PARAGUAY PROTESTS ASSAULT ON AMBASSADOR IN CARACAS

UNCLAS ASUNCION 000519 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA (A/S NORIEGA),WHA/BSC, AND WHA/AND STATE PASS TO USAID LAC/AA NSC FOR KIMBERLY BREIER SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD DAN JOHNSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PINR KCRM VE PA SUBJECT: PARAGUAY PROTESTS ASSAULT ON AMBASSADOR IN CARACAS -- VENEZUELAN AMBASSADOR BLAMS U.S. REF: ASUNCION 00500 ¶1. On 4/13, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Jose Martinez Lezcano told the press that the GOP had demanded an official explanation from the GOV regarding the 4/8 assault on Paraguayan Ambassador to Venezuela Ana Maria Figueredo in Caracas (reftel). Martinez noted that the GOP provides security for Venezuela's Ambassador to Paraguay and the Venezuelan Embassy in Asuncion, and questioned why the GOV does not provide the same for Paraguay's Ambassador and Embassy in Caracas. Although Martinez indicated that the GOP would not recall Ambassador Figueredo in protest, Figueredo indicated that she had spoken to FM Rachid, and that Rachid suggested Figueredo leave Caracas until the GOV satisfies the demands Figueredo and the GOP have presented. ¶2. Additionally, Senator Miguel Carrizosa, President of Paraguay's Congress, sent a letter to his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro Moro, condemning the assault, demanding an official explanation, and highlighting the lack of security for Figueredo and the Embassy. ¶3. On 4/16, Venezuelan Ambassador to Paraguay Jose Huerta Castillo claimed during a radio interview that the U.S. had financed the assault, building on his earlier assertion that unnamed opponents of President Hugo Chavez were responsible for the incident (reftel). KEANE