GOE CONCERNED, YET UNWILLING TO ACT ON VENEZUELAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 002208 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT PLEASE PASS USOAS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/05/2014 TAGS: KDEM KPAO PGOV PREL EC VE SUBJECT: GOE CONCERNED, YET UNWILLING TO ACT ON VENEZUELAN REFERENDUM REF: SECSTATE 168747 Classified By: Ambassador Kristie A. Kenney, Reasons 1.5 (b),(d) ¶1. (C) At an August 5 dinner hosted by Ecuadorian President Lucio Gutierrez in honor of visiting President Jimmy Carter, the Ambassador raised U.S. concerns (reftel) over the August 15 Venezuelan referendum. Gutierrez asserted that Ecuador wanted "real" democracy in Venezuela. The birthplace of Bolivar was dangerously polarized, he added, and only a free and fair vote could bring down temperatures. Earlier, President Carter had informed the Ambassador that he believed the referendum would be free of foul play, with Carter Center and OAS observers enjoying full access to electoral sites. ¶2. (C) The Ambassador and DCM followed up in an hours-later pull-aside with Foreign Minister Patricio Zuquilanda. The FM predicted a Chavez victory August 15. Disgusted, he offered his customary pro-U.S., anti-left diatribe, calling the Venezuelan president an unrepentant communist. "Why not make your opinions public?," the Ambassador pressed. His color drained, Zuquilanda backpedaled hard, claiming "we Latins don't do that." Sensing a need to save face, however, the FM revealed that Chavez was pushing hard for a state visit to Ecuador. The GoE was resisting. ¶3. (U) The Embassy August 6 transmitted reftel points to the MFA's OAS/Americas office, following up August 9 with Office Director Santiago Ruiz. Ruiz emphasized that Ecuador followed the OAS consensus vis-a-vis Venezuela politics. He shared the USG position that observer missions must enjoy unfettered access to polling and counting stations. Ruiz was noncommittal, however, on whether the MFA would take a public stand, should "rumors" of Chavez/supporters' interference prove true. KENNEY