR
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, THE INTERNATIONAL REPUBLICAN
INSTITUTE, THE CARTER CENTER, DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVES,
INC., AND A LARGE NUMBER OF VENEZUELAN CIVIL SOCIETY
ORGANIZATIONS. THE PROGRAM IS SCHEDULED TO RUN THROUGH EARLY
FY 2005. END SUMMARY.
--------------
BACKGROUND
--------------

2. POST HAS WITNESSED ENCOURAGING MOVEMENT TOWARDS A
PEACEFUL OUTCOME OF VENEZUELA'S CURRENT POLITICAL CRISIS.
ONE YEAR AGO THE COUNTRY WAS SHUT DOWN BY A NATIONAL STRIKE
WHOSE GOAL WAS TO FORCE THE RESIGNATION OF PRESIDENT CHAVEZ.
THE OPPOSITION HAS SINCE CHOSEN A PATH FOR POLITICAL CHANGE
BASED ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT OF CITIZENS TO RECALL
ELECTED PUBLIC OFFICIALS HALF WAY THROUGH THEIR TERMS OF
OFFICE. THIS CHANGE OF STRATEGY RESULTED IN TWO RECENT
SIGNATURE-GATHERING EXERCISES: NOVEMBER 21 - 24 TO RECALL
37 OPPOSITION MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY; AND NOVEMBER
28 TO DECEMBER 1 TO RECALL PRESIDENT CHAVEZ AND 30 PRO-
GOVERNMENT LEGISLATORS. THE TWO EVENTS WERE CARRIED OUT IN
A PEACEFUL ATMOSPHERE AND WERE SUBSEQUENTLY DECLARED
FUNDAMENTALLY FREE OF FRAUD BY THE CARTER CENTER AND THE
ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES. THE OPPOSITION ANNOUNCED
THAT IT HAD COLLECTED 3.6 MILLION SIGNATURES DURING THE
SIGNATURE DRIVE TO PETITION FOR A RECALL REFERENDUM AGAINST
PRESIDENT CHAVEZ, SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN THE 2.4 MILLION
NEEDED.

3. IF THE NATIONAL ELECTORAL COUNCIL FINDS THAT THE
OPPOSITION HAS MET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR CALLING A REFERENDUM
AGAINST PRESIDENT CHAVEZ, AND THE REFERENDUM IS SUCCESSFUL,
THIS WOULD BE FOLLOWED A MONTH LATER (POSSIBLY SOMETIME IN
JUNE) BY A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION - FOLLOWED BY ELECTIONS FOR
GOVERNORS AND MAYORS IN LATE JULY. IN DECEMBER 2006, THERE
WILL BE ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION AND AN ELECTION FOR
ALL NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS. IF THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT
IS ANY GAUGE, ALL OF THESE ELECTORAL EVENTS ARE LIKELY TO BE
CARRIED OUT IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF MUTUAL DISTRUST AND
ACCUSATIONS BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE OPPOSITION. USAID
VENEZUELA'S PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE MAJORITY OF
VENEZUELANS WHO DEEPLY WISH TO MOVE FORWARD POLITICALLY SO
AS TO BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THE GRAVE ECONOMIC PROBLEMS
CURRENTLY BESETTING THE COUNTRY.
--------------
USAID SUPPORT
--------------

4. USAID IS SUPPORTING TWO COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH THE
NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
(NDI). THE FIRST AGREEMENT PROVIDES $770,000 TO WORK WITH
CIVIL SOCIETY TO HELP ENSURE THE TRANSPARENCY AND INTEGRITY
OF ELECTORAL PROCESSES THROUGH DOMESTIC OBSERVATION. THIS
PROJECT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED THROUGH A CONSORTIUM OF GROUPS
AFFILIATED BOTH WITH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE OPPOSITION.
SPECIFICALLY THE CONSORTIUM WILL FOCUS ON OBSERVING:
POLITICAL/CIVIL/HUMAN RIGHTS, THE QUALITY OF THE ELECTORAL
PROCESS INCLUDING ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES, AND MEDIA
REPORTING.

5. THE SECOND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH NDI PROVIDES
$550,000 TO STRENGTHEN POLITICAL PARTIES AND ENCOURAGE
COALITION BUILDING. THIS PROJECT IS JUST GETTING UNDERWAY
WITH THE RECENT ARRIVAL OF THE PROJECT MANAGER BUT ALREADY
HAS MADE A NUMBER OF KEY CONTACTS IN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE
OPPOSITION WHO HAVE EXPRESSED THEIR WILLINGNESS TO SUPPORT
THE PROJECT.

6. USAID IS ALSO SUPPORTING TWO COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH
THE INTERNATIONAL REPUBLICAN INSTITUTE (IRI). THE FIRST,
FOR $450,000, IS TO PROVIDE TRAINING TO POLITICAL PARTIES ON
THE DESIGN, PLANNING, AND EXECUTION OF ELECTORAL CAMPAIGNS.
THIS IS BEING DONE THROUGH "CAMPAIGN TRAINING SCHOOLS"
TARGETING CAMPAIGN MANAGERS. THE EMPHASIS IS ON THE
DEVELOPMENT OF VIABLE CAMPAIGN STRATEGIES AND EFFECTIVELY
COMMUNICATING PARTY PLATFORMS TO VOTERS. DIVIDED INTO SIX
TWO-DAY MODULES, THE TRAINING IS BEING OFFERED IN FIVE
REGIONAL CENTERS. TO DATE THE FIRST MODULES HAVE BEEN
OFFERED IN CARACAS (INCLUDING REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE
STATES OF VARGAS (ARAGUA, GUARICO AND AMAZONAS),ZULIA
(TACHIRA, FALCON, BARINAS, MERIDA, TRUJILLO AND APURE),
ANZOATEGUI (AMACURO, MONAGAS, SUCRE, AND NUEVA ESPARTA)AND
CARABOBO (LARA, COJEDES, GUARICO, AND YARACUY). PARTICIPANT
RESPONSE HAS BEEN UNIFORMLY ENTHUSIASTIC, AND AT LEAST IN
ZULIA STATE, INVOLVED PARTICIPANTS FROM A BROAD SPECTRUM OF

CARACAS 00000501 002.1 OF 003

NIFICANT DUE TO THE
HIGHLY POLARIZED POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT. THIS IS AN AREA TO
WHICH IRI IS COMMITTED TO GIVING SERIOUS ATTENTION. END
COMMENT.)

7. THE SECOND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH IRI, FOR $285,000,
IS TO SUPPORT THE TRAINING OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE
OBSERVATION OF ELECTORAL PROCESSES. WORKING THROUGH A LOCAL
NGO, HAGAMOS DEMOCRACIA (HD),AND IN COLLABORATION WITH THE
NATIONAL ELECTORAL COUNCIL, IRI/HD IS DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL
MATERIALS FOR THE TRAINING OF POLL WATCHERS. THE FOCUS OF
THE TRAINING - WHICH HAS ALREADY BEGUN WITH TRAINING OF 16
TRAINERS - IS ON OBSERVATION, ASSESSMENT, AND REPORTING. AN
IMPORTANT EXPECTED OUTCOME OF THIS PROJECT IS THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A FORMAL NETWORK OF CONTACTS AND VOLUNTEER
TRAINERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

8. USAID HAS AWARDED THREE GRANTS TO THE CARTER CENTER.
THE FIRST, FOR $580,000, IS AN INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT GRANT.
THIS FUNDING HAS ENABLED THE CARTER CENTER TO CONTINUE
FACILITATING RECONCILIATION EFFORTS AIMED AT CALMING THE
POLITICAL CRISIS. A SECOND GRANT OF $100,000 SUPPORTED THE
CARTER CENTER'S OBSERVATION OF THE RECENT SIGNATURE-
GATHERING DRIVES. A FOLLOW-ON GRANT OF $60,000 IS
SUPPORTING THE CARTER CENTER'S PARTICIPATION IN THE
VERIFICATION PROCESS.

9. WITH DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVES, INC. (DAI),USAID
VENEZUELA IS IMPLEMENTING A $3.5 MILLION PROGRAM OF SMALL
GRANTS, PRIMARILY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VENEZUELAN CIVIL
SOCIETY. DURING THE PAST YEAR THE PRIMARY FOCUS HAS BEEN TO
FACILITATE DIALOGUE BETWEEN SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY WHO WOULD
NOT NECESSARILY TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN TOGETHER TO
DISCUSS ISSUES OF MUTUAL INTEREST. THE 70-PLUS GRANTS TO
DATE HAVE MOSTLY SUPPORTED WORKSHOPS DEDICATED TO SPECIFIC
ISSUES SUCH AS FAMILY VIOLENCE, MUNICIPAL PLANNING, AND THE
ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.
--------------
NEXT STEPS - FY2004 FOCUS
--------------

10. WHILE PROVIDING A SPACE FOR DIALOGUE AND RECONCILIATION
WILL CONTINUE TO BE ONE OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THE SMALL
GRANTS PROGRAM, THE EMPHASIS FOR FY 2004 ALSO INCLUDES THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL AGENDA/VISION FOR THE FUTURE.
CURRENTLY THERE ARE MORE THAN 30 EXISTING NATIONAL AGENDAS,
AN INDICATION THAT THERE ARE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF
INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO RECOGNIZE THE PRESSING
NEED TO HAVE A VISION FOR THE FUTURE RATHER THAN FALLING
BACK ON COMPLAINING ABOUT THE PAST AND THE PRESENT. THIS
PROJECT WILL WORK WITH THE AUTHORS OF THE EXISTING NATIONAL
AGENDAS TO DEVELOP A MORE COMPREHENSIVE VISION THAT WILL
THEN BE VALIDATED IN A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS HELD THROUGHOUT
THE COUNTRY. THE OBJECTIVES ARE TO INCREASE CITIZEN
PARTICIPATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL AGENDA - TO
ENCOURAGE OWNERSHIP - AND TO MAKE A CLEAR STATEMENT TO
POLITICAL LEADERS REGARDING EXPECTATIONS OF THE CITIZENS OF
VENEZUELA.

11. ANOTHER UPCOMING PROJECT IS A NATION-WIDE CAMPAIGN TO
BE LAUNCHED IN LATE FEBRUARY, WHICH WILL ENCOURAGE THE
CONCEPT OF PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS AND
ORGANIZATIONS WITH STRONGLY CONTRASTING OPINIONS. THIS
CAMPAIGN WILL INCLUDE A HEAVY MEDIA COMPONENT AND STRONG
SUPPORT BY CIVIL SOCIETY WHO WILL IMPLEMENT NUMEROUS
LOCALIZED PROJECTS IN SUPPORT OF "CONVIVENCIA" - LIVING
TOGETHER IN PEACE. INITIAL REACTION TO THE PROJECT HAS BEEN
OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE, A CLEAR DEMONSTRATION THAT
VENEZUELANS ARE TIRED OF POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC TURMOIL AND
WANT TO MOVE FORWARD.

12. PROJECTS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION REGARDING ELECTORAL
PROCESSES WILL ALSO COMPRISE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE DAI
SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM FOR FY 2004 IN ORDER TO COUNTER-BALANCE
THE INEVITABLE FLOW OF RUMOR AND MISINFORMATION. ALSO
INCLUDED IN THIS COMPONENT WILL BE PROJECTS DEALING WITH
CIVIC EDUCATION ON THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF
CITIZENS IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY. AS A COMPLEMENT,
CONTINUED EMPHASIS WILL BE PLACED ON THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA
IN A DEMOCRACY.

13. GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE USAID VENEZUELA PORTFOLIO - AND
THE COMPLICATED AND FLUID NATURE OF THE VENEZUELAN POLITICAL
LANDSCAPE - USAID'S IMPACT TO DATE IS HARD TO ASSESS.
CERTAINLY THE USG IS BETTER ENGAGED AS A RESULT OF PROJECT
ACTIVITIES CAREFULLY COORDINATED IN THE EMBASSY IN SUPPORT
OF USG OBJECTIVES. FUNDING FOR THE CARTER CENTER CONTINUES
TO SUPPORT CRITICAL ACTIVITIES. AT MINIMUM, AS A RESULT OF
THE NDI, IRI, AND DAI ACTIVITIES THERE HAS BEEN INCREASED
DIALOGUE BETWEEN GROUPS THAT WOULD NOT NORMALLY INTERACT.
IT IS ALSO EVIDENT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF
INTERESTING INITIATIVES THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THE DAI
ACTIVITIES. (NOTE: THE DAI PROJECT DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS ARE
CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF FOLLOWING UP ON COMPLETED
PROJECTS TO DETERMINE THEIR IMPACT SO AS TO INCORPORATE
LESSONS INTO FUTURE PROGRAMMING. END NOTE.)
--------------
FUTURE ROLE
--------------

14. USAID/OTI NORMALLY WORKS IN A COUNTRY FOR TWO OR THREE
YEARS BEFORE HANDING OFF THE PROGRAM PORTFOLIO - NORMALLY TO

CARACAS 00000501 002.2 OF 003

NIFICANT DUE TO THE
HIGHLY POLARIZED POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT. THIS IS AN AREA TO
WHICH IRI IS COMMITTED TO GIVING SERIOUS ATTENTION. END
COMMENT.)

7. THE SECOND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH IRI, FOR $285,000,
IS TO SUPPORT THE TRAINING OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE
OBSERVATION OF ELECTORAL PROCESSES. WORKING THROUGH A LOCAL
NGO, HAGAMOS DEMOCRACIA (HD),AND IN COLLABORATION WITH THE
NATIONAL ELECTORAL COUNCIL, IRI/HD IS DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL
MATERIALS FOR THE TRAINING OF POLL WATCHERS. THE FOCUS OF
THE TRAINING - WHICH HAS ALREADY BEGUN WITH TRAINING OF 16
TRAINERS - IS ON OBSERVATION, ASSESSMENT, AND REPORTING. AN
IMPORTANT EXPECTED OUTCOME OF THIS PROJECT IS THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A FORMAL NETWORK OF CONTACTS AND VOLUNTEER
TRAINERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

8. USAID HAS AWARDED THREE GRANTS TO THE CARTER CENTER.
THE FIRST, FOR $580,000, IS AN INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT GRANT.
THIS FUNDING HAS ENABLED THE CARTER CENTER TO CONTINUE
FACILITATING RECONCILIATION EFFORTS AIMED AT CALMING THE
POLITICAL CRISIS. A SECOND GRANT OF $100,000 SUPPORTED THE
CARTER CENTER'S OBSERVATION OF THE RECENT SIGNATURE-
GATHERING DRIVES. A FOLLOW-ON GRANT OF $60,000 IS
SUPPORTING THE CARTER CENTER'S PARTICIPATION IN THE
VERIFICATION PROCESS.

9. WITH DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVES, INC. (DAI),USAID
VENEZUELA IS IMPLEMENTING A $3.5 MILLION PROGRAM OF SMALL
GRANTS, PRIMARILY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VENEZUELAN CIVIL
SOCIETY. DURING THE PAST YEAR THE PRIMARY FOCUS HAS BEEN TO
FACILITATE DIALOGUE BETWEEN SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY WHO WOULD
NOT NECESSARILY TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN TOGETHER TO
DISCUSS ISSUES OF MUTUAL INTEREST. THE 70-PLUS GRANTS TO
DATE HAVE MOSTLY SUPPORTED WORKSHOPS DEDICATED TO SPECIFIC
ISSUES SUCH AS FAMILY VIOLENCE, MUNICIPAL PLANNING, AND THE
ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.
--------------
NEXT STEPS - FY2004 FOCUS
--------------

10. WHILE PROVIDING A SPACE FOR DIALOGUE AND RECONCILIATION
WILL CONTINUE TO BE ONE OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THE SMALL
GRANTS PROGRAM, THE EMPHASIS FOR FY 2004 ALSO INCLUDES THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL AGENDA/VISION FOR THE FUTURE.
CURRENTLY THERE ARE MORE THAN 30 EXISTING NATIONAL AGENDAS,
AN INDICATION THAT THERE ARE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF
INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO RECOGNIZE THE PRESSING
NEED TO HAVE A VISION FOR THE FUTURE RATHER THAN FALLING
BACK ON COMPLAINING ABOUT THE PAST AND THE PRESENT. THIS
PROJECT WILL WORK WITH THE AUTHORS OF THE EXISTING NATIONAL
AGENDAS TO DEVELOP A MORE COMPREHENSIVE VISION THAT WILL
THEN BE VALIDATED IN A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS HELD THROUGHOUT
THE COUNTRY. THE OBJECTIVES ARE TO INCREASE CITIZEN
PARTICIPATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL AGENDA - TO
ENCOURAGE OWNERSHIP - AND TO MAKE A CLEAR STATEMENT TO
POLITICAL LEADERS REGARDING EXPECTATIONS OF THE CITIZENS OF
VENEZUELA.

11. ANOTHER UPCOMING PROJECT IS A NATION-WIDE CAMPAIGN TO
BE LAUNCHED IN LATE FEBRUARY, WHICH WILL ENCOURAGE THE
CONCEPT OF PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS AND
ORGANIZATIONS WITH STRONGLY CONTRASTING OPINIONS. THIS
CAMPAIGN WILL INCLUDE A HEAVY MEDIA COMPONENT AND STRONG
SUPPORT BY CIVIL SOCIETY WHO WILL IMPLEMENT NUMEROUS
LOCALIZED PROJECTS IN SUPPORT OF "CONVIVENCIA" - LIVING
TOGETHER IN PEACE. INITIAL REACTION TO THE PROJECT HAS BEEN
OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE, A CLEAR DEMONSTRATION THAT
VENEZUELANS ARE TIRED OF POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC TURMOIL AND
WANT TO MOVE FORWARD.

12. PROJECTS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION REGARDING ELECTORAL
PROCESSES WILL ALSO COMPRISE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE DAI
SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM FOR FY 2004 IN ORDER TO COUNTER-BALANCE
THE INEVITABLE FLOW OF RUMOR AND MISINFORMATION. ALSO
INCLUDED IN THIS COMPONENT WILL BE PROJECTS DEALING WITH
CIVIC EDUCATION ON THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF
CITIZENS IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY. AS A COMPLEMENT,
CONTINUED EMPHASIS WILL BE PLACED ON THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA
IN A DEMOCRACY.

13. GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE USAID VENEZUELA PORTFOLIO - AND
THE COMPLICATED AND FLUID NATURE OF THE VENEZUELAN POLITICAL
LANDSCAPE - USAID'S IMPACT TO DATE IS HARD TO ASSESS.
CERTAINLY THE USG IS BETTER ENGAGED AS A RESULT OF PROJECT
ACTIVITIES CAREFULLY COORDINATED IN THE EMBASSY IN SUPPORT
OF USG OBJECTIVES. FUNDING FOR THE CARTER CENTER CONTINUES
TO SUPPORT CRITICAL ACTIVITIES. AT MINIMUM, AS A RESULT OF
THE NDI, IRI, AND DAI ACTIVITIES THERE HAS BEEN INCREASED
DIALOGUE BETWEEN GROUPS THAT WOULD NOT NORMALLY INTERACT.
IT IS ALSO EVIDENT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF
INTERESTING INITIATIVES THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THE DAI
ACTIVITIES. (NOTE: THE DAI PROJECT DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS ARE
CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF FOLLOWING UP ON COMPLETED
PROJECTS TO DETERMINE THEIR IMPACT SO AS TO INCORPORATE
LESSONS INTO FUTURE PROGRAMMING. END NOTE.)
--------------
FUTURE ROLE
--------------

14. USAID/OTI NORMALLY WORKS IN A COUNTRY FOR TWO OR THREE
YEARS BEFORE HANDING OFF THE PROGRAM PORTFOLIO - NORMALLY TO

CARACAS 00000501 002.3 OF 003

NIFICANT DUE TO THE
HIGHLY POLARIZED POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT. THIS IS AN AREA TO
WHICH IRI IS COMMITTED TO GIVING SERIOUS ATTENTION. END
COMMENT.)

7. THE SECOND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH IRI, FOR $285,000,
IS TO SUPPORT THE TRAINING OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE
OBSERVATION OF ELECTORAL PROCESSES. WORKING THROUGH A LOCAL
NGO, HAGAMOS DEMOCRACIA (HD),AND IN COLLABORATION WITH THE
NATIONAL ELECTORAL COUNCIL, IRI/HD IS DEVELOPING EDUCATIONAL
MATERIALS FOR THE TRAINING OF POLL WATCHERS. THE FOCUS OF
THE TRAINING - WHICH HAS ALREADY BEGUN WITH TRAINING OF 16
TRAINERS - IS ON OBSERVATION, ASSESSMENT, AND REPORTING. AN
IMPORTANT EXPECTED OUTCOME OF THIS PROJECT IS THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF A FORMAL NETWORK OF CONTACTS AND VOLUNTEER
TRAINERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

8. USAID HAS AWARDED THREE GRANTS TO THE CARTER CENTER.
THE FIRST, FOR $580,000, IS AN INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT GRANT.
THIS FUNDING HAS ENABLED THE CARTER CENTER TO CONTINUE
FACILITATING RECONCILIATION EFFORTS AIMED AT CALMING THE
POLITICAL CRISIS. A SECOND GRANT OF $100,000 SUPPORTED THE
CARTER CENTER'S OBSERVATION OF THE RECENT SIGNATURE-
GATHERING DRIVES. A FOLLOW-ON GRANT OF $60,000 IS
SUPPORTING THE CARTER CENTER'S PARTICIPATION IN THE
VERIFICATION PROCESS.

9. WITH DEVELOPMENT ALTERNATIVES, INC. (DAI),USAID
VENEZUELA IS IMPLEMENTING A $3.5 MILLION PROGRAM OF SMALL
GRANTS, PRIMARILY IN PARTNERSHIP WITH VENEZUELAN CIVIL
SOCIETY. DURING THE PAST YEAR THE PRIMARY FOCUS HAS BEEN TO
FACILITATE DIALOGUE BETWEEN SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY WHO WOULD
NOT NECESSARILY TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SIT DOWN TOGETHER TO
DISCUSS ISSUES OF MUTUAL INTEREST. THE 70-PLUS GRANTS TO
DATE HAVE MOSTLY SUPPORTED WORKSHOPS DEDICATED TO SPECIFIC
ISSUES SUCH AS FAMILY VIOLENCE, MUNICIPAL PLANNING, AND THE
ROLE OF THE MEDIA IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.
--------------
NEXT STEPS - FY2004 FOCUS
--------------

10. WHILE PROVIDING A SPACE FOR DIALOGUE AND RECONCILIATION
WILL CONTINUE TO BE ONE OF THE OBJECTIVES OF THE SMALL
GRANTS PROGRAM, THE EMPHASIS FOR FY 2004 ALSO INCLUDES THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL AGENDA/VISION FOR THE FUTURE.
CURRENTLY THERE ARE MORE THAN 30 EXISTING NATIONAL AGENDAS,
AN INDICATION THAT THERE ARE A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF
INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO RECOGNIZE THE PRESSING
NEED TO HAVE A VISION FOR THE FUTURE RATHER THAN FALLING
BACK ON COMPLAINING ABOUT THE PAST AND THE PRESENT. THIS
PROJECT WILL WORK WITH THE AUTHORS OF THE EXISTING NATIONAL
AGENDAS TO DEVELOP A MORE COMPREHENSIVE VISION THAT WILL
THEN BE VALIDATED IN A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS HELD THROUGHOUT
THE COUNTRY. THE OBJECTIVES ARE TO INCREASE CITIZEN
PARTICIPATION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL AGENDA - TO
ENCOURAGE OWNERSHIP - AND TO MAKE A CLEAR STATEMENT TO
POLITICAL LEADERS REGARDING EXPECTATIONS OF THE CITIZENS OF
VENEZUELA.

11. ANOTHER UPCOMING PROJECT IS A NATION-WIDE CAMPAIGN TO
BE LAUNCHED IN LATE FEBRUARY, WHICH WILL ENCOURAGE THE
CONCEPT OF PEACEFUL COEXISTENCE BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS AND
ORGANIZATIONS WITH STRONGLY CONTRASTING OPINIONS. THIS
CAMPAIGN WILL INCLUDE A HEAVY MEDIA COMPONENT AND STRONG
SUPPORT BY CIVIL SOCIETY WHO WILL IMPLEMENT NUMEROUS
LOCALIZED PROJECTS IN SUPPORT OF "CONVIVENCIA" - LIVING
TOGETHER IN PEACE. INITIAL REACTION TO THE PROJECT HAS BEEN
OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE, A CLEAR DEMONSTRATION THAT
VENEZUELANS ARE TIRED OF POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC TURMOIL AND
WANT TO MOVE FORWARD.

12. PROJECTS OF PUBLIC EDUCATION REGARDING ELECTORAL
PROCESSES WILL ALSO COMPRISE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE DAI
SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM FOR FY 2004 IN ORDER TO COUNTER-BALANCE
THE INEVITABLE FLOW OF RUMOR AND MISINFORMATION. ALSO
INCLUDED IN THIS COMPONENT WILL BE PROJECTS DEALING WITH
CIVIC EDUCATION ON THE ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF
CITIZENS IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY. AS A COMPLEMENT,
CONTINUED EMPHASIS WILL BE PLACED ON THE ROLE OF THE MEDIA
IN A DEMOCRACY.

13. GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE USAID VENEZUELA PORTFOLIO - AND
THE COMPLICATED AND FLUID NATURE OF THE VENEZUELAN POLITICAL
LANDSCAPE - USAID'S IMPACT TO DATE IS HARD TO ASSESS.
CERTAINLY THE USG IS BETTER ENGAGED AS A RESULT OF PROJECT
ACTIVITIES CAREFULLY COORDINATED IN THE EMBASSY IN SUPPORT
OF USG OBJECTIVES. FUNDING FOR THE CARTER CENTER CONTINUES
TO SUPPORT CRITICAL ACTIVITIES. AT MINIMUM, AS A RESULT OF
THE NDI, IRI, AND DAI ACTIVITIES THERE HAS BEEN INCREASED
DIALOGUE BETWEEN GROUPS THAT WOULD NOT NORMALLY INTERACT.
IT IS ALSO EVIDENT THAT THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF
INTERESTING INITIATIVES THAT HAVE COME OUT OF THE DAI
ACTIVITIES. (NOTE: THE DAI PROJECT DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS ARE
CURRENTLY IN THE PROCESS OF FOLLOWING UP ON COMPLETED
PROJECTS TO DETERMINE THEIR IMPACT SO AS TO INCORPORATE
LESSONS INTO FUTURE PROGRAMMING. END NOTE.)
--------------
FUTURE ROLE
--------------

14. USAID/OTI NORMALLY WORKS IN A COUNTRY FOR TWO OR THREE
YEARS BEFORE HANDING OFF THE PROGRAM PORTFOLIO - NORMALLY TO

CARACAS 00000501 003.1 OF 003

TI IS CURRENTLY
ANTICIPATING HANDING OVER ITS ACTIVITIES IN FY 2005. IT IS
CLEAR, HOWEVER, THAT THERE WILL BE A NEED FOR A USAID/OTI-
TYPE PROGRAM IN VENEZUELA THROUGH EARLY FY 2006 AS VENEZUELA
PROCEEDS THROUGH THE SCHEDULED ELECTIONS FOR LOCAL AND STATE
OFFICIALS, NATIONAL LEGISLATORS AND THE PRESIDENCY. (NOTE:
DISCUSSIONS ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY IN WASHINGTON AS TO HOW TO
BEST MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS HANDOVER. END NOTE.)
SHAPIRO

CARACAS 00000501 003.2 OF 003

TI IS CURRENTLY
ANTICIPATING HANDING OVER ITS ACTIVITIES IN FY 2005. IT IS
CLEAR, HOWEVER, THAT THERE WILL BE A NEED FOR A USAID/OTI-
TYPE PROGRAM IN VENEZUELA THROUGH EARLY FY 2006 AS VENEZUELA
PROCEEDS THROUGH THE SCHEDULED ELECTIONS FOR LOCAL AND STATE
OFFICIALS, NATIONAL LEGISLATORS AND THE PRESIDENCY. (NOTE:
DISCUSSIONS ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY IN WASHINGTON AS TO HOW TO
BEST MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS HANDOVER. END NOTE.)
SHAPIRO

CARACAS 00000501 003.3 OF 003

TI IS CURRENTLY
ANTICIPATING HANDING OVER ITS ACTIVITIES IN FY 2005. IT IS
CLEAR, HOWEVER, THAT THERE WILL BE A NEED FOR A USAID/OTI-
TYPE PROGRAM IN VENEZUELA THROUGH EARLY FY 2006 AS VENEZUELA
PROCEEDS THROUGH THE SCHEDULED ELECTIONS FOR LOCAL AND STATE
OFFICIALS, NATIONAL LEGISLATORS AND THE PRESIDENCY. (NOTE:
DISCUSSIONS ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY IN WASHINGTON AS TO HOW TO
BEST MOVE FORWARD WITH THIS HANDOVER. END NOTE.)
SHAPIRO

NNNN