FINLAND'S RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON VENEZUELA

C O N F I D E N T I A L HELSINKI 000695 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV VE FI SUBJECT: FINLAND'S RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON VENEZUELA REF: SECSTATE 117165 Classified By: Mikael Cleverley for reasons 1.4 (B,D) ¶1. (C) Acting Pol Chief delivered the reftel talking points to Anne Lammila, Director for the Latin America Unit at the Finnish MFA. Lammila chose not to elaborate on her assessment of the situation in Venezuela, except to point out that the GoF is concerned about conditions there (particularly with regard to democracy and human rights) and is monitoring the situation closely through its Embassy in Caracas. She pointed out that Finland's policy positions were still being formulated in coordination (and harmony) with the EU. ¶2. (C) Lammila noted that no high-level Venezuelan officials are scheduled to visit Finland at this time. She expressed appreciation for the information and referred favorably to her visit to Washington last year when she met with her State Department counterpart and other WHA officers. ¶3. (U) Note: Finland's economic ties to Venezuela are relatively minor. Finland imports small amounts of iron and steel and exports paper products and heavy machinery. The value of trade in 2003 was below 25M Euros. Several Finnish companies have subsidiaries in Venezuela, but the overall investment position is rather unsubstantial. Some cooperation has also existed in the refining of heavy crude oil for the production of asphalts and lubricants. End note. WEISBERG