Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CARACAS397
2006-02-14 18:22:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
VENEZUELA: BOSTON GROUP FUTURE MURKY
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000397
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
FRC FT LAUDERDALE FOR CLAMBERT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM VE
SUBJECT: VENEZUELA: BOSTON GROUP FUTURE MURKY
REF: A. CARACAS 00298
B. CARACAS 00332
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR MARK A WELLS FOR 1.4 (D)
-------
Summary
--------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000397
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
FRC FT LAUDERDALE FOR CLAMBERT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM VE
SUBJECT: VENEZUELA: BOSTON GROUP FUTURE MURKY
REF: A. CARACAS 00298
B. CARACAS 00332
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR MARK A WELLS FOR 1.4 (D)
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) With the current climate of bilateral relations,
post is not optimistic about the future of the US-Venezuelan
bipartisan legislative forum, known as the Boston Group (BG).
Even before President Chavez' February 2 and 4 speeches (ref
a and b),post was unable to secure meetings with National
Assembly (AN) deputies, including lower-profile Chavistas
with whom we talked during previous tense times, despite
receiving signals of interest in re-starting the group.
Former BG opposition deputy Pedro Diaz Blum, who still talks
to many pro-government legislators, told Poloff that several
deputies were interested in talking to Emboffs, but are
probably waiting for a cooling of bilateral tensions lest
they be perceived as betraying Chavez. After testing the
waters, we do not plan to press Boston Group members, but
will occasionally probe for their openness as appropriate.
End Summary.
--------------
Deputies Answer 1 out of 7 Meeting Requests
--------------
2. (C) During Representative William Delahunt's August 31-
September 2, 2005 visit, pro-government National Assembly
(AN) deputies Saul and Calixto Ortega praised the work of the
US-Venezuelan bipartisan legislative forum, known as the
Boston Group (BG),and expressed interest in re-energizing it
during the next AN session. After the December 2005
legislative elections, then-AN First Vice President Ricardo
Gutierrez also heralded the BG, and asked Polcouns whether he
thought the group could be reconstituted, despite the
opposition's absence in the new legislature.
3. (C) Since the AN's installation January 5, however, Post
has tried to reach out to several remaining BG members, with
little success. Of the seven requests we have made for
meetings with pro-government legislative contacts, only one
has resulted in a meeting. In one case, PolCouns received a
call from the assistant of AN deputy Saul Ortega
(MVR-Carabobo),who also heads the AN's Foreign Policy
Committee, canceling a meeting as PolCouns was walking to the
deputy's office. In another incident, the DCM invited BG
members to lunch at his residence, but had to cancel the
morning of the event when no one had responded. A member of
AN President Maduro's staff later told Poloff, rather
unconvincingly, that it was an apparent miscommunication.
--------------
Fear of Chavez Looms Large
--------------
4. (C) On February 1, Poloff met with former Boston Group
member Pedro Diaz Blum, who is still in contact with some
pro-government AN deputies. According to Blum, several
deputies want to meet with the Embassy, but fear upsetting
Chavez. In fact, Blum said, MVR deputy Elvis Amoroso
(Aragua) had submitted a proposal to create a new
US-Venezuela Friendship Committee, but Maduro was sitting on
the idea, presumably waiting for bilateral tensions to cool
CARACAS 00000397 002 OF 002
off. Former BG President Calixto Ortega (MVR-Zulia),who has
been a frequent Embassy contact, was proposed to lead the
group, but Blum sensed Ortega had been cowed. Blum
speculated that meetings might be possible again in a few
months when Chavez' current accusations and anti-US rhetoric
might have passed. (Note: Blum, though no longer a deputy,
is one of few opposition figures respected by the MVR and can
be a credible interlocutor with legislative officials.
Venamcham has offered him a contract to assist their efforts
to mediate between US and Venezuelan congressional members
this year as well.)
--------------
Comment
--------------
5. (C) The strength of the Boston Group had been the
inclusion of pro-Chavez and opposition legislators--a point
negated by the Chavistas' 100-percent hold on the new AN.
The timidness of pro-Chavez deputies in refusing to meet with
us is another example of the continued blurring of the lines
between the executive and legislative branches, and the
deliberate closing down of communication between the
government and Embassy. Whether they have been ordered not
to meet with us or--more likely--are simply afraid of getting
crosswise with Chavez, the effect is the same. We neither
plan to encourage or discourage the group's re-creation, but
will periodically reach out to remaining BG members and will
respond to any requests we may receive.
BROWNFIELD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
FRC FT LAUDERDALE FOR CLAMBERT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/10/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM VE
SUBJECT: VENEZUELA: BOSTON GROUP FUTURE MURKY
REF: A. CARACAS 00298
B. CARACAS 00332
Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR MARK A WELLS FOR 1.4 (D)
--------------
Summary
--------------
1. (C) With the current climate of bilateral relations,
post is not optimistic about the future of the US-Venezuelan
bipartisan legislative forum, known as the Boston Group (BG).
Even before President Chavez' February 2 and 4 speeches (ref
a and b),post was unable to secure meetings with National
Assembly (AN) deputies, including lower-profile Chavistas
with whom we talked during previous tense times, despite
receiving signals of interest in re-starting the group.
Former BG opposition deputy Pedro Diaz Blum, who still talks
to many pro-government legislators, told Poloff that several
deputies were interested in talking to Emboffs, but are
probably waiting for a cooling of bilateral tensions lest
they be perceived as betraying Chavez. After testing the
waters, we do not plan to press Boston Group members, but
will occasionally probe for their openness as appropriate.
End Summary.
--------------
Deputies Answer 1 out of 7 Meeting Requests
--------------
2. (C) During Representative William Delahunt's August 31-
September 2, 2005 visit, pro-government National Assembly
(AN) deputies Saul and Calixto Ortega praised the work of the
US-Venezuelan bipartisan legislative forum, known as the
Boston Group (BG),and expressed interest in re-energizing it
during the next AN session. After the December 2005
legislative elections, then-AN First Vice President Ricardo
Gutierrez also heralded the BG, and asked Polcouns whether he
thought the group could be reconstituted, despite the
opposition's absence in the new legislature.
3. (C) Since the AN's installation January 5, however, Post
has tried to reach out to several remaining BG members, with
little success. Of the seven requests we have made for
meetings with pro-government legislative contacts, only one
has resulted in a meeting. In one case, PolCouns received a
call from the assistant of AN deputy Saul Ortega
(MVR-Carabobo),who also heads the AN's Foreign Policy
Committee, canceling a meeting as PolCouns was walking to the
deputy's office. In another incident, the DCM invited BG
members to lunch at his residence, but had to cancel the
morning of the event when no one had responded. A member of
AN President Maduro's staff later told Poloff, rather
unconvincingly, that it was an apparent miscommunication.
--------------
Fear of Chavez Looms Large
--------------
4. (C) On February 1, Poloff met with former Boston Group
member Pedro Diaz Blum, who is still in contact with some
pro-government AN deputies. According to Blum, several
deputies want to meet with the Embassy, but fear upsetting
Chavez. In fact, Blum said, MVR deputy Elvis Amoroso
(Aragua) had submitted a proposal to create a new
US-Venezuela Friendship Committee, but Maduro was sitting on
the idea, presumably waiting for bilateral tensions to cool
CARACAS 00000397 002 OF 002
off. Former BG President Calixto Ortega (MVR-Zulia),who has
been a frequent Embassy contact, was proposed to lead the
group, but Blum sensed Ortega had been cowed. Blum
speculated that meetings might be possible again in a few
months when Chavez' current accusations and anti-US rhetoric
might have passed. (Note: Blum, though no longer a deputy,
is one of few opposition figures respected by the MVR and can
be a credible interlocutor with legislative officials.
Venamcham has offered him a contract to assist their efforts
to mediate between US and Venezuelan congressional members
this year as well.)
--------------
Comment
--------------
5. (C) The strength of the Boston Group had been the
inclusion of pro-Chavez and opposition legislators--a point
negated by the Chavistas' 100-percent hold on the new AN.
The timidness of pro-Chavez deputies in refusing to meet with
us is another example of the continued blurring of the lines
between the executive and legislative branches, and the
deliberate closing down of communication between the
government and Embassy. Whether they have been ordered not
to meet with us or--more likely--are simply afraid of getting
crosswise with Chavez, the effect is the same. We neither
plan to encourage or discourage the group's re-creation, but
will periodically reach out to remaining BG members and will
respond to any requests we may receive.
BROWNFIELD