Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SANTIAGO447
2006-03-03 17:51:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:  

GUATEMALA/VENEZUELA: CHILEAN MFA RECOMMENDING "NO

Tags:  PREL UNSC GT VE CI 
pdf how-to read a cable
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DE RUEHSG #0447 0621751
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
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FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8599
INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 2505
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 3104
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 2937
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0880
RUEHGT/AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA 0201
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 1009
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 3214
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0492
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0133
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).

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