BRV COMMUNIQUES CONDEMN U.S. POLICY

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000595 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/02/2021 TAGS: PGOV PREL VE SUBJECT: BRV COMMUNIQUES CONDEMN U.S. POLICY REF: CARACAS 460 Classified By: Robert Downes, Political Counselor, for Reason 1.4(b). -------------- Summary -------------- ¶1. (C) The Embassy received two written communiques from Venezuelan government officials the week of February 20, both condemning U.S. policy in Venezuela and demanding the cessation of U.S. "imperialist aggression." On February 7, the National Assembly passed a resolution condemning the expulsion of Venezuelan diplomat Jenny Figueredo. National Assembly President Nicolas Maduro sent a copy of the resolution to the Embassy. On a more local level, an Aragua state municipal council passed a February 22 resolution denouncing Secretary Rice's February 16 testimony before the House International Relations Committee, in which the Secretary made remarks critical of the BRV and stated that SIPDIS international support for a local Venezuelan truckers' strike was useful. The Embassy has forwarded both documents via pouch to the Department for reference. End summary. ¶2. (C) The Embassy received a copy of the February 7 National Assembly resolution condemning the U.S. expulsion of Venezuelan diplomat Jenny Figueredo from National Assembly President Nicolas Maduro. The resolution, entitled the "Accord to reject the latest escalation of imperialist aggression against Venezuela and to uphold the honor of Jenny Figueredo", supported President Chavez's decision to expel U.S. naval attache John Correa and reiterated Chavez's espionage allegations. It claimed that, after trying unsuccessfully "for months" to warn the Embassy of Correa's "irregular activities", the BRV was left with no choice but to declare Correa persona non grata. The Assembly resolution rejected the expulsion of Venezuelan diplomat Jenny Figueredo as an unfounded act of "political retaliation" against a Venezuelan officer whose conduct "was not comparable with (Correa's)." The resolution closed by calling upon the U.S. government to respect international law and Venezuelan sovereignty. ¶3. (C) On a more local level, an Aragua state municipal council passed a resolution February 22 condemning Secretary Rice's February 16 criticisms of Venezuela. The council of the Jose Felix Ribas municipality sent the Ambassador "warm Revolutionary greetings" before proceeding to denounce Secretary Rice's remarks as an infringement on Venezuelan SIPDIS sovereignty. The council's resolution claimed that U.S. "imperialist forces" had conspired against the institutional stability of President Chavez's government, and that the Secretary's statement that international support for a local SIPDIS Venezuelan truckers' strike was useful directly undermined Venezuela's national security. The council concluded by calling upon the Venezuelan people to reject the Secretary's remarks and resolved to present its resolution to the Venezuelan National Assembly, Aragua state government, and the Embassy. -------------- COMMENT -------------- ¶4. (C) The latest give and take in U.S.-Venezuelan relations obviously struck a nerve among the Chavistas. While the contents of neither resolution comes as a surprise, the Embassy has forwarded both documents to the Department for its review and will continue to keep the Department informed on any further BRV response to either issue. WHITAKER