Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
05BOGOTA3929 | 2005-04-25 21:12:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Bogota |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. |
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BOGOTA 003929 |
1. (U) Summary: On April 19, the Senate Second Committee (Defense, Foreign Relations, Trade, and Borders) conducted a public hearing on Venezuelan arms purchases (reftel details the purchases). Foreign Minister Barco and Minister of Defense Uribe were called to testify. Committee Chair Ramiro Velasquez put Chavez in the context of a country-by-country leftist takeover of Latin America. Noting Chavez's populism, history of coup and counter-coup, and militarization of the GOV, Velasquez and others expressed concern about the Venezuelan arms buildup, a Chinese-Venezuelan satellite deal, and Chavez's destabilizing impact on the region. Independent senators argued that Chavez was buying arms to discourage a U.S. intervention, and was not a military threat to Colombia. FM Barco expressed GOC respect for the GOV's right to arm itself, noting however that arms purchases should be transparent. MOD Uribe said an arms race was in neither country's interest. Poloffs consulted with leading senators and staff on the margins, and will attend another discussion of Venezuelan arms in the Senate Plenary on April 26. End summary. -------------------------- Conservatives Concerned -------------------------- 2. (U) Committee Chair Ramiro Velasquez (Conservative) stressed that the hearing was an "analytic debate." He recognized the GOC's tact and diplomacy in the face of Chavez's "cold war." The 1990 Forum of Sao Paolo initiated a movement to the left in Latin America, which he characterized as populist, projecting an illusion of independence, blaming the "oligarchy," and usurping national symbols. Colombia is practically the only country without a leftist orientation and the only one with an internal armed conflict. He said there was a country-by-country leftist takeover of Latin America and that Chavez was arming for offensive, external war. Velasquez called for a Latin American security structure, ideally under the OAS. 3. (U) Former Senate President and GOC Ambassador to the OAS Luis Alfredo Ramos said Chavez is a destabilizing influence in the region -- a populist, "coupist," militarist. Venezuela remains poor despite the flow of oil money, said Ramos; Secretary Rice has got Chavez pegged right. Jesus Carrizosa worried about the number of Venezuelans with Colombian identification cards and their possible impact on next year's elections. Enrique Gomez requested the GOC provide details regarding the new Venezuelan satellite (Chinese origin), and if it could be used for other purposes, intelligence gathering in particular. Chavez's propaganda was another concern for Gomez. -------------------------- Independents Insouciant -------------------------- 4. (U) Jimmy Chamorro (independent; center-left) noted that Chavez's paranoia is new for Venezuelan presidents and that border incursions are worrying. Chavez's arms purchases are motivated by anti-US, not anti-Colombian, sentiment -- the arms are a dissuasive force. He argued that unbridled market forces have produced injustice, inequality and poverty in Latin America, and explained the leftward continental drift as a reaction to the damage brought about by neoliberal policies. Chamorro acknowledged, however, that Chavez wants to export his revolution. 5. (U) Efren Tarapues (indigenous peoples member; left of center) said the indigenous in Colombia want better internal policies to deal with poverty. He echoed Chamorro's view that Chavez is arming to protect Venezuela from the U.S. The indigenous don't fear Venezuela, he said, they want the GOC to confront poverty. -------------------------- Government Tries to Play Down Arms Sales -------------------------- 6. (U) FM Carolina Barco cited public statements from the November 2004 Uribe-Chavez meeting and the March four-president summit. "The GOC respects the decision of the GOV." Every country has the right to defend its sovereignty. She professed to accept at face value Venezuela's position that the arms were to protect the border and combat international crime, though she stressed the importance of transparency in arms purchases. She said President Uribe had earlier stated that the Spanish arms would contribute to the struggle against narcotrafficking and terrorism and would help Colombia. Barco noted that neither Colombia nor Venezuela were signatories of the Acquisition of Conventional Arms Treaty. In view of the military assistance Colombia receives, the GOC has taken care not to take part in declarations or conventions that might compromise its own defense. She also noted Colombia's planned acquisition of more than 20 attack aircraft. 7. (U) MOD Jorge Uribe stated that an arms race would be contrary to the interests of both Colombia and Venezuela. Uribe did not repeat his remarks of concern over Venezuela's purchases. He stressed that the GOC intended to focus its resources on combating illegal armed groups and on social spending. The Senate has called FM Barco and MOD Uribe for another discussion of Venezuean arms in full plenary session on April 26. -------------------------- Little Media Coverage -------------------------- 8. (U) In media terms, the event was overshadowed by the selection of the new Pope, which took place the same morning. El Tiempo columnist Juan Camilo Restrepo noted on April 20 that oil prices have given Chavez deep pockets which he has used for rampant arming. Restrepo said Chavez's arms buildup is dangerous for the region and remained dubious of Uribe's public statement that the boats and planes from Spain will be used to fight narcotrafficking and terrorism and are thus good for Colombia. -------------------------- Comment -------------------------- 9. (SBU) Some members of the Congress (Sens. Velasquez and Gomez in particular) have publicly expressed strong concern over Chavez for some time. Gomez achieved a near unanimous Senate resolution calling for invoking the OAS Democracy Charter in Venezuela prior to last year's referendum on Chavez. The GOC's public rhetoric on Chavez continues to be moderate, owing to the positive spin from the March four-country summit and the follow-on visit of Spanish President Rodriguez Zapatero. WOOD |