Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06CARACAS80
2006-01-12 20:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Caracas
how-toVZCZCXRO0288 PP RUEHAO DE RUEHCV #0080 0122008 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 122008Z JAN 06 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2752 INFO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA PRIORITY 0021 RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS PRIORITY 0009 RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA PRIORITY 5812 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 5069 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 0010 RUEHCO/AMEMBASSY COTONOU PRIORITY 0004 RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR PRIORITY 0005 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ PRIORITY 1514 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA PRIORITY 9715 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 0049 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA PRIORITY 0080 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 1589 RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT PRIORITY 0024 RUEHWD/AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK PRIORITY 0008 RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO PRIORITY 0515 RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL PRIORITY 0218 RUEHMI/USOFFICE FRC FT LAUDERDALE PRIORITY 2747 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA PRIORITY 0384
UNCLAS CARACAS 000080
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
USOFFICE FRC FT LAUDERDALE FOR CLAMBERT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL VE
SUBJECT: GOV GRANTED OBSERVER STATUS IN AU
REF: CARACAS 03227
UNCLAS CARACAS 000080
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
USOFFICE FRC FT LAUDERDALE FOR CLAMBERT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL VE
SUBJECT: GOV GRANTED OBSERVER STATUS IN AU
REF: CARACAS 03227
1. (U) Vice-Minister for Africa Reinaldo Bolivar announced
December 23 that the African Union (AU) had approved
Venezuela's May 2005 request for observer status. Venezuela
is now one of 23 non-African states, including Cuba, granted
observer status since the AU established guidelines for their
participation last March. In order to maintain observer
status, AU guidelines stipulate that all non-African states
must cooperate with and support the work of the African
Union. While representatives of non-African states are
permitted to attend open sessions and with the permission of
the chairperson, participate in meetings, they do not retain
voting power. Juan Carlos Barrios, Director of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs' Office of African Affairs, told poloff
January 10 that Venezuela's Ambassador to Ethiopia, Luis
Mata, would serve as the GoV's representative to the AU and
that the government had invited the President of the AU's
Commission, Alpha Oumar Konare, to visit Caracas near the end
of January. Plans for Konare's visit, according to Barrios,
have not been confirmed.
2. (U) Barrios explained that the Africa Agenda, a 12-page
document outlining the GoV's foreign policy strategy toward
sub-Saharan Africa, seeks to strengthen diplomatic ties with
the 54 nations of the region (see ref A). Last year the GoV
opened diplomatic missions in Benin, Senegal and Ethiopia,
and the government reportedly plans to open an additional
three missions in the region before the year's end (a total
of 14 missions). Barrios said the government had not
determined where these missions would be located. The GoV's
ultimate goal is open a total of 18 missions in the region by
2007 and to establish a diplomatic presence in remaining
African states.
3. (U) The Africa Agenda also identifies opportunities for
cooperation in health and preventative diseases; one of the
AU's principle objectives. Through "Triangular Cooperation"
with Cuba, the Agenda outlines a strategy to assist African
leaders in the areas of medical research, medical production
and application of preventative vaccines such as rabies and
malaria (see ref A). Bolivar commented January 5 that the
GoV is currently working with the Cuban government to create
several health programs designed to promote greater salubrity
in the sub-Saharan Africa.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
4. (SBU) The catalyst behind the GoV's desire to obtain
observer status in the AU is rooted in Chavez' desire to
increase Venezuela's participation in cooperative, regional
organizations as well as to strengthen its ties throughout
the developing world. (Note: The GoV is also currently
investigating observer status in the Arab League.)
Venezuela's observer status in the AU is only a minor step
toward Chavez' goal to exert greater influence, in general,
and gain support for the international elements of his
bolivarian agenda among leaders in developing nations.
Whether or not the GoV can maintain its observer status is,
however, contingent upon the administration's ability to
transform its 12-page Africa Agenda into substantive actions.
WHITAKER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
USOFFICE FRC FT LAUDERDALE FOR CLAMBERT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL VE
SUBJECT: GOV GRANTED OBSERVER STATUS IN AU
REF: CARACAS 03227
1. (U) Vice-Minister for Africa Reinaldo Bolivar announced
December 23 that the African Union (AU) had approved
Venezuela's May 2005 request for observer status. Venezuela
is now one of 23 non-African states, including Cuba, granted
observer status since the AU established guidelines for their
participation last March. In order to maintain observer
status, AU guidelines stipulate that all non-African states
must cooperate with and support the work of the African
Union. While representatives of non-African states are
permitted to attend open sessions and with the permission of
the chairperson, participate in meetings, they do not retain
voting power. Juan Carlos Barrios, Director of the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs' Office of African Affairs, told poloff
January 10 that Venezuela's Ambassador to Ethiopia, Luis
Mata, would serve as the GoV's representative to the AU and
that the government had invited the President of the AU's
Commission, Alpha Oumar Konare, to visit Caracas near the end
of January. Plans for Konare's visit, according to Barrios,
have not been confirmed.
2. (U) Barrios explained that the Africa Agenda, a 12-page
document outlining the GoV's foreign policy strategy toward
sub-Saharan Africa, seeks to strengthen diplomatic ties with
the 54 nations of the region (see ref A). Last year the GoV
opened diplomatic missions in Benin, Senegal and Ethiopia,
and the government reportedly plans to open an additional
three missions in the region before the year's end (a total
of 14 missions). Barrios said the government had not
determined where these missions would be located. The GoV's
ultimate goal is open a total of 18 missions in the region by
2007 and to establish a diplomatic presence in remaining
African states.
3. (U) The Africa Agenda also identifies opportunities for
cooperation in health and preventative diseases; one of the
AU's principle objectives. Through "Triangular Cooperation"
with Cuba, the Agenda outlines a strategy to assist African
leaders in the areas of medical research, medical production
and application of preventative vaccines such as rabies and
malaria (see ref A). Bolivar commented January 5 that the
GoV is currently working with the Cuban government to create
several health programs designed to promote greater salubrity
in the sub-Saharan Africa.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------
4. (SBU) The catalyst behind the GoV's desire to obtain
observer status in the AU is rooted in Chavez' desire to
increase Venezuela's participation in cooperative, regional
organizations as well as to strengthen its ties throughout
the developing world. (Note: The GoV is also currently
investigating observer status in the Arab League.)
Venezuela's observer status in the AU is only a minor step
toward Chavez' goal to exert greater influence, in general,
and gain support for the international elements of his
bolivarian agenda among leaders in developing nations.
Whether or not the GoV can maintain its observer status is,
however, contingent upon the administration's ability to
transform its 12-page Africa Agenda into substantive actions.
WHITAKER