GUATEMALA/VENEZUELA: CHILEAN MFA RECOMMENDING "NO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SANTIAGO 000447 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/01/2016 TAGS: PREL UNSC GT VE CI SUBJECT: GUATEMALA/VENEZUELA: CHILEAN MFA RECOMMENDING "NO DECISION FOR NOW" REF: A. SANTIAGO 429 (NOTAL) ¶B. STATE 27055 Classified By: Ambassador Craig A. Kelly for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Outgoing Chilean MFA political director Carlos Portales told Ambassador on March 2 that the MFA's recommendation to the new government on the Guatemala/Venezuela UNSC issue is to hold off on a decision. The Ambassador reiterated our concern about any rush to judgment in favor of Venezuela. Meanwhile, FM Walker praised the decisive role of the Secretary in brokering Insulza's election as OAS SYG. End Summary. Chilean Foreign Ministry on Venezuela -------------- ¶2. (C) At a small farewell dinner for FM Walker March 2, hosted by the Brazilian ambassador, I spoke with the MFA's number three official, Carlos Portales about the Guatemala/Venezuela UNSC seat issue (reftels). Portales is well aware of our strong views, and shares our concern about Venezuelan behavior in international bodies. (It was Portales who had to fire back repeatedly at the Venezuelans during the April 2005 Community of Democracies ministerial in Santiago.) I asked Portales what recommendation the MFA was making to the new government. ¶3. (C) Portales said he and his team were leaving behind a complete file on the issue, spelling out pro's and con's for Guatemala and Venezuela. He then mentioned many of Guatemala's strengths, including having shed blood in international peacekeeping operations. Portales said the recommendation would be to hold off from a decision for now -- there was plenty of time. ¶4. (C) I shared our concern about the new government rushing to a decision in favor of Venezuela. Portales implied that incoming-Foreign Minister Foxley was sympathetic to the go-slow approach. I reiterated that we would be off on a bad footing with the new government if the latter started by embracing Venezuela's candidacy. Brazilian Ambassador -------------- ¶5. (C) Separately, I sounded out the Brazilian ambassador. He acknowledged the problems with Venezuela, but, while trying to be polite toward Guatemala, implied that the bigger South American countries can exert more influence as UNSC members. I pointed out that Venezuela, unlike Guatemala, had no international peacekeepers. Foreign Minister Walker -------------- ¶6. (C) During the dinner, an unprompted FM Walker told the gathering how Secretary Rice had brokered the election of Insulza as OAS SYG. His relating this episode suggests that the Secretary's role has been folded into GOC deliberations, as we have urged. KELLY