MALAYSIA CONFIRMS SUPPORT FOR VENEZUELA'S UNSC BID

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUALA LUMPUR 001634 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2011 TAGS: PREL KDEM UNSC VE GT MY SUBJECT: MALAYSIA CONFIRMS SUPPORT FOR VENEZUELA'S UNSC BID REF: A. KUALA LUMPUR 1618 ¶B. SECSTATE 140182 Classified By: POLITICAL SECTION CHIEF MARK D. CLARK, REASON 1.4 (B AND D) ¶1. (C) Polcouns met August 30 with Bala Chandran Tharman, Principal Assistant Secretary, Multilateral Political Division/UN Affairs at the Malaysian Foreign Ministry, and reiterated ref B demarche regarding Venezuela's lobbying for a UNSC seat. We asked whether President Chavez's repeated public statements of Malaysia's pledged support were accurate. Bala confirmed Malaysia support to Venezuela, explaining that the two countries had "reached an understanding" on this matter. He said that Malaysia's appraisal of Venezuela differed from the U.S. view. In addition, Malaysia's position reflected "geo-political realities." ¶2. (SBU) Chavez concluded his visit to Malaysia on August ¶29. Coverage of Chavez in Malaysia's government-directed media remained low-key and focused on economic cooperation, particularly in the oil/gas and palm oil sectors. The media did not highlight Chavez's political statements, while substantive public comments by Malaysian officials did not feature in the press. Chavez's speech before the Malaysian chamber of commerce utilized anti-imperialist rhetoric and highlighted South-South cooperation. According to the national news agency Bernama, at Chavez's invitation Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi will travel to Venezuela December 17-20, a visit which will feature the signing of bilateral economic agreements. SHEAR