Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04DUBLIN1200
2004-08-11 17:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Dublin
Cable title:  

IRELAND SUPPORTS EU ON VENEZUELA REFERENDUM

Tags:  PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO 
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UNCLAS DUBLIN 001200 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/AND AND WHA/PDA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO
SUBJECT: IRELAND SUPPORTS EU ON VENEZUELA REFERENDUM

REF: STATE 168747

UNCLAS DUBLIN 001200

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/AND AND WHA/PDA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO
SUBJECT: IRELAND SUPPORTS EU ON VENEZUELA REFERENDUM

REF: STATE 168747


1. On August 11, Post delivered reftel's requested demarche
to Brian Muldoon, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) First
Secretary for Latin America and the Caribbean. Muldoon noted

SIPDIS
that Ireland had participated in extensive EU consultations
on Venezuela and endorsed the August 3 EU declaration on the
importance of the August 15 referendum. He observed that the
EU declaration supported the observer mission that the OAS
and Carter Center would perform. He added that Ireland
concurred with the EU's decision not to play an observer's
role, given the restrictions that the Chavez Government
attempted to place on the size of the EU observer team, its
freedom of publicity, and the duration of its mission. An
observer team acting under such conditions would have lacked
credibility, explained Muldoon. He added that Ireland,
having no embassy in Caracas, would likely not make a
national-level statement on the referendum.


2. An August 9 Irish Times report on Venezuela had a
pro-Chavez slant, with the journalist comparing Venezuelan
opposition activists in Miami to the anti-Castro Cuban
population in the city. The report noted that, under Chavez,
life expectancy in Venezuela had increased, infant mortality
rates had dropped, school attendance had risen, and civil
rights had expanded. The report concluded that the
opposition faced an uphill battle to unseat Chavez.
KENNY