Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04PARIS5935
2004-08-10 16:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Paris
Cable title:
FRENCH RESPONSE TO VENEZUELA REFERENDUM DEMARCHE
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. 101622Z Aug 04 ACTION WHA-00 INFO LOG-00 NP-00 AID-00 CIAE-00 INL-00 DODE-00 DOEE-00 DS-00 EAP-00 EUR-00 FBIE-00 VC-00 H-00 TEDE-00 INR-00 LAB-01 L-00 VCE-00 AC-00 NSAE-00 NSCE-00 OMB-00 NIMA-00 PA-00 PC-01 PM-00 GIWI-00 PRS-00 ACE-00 P-00 SCT-00 FMPC-00 SP-00 TRSE-00 R-00 IIP-00 PMB-00 DSCC-00 PRM-00 DRL-00 G-00 NFAT-00 SAS-00 /002W ------------------4D99EE 101630Z /38 FM AMEMBASSY PARIS TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5213 INFO AMEMBASSY BELIZE AMEMBASSY BOGOTA AMEMBASSY BRASILIA AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN AMEMBASSY BRUSSELS AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES AMEMBASSY CARACAS AMEMBASSY DUBLIN AMEMBASSY GEORGETOWN AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA AMEMBASSY KINGSTON AMEMBASSY LA PAZ AMEMBASSY LIMA AMEMBASSY LISBON AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY MADRID AMEMBASSY MANAGUA AMEMBASSY MEXICO AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO AMEMBASSY NASSAU AMEMBASSY OTTAWA AMEMBASSY PANAMA AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE AMEMBASSY PORT OF SPAIN AMEMBASSY QUITO AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE AMEMBASSY SAN SALVADOR AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO AMEMBASSY TEGUCIGALPA AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE USEU BRUSSELS 0858
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 005935
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND AND WHA/PDA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL VE KPAO FR DKDEM
SUBJECT: FRENCH RESPONSE TO VENEZUELA REFERENDUM DEMARCHE
REF: STATE 168747
Classified By: POLITICAL M/C JOSIAH ROSENBLATT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND
(D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L PARIS 005935
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND AND WHA/PDA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL VE KPAO FR DKDEM
SUBJECT: FRENCH RESPONSE TO VENEZUELA REFERENDUM DEMARCHE
REF: STATE 168747
Classified By: POLITICAL M/C JOSIAH ROSENBLATT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND
(D)
1. (C) PolOff met with MFA Venezuelan desk officer Hedi
Picquart on August 9 and delivered demarche as per reftel.
Picquart noted that France had hoped EU international
election observers would participate in the August 15
referendum vote. Unfortunately, the GoV-imposed restrictions
were deemed unacceptable, as they were not up to EU standard
methodology and would prohibit credible observation. The GOF
fully supports the OAS and Carter Center observer missions,
as outlined in the August 3 EU declaration. According to
Picquart, the GOF will neither encourage nor prevent French
citizens from observing the elections through other
organizations, but they do so as private individuals and not
representatives of the GOF. The French mission in Caracas
will closely follow all activities surrounding the
referendum, and diplomatic personnel there have postponed
traditional August vacations to remain in place.
2. (U) Two opinion pieces written by French academics have
recently appeared in the left-of-center daily "Liberation" on
opposing sides of the referendum vote. The pro-Chavez
article praises the President's reforms addressing social
inequality and injustice in the country, claiming he is a
modern-day Bolivar who, like his predecessor, is carrying
forth the ideals of the French Revolution in South America.
Washington, the authors assert, will claim any loss by the
opposition as interference on the part of Chavez, thus giving
Uncle Sam the right to intervene. The anti-Chavez article
draws attention to the problems that have persisted or
increased under the Chavez administration - high unemployment
rates and a quadrupling of the price of petroleum - and
rebuts the argument that the opposition is comprised solely
of oligarchs and rich elite, claiming many among the left
also support the referendum. Post will continue to monitor
the French media as the referendum approaches and Paris PD is
prepared to utilize the press points in reftel as
appropriate.
Wolff
NNNN
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/AND AND WHA/PDA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2014
TAGS: PGOV PREL VE KPAO FR DKDEM
SUBJECT: FRENCH RESPONSE TO VENEZUELA REFERENDUM DEMARCHE
REF: STATE 168747
Classified By: POLITICAL M/C JOSIAH ROSENBLATT FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND
(D)
1. (C) PolOff met with MFA Venezuelan desk officer Hedi
Picquart on August 9 and delivered demarche as per reftel.
Picquart noted that France had hoped EU international
election observers would participate in the August 15
referendum vote. Unfortunately, the GoV-imposed restrictions
were deemed unacceptable, as they were not up to EU standard
methodology and would prohibit credible observation. The GOF
fully supports the OAS and Carter Center observer missions,
as outlined in the August 3 EU declaration. According to
Picquart, the GOF will neither encourage nor prevent French
citizens from observing the elections through other
organizations, but they do so as private individuals and not
representatives of the GOF. The French mission in Caracas
will closely follow all activities surrounding the
referendum, and diplomatic personnel there have postponed
traditional August vacations to remain in place.
2. (U) Two opinion pieces written by French academics have
recently appeared in the left-of-center daily "Liberation" on
opposing sides of the referendum vote. The pro-Chavez
article praises the President's reforms addressing social
inequality and injustice in the country, claiming he is a
modern-day Bolivar who, like his predecessor, is carrying
forth the ideals of the French Revolution in South America.
Washington, the authors assert, will claim any loss by the
opposition as interference on the part of Chavez, thus giving
Uncle Sam the right to intervene. The anti-Chavez article
draws attention to the problems that have persisted or
increased under the Chavez administration - high unemployment
rates and a quadrupling of the price of petroleum - and
rebuts the argument that the opposition is comprised solely
of oligarchs and rich elite, claiming many among the left
also support the referendum. Post will continue to monitor
the French media as the referendum approaches and Paris PD is
prepared to utilize the press points in reftel as
appropriate.
Wolff
NNNN