CHAVEZ' CHARGE OF FRAUD FURTHER STRAINS

C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 003825

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/27/2016
TAGS: PGOV PINR PHUM UNGA UNSC VE PE
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ' CHARGE OF FRAUD FURTHER STRAINS
PERU-VENEZUELA RELATIONS

Classified By: POL Alexis Ludwig for Reasons 1.4 (c,d).


1. (SBU) Summary: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez' public
allegation that Alan Garcia won Peru's recent elections by
resorting to fraud has generated strong public and official
repudiations here. This latest exchange has further strained
an already testy bilateral relationship, and with luck will
complicate Venezuela's bid for a temporary seat on the UN
Security Council. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Peruvian government officials have reacted strongly
to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez' public allegation that
President Alan Garcia stole the recent election victory from
radical presidential candidate and Chavez ally Ollanta Humala
by resorting to "fraud." In an impromptu September 25
television interview that received heavy prime-time news
play, Prime Minister Jorge del Castillo replied archly,
exclaiming that Chavez had no business presuming to teach
Peruvians about democracy. Del Castillo added that Venezuela
was headed toward "the highest stage of authoritarianism"
with his rubber stamp congress peopled entirely of Chavez'
supporters and no opposition of any kind. Foreign Minister
Garcia Belaunde was also quoted in news reports as being
dismayed by the Venezuelan's comment.


3. (SBU) Other prominent political figures have joined the
fray, which has exacerbated the strains in an already testy
relationship and hardened anti-Chavez sentiment among a broad
swath of Peruvians. Foreign Ministry contacts have privately
acknowledged that this latest episode could further
complicate a bilateral relationship that remains on ice
following the electoral victory of Garcia over Humala, but
said a formal response through official channels was unlikely
because it would only dignify a comment that "lacked
seriousness."


4. (C) Comment: Since his election, Garcia has followed a
three-pronged strategy for dealing with Venezuela. The first
element has consisted of efforts to calm the verbal waters
and open the door for an eventual normalization of bilateral
relations (the two countries maintain Embassies in one
another,s capital but have withdrawn ambassadors). The
second is intensified monitoring of Venezuelan efforts to
create Bolivarian circles and support far-left parties in the
November regional elections. The third prong consists of
efforts to build a coalition of like-minded Pacific coast
states in South and Central AMERICA that can push back on
Chavez,s regional influence. Garcia,s courtship of Chile
and the integration of Santiago into the Andean Community fit
into that plan. Chavez has consistently refused to play
along with the first element of the Peruvian strategy,
continuing to act as though Peruvian objections to his
interference in the recent Presidential elections are an
undiplomatic affront to Caracas. We can only hope that
stoking this controversy so close the UN General Assembly
vote on Venezuela,s bid for a Security Council seat will
tarnish Caracas, prospects within the region. End Comment.
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