Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05BRUSSELS2481
2005-06-29 08:56:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Brussels
Cable title:
EU DEBATING VENEZUELA POLICY
how-toThis record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 002481
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL EPET VE EUN USEU BRUSSELS
SUBJECT: EU DEBATING VENEZUELA POLICY
REF: A. A) STATE 117165
B. B) ROME 2184
Classified By: USEU POLOFF TODD HUIZINGA, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BRUSSELS 002481
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL EPET VE EUN USEU BRUSSELS
SUBJECT: EU DEBATING VENEZUELA POLICY
REF: A. A) STATE 117165
B. B) ROME 2184
Classified By: USEU POLOFF TODD HUIZINGA, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (C) SUMMARY: On June 27, we delivered ref (A) demarche to
Nicolas Pascual de la Parte (STRICTLY PROTECT),EU HighRep
Javier Solana,s Adviser on Latin America. Pascual said that
EU member states were now debating whether and how to engage
or isolate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. He predicted
the EU would have a unified Venezuela policy by
September-October; we believe the U.S. has a window of
opportunity now to influence the EU's approach. Asked what
the major EU concern is regarding Venezuela, Pascual
exclaimed, "Oil." Regarding a possible Chavez tour of
Europe, Pascual said Chavez had contacted a reluctant
Romanian government several times about his interest in
visiting the country. END SUMMARY.
--------------
EU VENEZUELA POLICY BY AUTUMN?
--------------
2. (C) Pasqual (STRICTLY PROTECT) said that the EU was at a
loss as to how to respond to the Chavez phenomenon. EU
member states were debating, in the EU Working Group on Latin
America (COLAT),on approaches to Chavez, such as whether to
try to engage him more or to isolate him, but there was no
consensus on the way forward. Many in the COLAT wanted to
involve regional players, such as Brazil, but were unsure
exactly how to proceed.
3. (C) Within this context, Pasqual said, the European
Commission was drafting a paper on Venezuela policy for the
COLAT. Characterizing the paper as a "business as usual"
Commission product concentrating on aid and development
programs in Venezuela, Pascual said he intended to add a
strategic dimension which would suggest ways to respond to
the many challenges Chavez poses. On the basis of this
paper, Pascual predicted the COLAT would reach consensus on
Venezuela by September-October, with a fully approved common
EU policy toward Venezuela soon to follow.
--------------
SPAIN WILL REMAIN IN DRIVER'S SEAT
--------------
4. (C) Pascual said Spain, which carries the most weight in
the EU on Latin America policy (including Venezuela),was
uneasy about a possible common EU policy. At the moment,
said Pascual, Spain preferred the flexibility it had in the
absence of a binding EU approach. Pascual predicted that
Spain would ultimately not obstruct the development of an
EU-wide policy, but that that policy would be driven by Spain
more than by any other member state. Thus, the EU policy
would probably reflect Spain's preference for an approach of
increased engagement and "constructive dialogue."
--------------
EU MAIN CONCERN: OIL
--------------
5. (C) Pascual said unequivocally that the EU's main concern
regarding Venezuela was oil. He downplayed U.S. concerns
over regional destabilization and the Venezuelan military
build-up, saying, &Chavez is not as important as he thinks
he is.8 He agreed that terrorism and narco-trafficking were
concerns, but not as central as oil.
--------------
CHAVEZ CALLING ROMANIA
--------------
6. (C) Regarding a possible Chavez tour of European capitals,
Pascual said that Chavez is "trying desperately to be
received by Romania.8 He said that Chavez, despite at least
one earlier unsuccessful attempt to solicit an invitation
from Romania, had contacted the Government of Romania again
two weeks ago saying he would like to visit; the GOR had not
yet reached a decision. Pascual said Chavez' reasons for
wanting to visit Romania were not known, but that he
(Pascual) believed that Chavez wanted to try to harness some
of Romania,s oil industry expertise. Pascual was unaware of
any Chavez plans to visit any of the EU member states (see
ref B on possible Chavez visit to Rome).
--------------
COMMENT: TIME RIPE TO ENGAGE EU ON VENEZUELA
--------------
7. (C) In a context of general perplexity as to how to
approach the Chavez problem, the EU's internal debate on
Venezuela is gathering steam. The U.S. has an opportunity
now to shape that debate. Engaging Spain will be especially
important: given Spain's influence within the EU on Latin
America, the EU will likely ultimately come down in favor of
increasing engagement with Chavez. END COMMENT.
MCKINLEY
.
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2015
TAGS: PGOV PREL EPET VE EUN USEU BRUSSELS
SUBJECT: EU DEBATING VENEZUELA POLICY
REF: A. A) STATE 117165
B. B) ROME 2184
Classified By: USEU POLOFF TODD HUIZINGA, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (C) SUMMARY: On June 27, we delivered ref (A) demarche to
Nicolas Pascual de la Parte (STRICTLY PROTECT),EU HighRep
Javier Solana,s Adviser on Latin America. Pascual said that
EU member states were now debating whether and how to engage
or isolate Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. He predicted
the EU would have a unified Venezuela policy by
September-October; we believe the U.S. has a window of
opportunity now to influence the EU's approach. Asked what
the major EU concern is regarding Venezuela, Pascual
exclaimed, "Oil." Regarding a possible Chavez tour of
Europe, Pascual said Chavez had contacted a reluctant
Romanian government several times about his interest in
visiting the country. END SUMMARY.
--------------
EU VENEZUELA POLICY BY AUTUMN?
--------------
2. (C) Pasqual (STRICTLY PROTECT) said that the EU was at a
loss as to how to respond to the Chavez phenomenon. EU
member states were debating, in the EU Working Group on Latin
America (COLAT),on approaches to Chavez, such as whether to
try to engage him more or to isolate him, but there was no
consensus on the way forward. Many in the COLAT wanted to
involve regional players, such as Brazil, but were unsure
exactly how to proceed.
3. (C) Within this context, Pasqual said, the European
Commission was drafting a paper on Venezuela policy for the
COLAT. Characterizing the paper as a "business as usual"
Commission product concentrating on aid and development
programs in Venezuela, Pascual said he intended to add a
strategic dimension which would suggest ways to respond to
the many challenges Chavez poses. On the basis of this
paper, Pascual predicted the COLAT would reach consensus on
Venezuela by September-October, with a fully approved common
EU policy toward Venezuela soon to follow.
--------------
SPAIN WILL REMAIN IN DRIVER'S SEAT
--------------
4. (C) Pascual said Spain, which carries the most weight in
the EU on Latin America policy (including Venezuela),was
uneasy about a possible common EU policy. At the moment,
said Pascual, Spain preferred the flexibility it had in the
absence of a binding EU approach. Pascual predicted that
Spain would ultimately not obstruct the development of an
EU-wide policy, but that that policy would be driven by Spain
more than by any other member state. Thus, the EU policy
would probably reflect Spain's preference for an approach of
increased engagement and "constructive dialogue."
--------------
EU MAIN CONCERN: OIL
--------------
5. (C) Pascual said unequivocally that the EU's main concern
regarding Venezuela was oil. He downplayed U.S. concerns
over regional destabilization and the Venezuelan military
build-up, saying, &Chavez is not as important as he thinks
he is.8 He agreed that terrorism and narco-trafficking were
concerns, but not as central as oil.
--------------
CHAVEZ CALLING ROMANIA
--------------
6. (C) Regarding a possible Chavez tour of European capitals,
Pascual said that Chavez is "trying desperately to be
received by Romania.8 He said that Chavez, despite at least
one earlier unsuccessful attempt to solicit an invitation
from Romania, had contacted the Government of Romania again
two weeks ago saying he would like to visit; the GOR had not
yet reached a decision. Pascual said Chavez' reasons for
wanting to visit Romania were not known, but that he
(Pascual) believed that Chavez wanted to try to harness some
of Romania,s oil industry expertise. Pascual was unaware of
any Chavez plans to visit any of the EU member states (see
ref B on possible Chavez visit to Rome).
--------------
COMMENT: TIME RIPE TO ENGAGE EU ON VENEZUELA
--------------
7. (C) In a context of general perplexity as to how to
approach the Chavez problem, the EU's internal debate on
Venezuela is gathering steam. The U.S. has an opportunity
now to shape that debate. Engaging Spain will be especially
important: given Spain's influence within the EU on Latin
America, the EU will likely ultimately come down in favor of
increasing engagement with Chavez. END COMMENT.
MCKINLEY
.