PORTUGAL: VENEZUELA SPECIAL COORDINATOR DISCUSSES

C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 002406

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV VE BR PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL: VENEZUELA SPECIAL COORDINATOR DISCUSSES
VENEZUELA, BRAZIL, AND CUBA

REF: LISBON 2160

Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY PUBLIC DIPLOMACY OFFICER ROBERT
HOWES FOR REASONS 1.4(B) AND (D).


1. (C) Summary: In an October 3 meeting with WHA Special
Coordinator for Venezuela Deborah McCarthy, Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MFA) Latin America Director Helena Coutinho
stressed Portugal's commitment to a fair Venezuelan
presidential campaign with a viable opposition to prevent
Chavez from gathering too much power. The GOP also remains
fully engaged in urging African counterparts to support
Guatemala in the election for the UN Security Council (UNSC).
Coutinho highlighted Portugal's long-standing relationship
with Brazil and its ability to work well with the Lula
administration. With regards to Cuba, Coutinho concurred
with the U.S. desire to see the return of democratic rule but
noted the EU approach was to keep open lines of communication
with the Cuban government while simultaneously talking to
independent civil society groups. End Summary.

Relations with Venezuela
--------------

2. (C) Coutinho stated that the fact that nearly half-million
Portuguese nationals and additional 800,000 persons of
Portuguese descent reside in Venezuela influences Portugal's
relationship with the Chavez government. Since last year,
Chavez has requested a state visit with the Portuguese
president but the GOP has not been willing to find a
convenient time. Coutinho expressed concern regarding
Chavez's attempts to further consolidate power, especially
judicial power, in his own hands. She cited the imprisonment
of a Portuguese pilot as an example of this "blurring" of
powers. Jailed for several months last year, the pilot's
trial was postponed sixteen times and the Venezuelan
government was never in a hurry to resolve the case, although
he was eventually released. McCarthy concurred with the
concern over power consolidation and reiterated the USG
desire to work with other countries both inside and outside
the region that may exert an influence on Chavez.

Venezuelan Presidential Elections
--------------

3. (C) Portugal remains committed to a fair Venezuelan
presidential campaign and hopes to send observers as part of
an EU mission. McCarthy also underscored the need for
international election observers but noted that the USG could
not fund or send any observers to Venezuela. Coutinho viewed
the participation of the opposition in the elections as a
positive sign as they will be the ones to prevent Chavez from
drawing too much power into his own hands. Nonetheless,
Coutinho noted that the recent placement of a campaign
billboard showing Chavez meeting with Prime Minister Socrates
could be a boost to his electoral campaign. While the GOP
was angered by the posters and strongly expressed its
dissatisfaction to the Chavez government (reftel),it might
be too late to change the minds and potential votes of the
many Portuguese living in Venezuela who only saw the poster
touting the meeting with Socrates.

UNSC Vote
--------------

4. (C) McCarthy finished the conversation on Venezuela by
commenting that the outcome of the UNSC vote between
Venezuela and Guatemala would not be decided in the western
hemisphere but in other parts of the world, notably Africa.
McCarthy reiterated the USG request that Portugal advocate
for Guatemala, especially given Portugal's close relationship
and influence with lusophone countries in Africa. Coutinho
responded that Portugal had been previously demarched on the
issue by the USG and that the GOP had discussed the issue
with its African counterparts and would continue to do so.

Strong Ties to Brazil
--------------

5. (C) Coutinho noted that Portugal and Brazil share a very
strong, close, and long-standing relationship. Portugal
works well with the Lula Government, has an increasing number
of investments in Brazil, and is actively trying to attract
more Brazilian investment to Portugal. Coutinho opined that
Lula has done a good job of managing Brazil's economy
(despite recent corruption scandals) and that Portugal felt
positively about the direction of Brazil under Lula.
McCarthy commented on USG's continued engagement with Brazil,
noting that it could play a greater leadership role in the
hemisphere.

Cuba
--------------

6. (C) The future of Cuba continues to be a topic of great
interest to both Portugal and the EU, and Coutinho agreed
with McCarthy that Cuba must move forward democratically. The
big question was how this transition could be done without
the EU and others being seen as interfering in the country's
internal affairs. For the time being, the EU plans to
maintain the dialogue with the Cuban government while
reaching out to the independent civil society. According to
Coutinho, civil society groups in Cuba have acted very
prudently and thus it was difficult to gauge when and how
they will act. For now, the EU can only keep in contact with
them and heed their request to keep such contacts low-key.

Comment
--------------

7. (C) Coutinho's comments during the meeting indicated that
the GOP remains in broad agreement with the U.S. on issues of
immediate concern, such as the need for a valid opposition on
the upcoming Venezuelan elections and the importance of
ensuring a transition to democratic rule in Cuba. However,
her strongest points about the many Portuguese living in
Venezuela, Portugal's close ties with Brazil, and EU's
approach on Cuba demonstrate that Portugal is not only
watching the region closely but is also closely looking after
what it sees as its own and EU interests, which are not
always consistent with ours.


8. (U) Special Coordinator for Venezuela Deborah McCarthy
cleared this cable.
Hoffman