CHAVEZ SOCIAL CHARTER EVENT (EL SALVADOR)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 002425 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2015 TAGS: PREL KSUM SOCI ES SUBJECT: CHAVEZ SOCIAL CHARTER EVENT (EL SALVADOR) REF: STATE 154693 Classified By: DCM Michael. A Butler. Reasons:1.4 (b,d). (C) On August 29, Polcouns raised reftel talking points with GOES Vice-FoMin Eduardo Calix and Multilateral Organizations deskoff Felix Ulloa. Calix stated that he was aware of the sinister political motivations behind Chavez's Charter, and referred the issue to Mario Rivera, MFA Director of Foreign Policy (Politica Exterior). During a conversation with Polcouns on August 30, Rivera stated that the GOES is fully aware of Chavez's political motivations in regard to the Social Charter, that the GOES sent a low key, technical level MFA official to the Caracas meeting, and that official was instructed "to be in a listening mode only." Rivera added that the GOES intends to keep a low profile on this issue, while being careful not to ruffle GOV feathers unnecessarily. Comment: Since Vice-FoMin Calix was out of the country last week attending the Rio Group meeting and the Politica Exterior position was vacant until August 29, Embassy was unable to deliver the demarche at the appropriate level until August 29. We expect that the GOES will support our views on this issue, but will tread carefully so as not to create controversy with Chavez. Barclay