FM EVASIVE ON DEMARCHE REQUEST REGARDING

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT OF SPAIN 000486

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR WHA/CAR

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/24/2016
TAGS: OVIP PGOV PREL PTER CARICOM VZ TD
SUBJECT: FM EVASIVE ON DEMARCHE REQUEST REGARDING
AMBASSADOR BROWNFIELD

REF: STATE 60604

Classified By: DCM: ESWEENEY FOR REASONS 1.4 (b&d)


1. (C) In an April 21 meeting with Trinidad and Tobago,s
Foreign Minister, Knowlson Gift, Ambassador Austin delivered
reftel demarche requesting T&T to support the US protest
against the Venezuela government-inspired attacks on US
Ambassador Brownfield.


2. (C) Gift was emphatic in his response, no host government
can turn its back on its responsibility to protect diplomats
accredited to it. He recognized that five such attacks in
the past seven months and three violent incidents in
consecutive weeks clearly amounted to &targeting8.
However, when Ambassador Austin suggested that Gift might
raise his voice in protest against such behavior by the
Venezuelan government, Gift was evasive, moving on to a
different subject.


3. (C) COMMENT: Gift,s wariness was in line with past GOTT
reluctance to become involved in the acrimonious exchanges
between the US and Venezuela. This non-confrontational
strategy may face a tougher test, when T&T participates with
the US in the upcoming military exercises in what Chavez
regards as Venezuela,s Caribbean area of influence. END
COMMENT.
AUSTIN