SPAIN/EU SUPPORT FOR THE VENEZUELAN PRESIDENTIAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 003066

SIPDIS

FOR WHA/AND AND WHA/PDA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM VE KPAO SP
SUBJECT: SPAIN/EU SUPPORT FOR THE VENEZUELAN PRESIDENTIAL
REFERENDUM

REF: A. (A) MADRID 2958

B. (B) STATE 168747

Classified By: Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick, Political Counselor.
Reasons 1.4 (B) & (D)


1. (C) Following up on USOAS Ambassador Maisto's strong
pitch to the GOS on the Venezuelan presidential referendum
(ref a),Poloff delivered ref b points on August 10 to Javier
Ignacio Martinez del Barrio, Technical Advisor to the Deputy
Director for Countries within the Andean Community. Martinez
told Poloff that Spain has made numerous statements in
support a free and fair recall referendum in Venezuela.
Martinez said that the European Union was unable to reach an
agreement with the Government of Venezuela (GoV) because the
EU felt the GoV did not meet EU requirements on when to
pre-position monitors before the referendum and whether to
give them unrestricted access to conduct monitoring
activities. However, the EU decided last week to send five
technical experts to assist the Venezuelan referendum under
the umbrella of the OAS, Martinez explained. The EU would
announce its participation in Venezuela referendum this week.
Martinez added that Spain fully supports for the OAS's and
Carter Center's initiatives in Venezuela.


2. (C) Working with Embassy Madrid's PAS, Ambassador Maisto
conducted an active outreach program with the Spanish media
during his late July visit. Maisto urged strong public
support for a free and fair referendum in Venezuela. Media
activities included:

(A) El Pais interview with Ambassador Maisto on August 5.

(B) Spanish National Radio (RNE) 5 network interview with
Ambassador Maisto on August 5, rebroadcast on RNE Foreign
Radio, heard principally in Latin America.

(C) Antena 3 TV interview with Ambassador Maisto, recorded
July 29 and expected to be rebroadcast on Antena 3 just
before the Venezuela referendum and during the Spanish
Program "Seven Days" news analysis show in mid-August.


3. (C) The Spanish business daily "Business Gazette"
published August 11 a strongly worded editorial supporting
the efforts of the opposition to save Venezuela from "the
despotism colonel Chavez runs." However, we do not expect
the Spanish media to report Venezuelan reaction until just
before and just after the referendum. PAS will look for
appropriate material from the Washington file, which we can
use to develop an op-ed under the byline of the Charge or
another senior USG official.
MANZANARES