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