MEDIA REACTION - VENEZUELA'S AGREEMENT TO ASSIST BOLIVIA

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 002129 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR IIP/G/WHA, INR/R/MR, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, INR/IAA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC PREL KMDR KPAO PGOV VE BR PA PE CI SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - VENEZUELA'S AGREEMENT TO ASSIST BOLIVIA BUILD MILITARY BASES NEAR ITS BORDER ¶1. Summary: Chile's media has reported extensively about the Venezuelan-Bolivian military agreement, which has generated considerable critical public commentary by several Congressmen. Government Ministers and members of the Socialist Party continue to downplay the military pacts. End Summary. ¶2. Press reporting on October 11 highlighted Foreign Affairs and Defense Ministers Alejandro Foxley and Vivianne Blanlot appearance yesterday with the Senate Foreign Relations and Defense Committees and with the Houses Foreign Affairs Committee to explain the government's position on the Bolivia-Venezuela Complementary Agreement of the Basic Technological Cooperation Agreement. ¶3. The Ministers said the government knew of the agreement since May. Foxley called for calm because his ministry has been closely monitoring the developments regarding the agreement and would "continue to rigorously observe" this matter, underscoring that "there is absolutely no threat to Chile's security." Blanlot said the agreement is "not a surprise and not grounds for special concern." She said it is a "sovereign decision" for which Chile has no reason to intervene. ¶4. The media reported that the Ministers admitted that the agreement's article related to Armed Forces cooperation raises doubts to the true scope of the cooperation. Specifically because it could pave the way for Venezuela to militarily assist Bolivia in an eventual conflict with a border country. Blanlot, however, downplayed the concern regarding the construction of military bases: "these are issues that must be thoroughly discussed with Bolivia at the right time." "We have at least 12 agreements that have a similar depth to this one, but this agreement has received an exceedingly alarmist connotation," said Blanlot. ¶5. Prominent Congressmen raised concerns about Venezuela's military cooperation pact with Bolivia. Senator Sergio Romero (RN) warned that "Chile cannot remain indifferent to Venezuela's "military and political intervention in Bolivia." Roberto Muoz (PPD),Chairman of the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee cautioned: "The concerns are valid because Venezuela is "participating in a third country building bases that could be used on any occasion.... This is not humanitarian assistance, it is military strategy." Jorge Tarud (PPD),Chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee said: "No country in Latin America contributes financially to the construction of military bases in another nation." ¶6. For the first time, the leading dailies quoted President Bachelet on the Venezuela-Bolivia agreement: "We see this as a sovereign decision, but we assume that any decision of this kind is not against the interest of anyone.... The information I have at hand (shows the agreement) is within the norm for defense cooperation among countries." ¶7. On October 11, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record "El Mercurio" (circ. 129,000) ran an editorial entitled, "Ambiguous Military Commitments" that states: "The difference in this case is the Venezuelan President's history of transgressions, in practice and international law, Bolivia's weak institutions, and its growing dependence on Venezuela.... Everyone expects the two presidents to explain the scope of the agreement, to act with transparency, and have entities verify its concrete application. These are the minimum terms to bring tranquility in the region and for the correct understanding among governments.... It is in the interest of all countries involved that presidents of Bolivia and Venezuela clarify the scope of the agreement." KELLY