GOV NOMINATES DELGADO FOR OAS'S JUDICIAL COMMITTEE

UNCLAS CARACAS 000871 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV VE OAS SUBJECT: GOV NOMINATES DELGADO FOR OAS'S JUDICIAL COMMITTEE ¶1. (U) The GOV notified the Embassy through a diplomatic note dated March 14 that it is nominating Dr. Jose Manuel Delgado Ocando for the Interamerican Judicial Committee (IJC) of the Organization of American States (OAS) for the 2006-2009 period, and asked for U.S. support for Delgado's candidacy. The GOV will present Delgado's candidacy before the OAS General Assembly meeting in Fort Lauderdale June 2005. Curriculum vitae in Spanish will follow by fax to USOAS and Venezuela desk. ¶2. (U) Delgado retired from Venezuela's Supreme Court August 20, 2004. According to press reports, Delgado would be remembered for three cases: a) the decision that President Hugo Chavez's term had started August 19,2000 and would end January 10, 2007 made on April 5, 2001; b) the annulment of the Electoral Chamber's sentence validating 870,000 "plana" votes for the presidential recall referendum on March 23, 2004; and c) the order to PDVSA to restart production during the petroleum strike on December 19, 2002. In addition to his work as a Supreme Court Justice, Delgado was a professor and dean at the National University of Zulia, his alma mater, and has written several books and magazine articles related to law and philosophy. Brownfield NNNN 2005CARACA00871 - UNCLASSIFIED