GOI CONCERNED ABOUT VENEZUELAN NGOS

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUBLIN 000718 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/20/2016 TAGS: PREL KDEM PGOV VE EI EAID SUBJECT: GOI CONCERNED ABOUT VENEZUELAN NGOS REF: SECSTATE 97547 Classified By: Mary E. Daly, Pol/Econ Chief for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 1.(C) On June 20 emboffs delivered reftel points on Venezuelan NGOs to Department of Foreign Affairs Americas Section Deputy Director Margaret Stanley. Stanley expressed concern over the potential registration, auditing, and overall crackdown on NGOs. She pointed out that Irish diplomacy in Venezuela is handled out of the Irish embassy in Mexico City and the ambassador there has had little contact with Venezuela. She explained that Irish concerns are being handled by the EU Member States that do have representation in Caracas. 2.(C) Stanley reported that EU ambassadors met with the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs the week of June 12 to express their concerns over the possible hindrance to EU initiatives that could result from new legislation. The GOV called these concerns "unfounded" and said it was simply trying to make the NGOs more accessible by including them Qin a database. In a later meeting with the Venezuelan Comittee for External Policies the EU ambassadors were given a new version of the law that Stanley said included some "positive adjustments" on the channeling of funds issue but added new articles about government auditing. Stanley noted that the EU ambassadors in Caracas are still worried despite these Venezuelan attempts to allay their fears but stressed that there is good communication between the GOV and the ambassadors and that the EU ambassadors promised further discussion and close monitoring of the legislation. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit Dublin's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/dublin/index. cfm KENNY