T&T FRUSTRATED BY VENEZUELA BREAKING CICTE

S E C R E T PORT OF SPAIN 000356 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CAR, WHA/USOAS, WHA/AND, WHA/BSC, WHA/PPC, S/CT E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2016 TAGS: PTER PREL ECON MARR MASS OAS TD SUBJECT: T&T FRUSTRATED BY VENEZUELA BREAKING CICTE CONSENSUS REF: SECSTATE 040856 Classified By: DCM, Eugene P. Sweeney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S) Ambassador delivered talking points contained reftel to Minister of National Security Martin Joseph. Joseph is the outgoing chair of CICTE, and head of Trinidad and Tobago's CICTE delegation to the upcoming Bogota talks. Joseph (protect) spoke very candidly and expressed his extreme frustration at Venezuela's antics at the March 10 meeting, which he thought would be pro forma. Instead, they worked late into the night and were blocked at every option from reaching consensus. At one point, Joseph tried to go back to the previous Declaration of Port of Spain for agreed language, but that did not satisfy the Venezuelans. Still, Joseph assured the Ambassador that Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) would work as chair, and even after relinquishing the chairmanship, to ensure that the major tenets of the Draft Declaration of San Carlos are upheld. ¶2. (S) Joseph noted that T&T is walking a tightrope at times, trying to balance good relations with the United States with at least tolerable ones with Venezuela. However, he noted that Chavez is becoming increasingly difficult to speak with. As an example, he stated that he asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to attempt to influence the Venezuelan decision on the declaration, but was informed that "no one can talk to Chavez." He speculated that it would probably be best to isolate Venezuela, although it would be difficult to do. AUSTIN