MOFAT OFFICIALS DISCUSS VENEZUELA, CUBA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 002746 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2015 TAGS: PREL ETRD ECON KS SUBJECT: MOFAT OFFICIALS DISCUSS VENEZUELA, CUBA REF: SEOUL 1736 Classified By: A/DCM Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b),(d). SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) On August 11, the outgoing MOFAT Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Lim Ki-mo, provided A/POL with an update on ROK views toward Venezuela and Cuba. Seoul was considering allowing a visit by Venezuelan President Chavez, although there were no immediate proposals for a trip. Seoul was also exploring improving relations with Cuba. A/POL noted that the USG would prefer that the ROKG not allow a Chavez visit nor establish diplomatic relations with Cuba at this time. Finally, Lim said that Foreign Minister Ban's purpose for visiting Peru and Argentina in August was to press his UNSYG campaign, especially with new Peruvian leaders following elections there. END SUMMARY. VENEZUELA: CHAVEZ VISIT? -------------- ¶2. (C) Lim Ki-mo, outgoing Director for the Latin American and the Caribbean Regional Cooperation Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, during an August 11 meeting with A/POL said that the possibility of Venezuelan President Chavez's visit to Korea had reappeared although there were no immediate plans. Recent reports actually were that Venezuelan planning for an Asia visit was canceled again, he said. Still, he "informally" wondered about USG views. (NOTE: In May MOFAT told us that Seoul had declined Chavez's request to visit on July 16 due to USG sensitivities (reftel). On August 2, however, Latin American Bureau Director General Han Byung-kil asked A/DCM for "informal" USG reaction to a possible Chavez visit. END NOTE). A/POL responded that, in the same "informal" spirit in which the inquiry was made, the USG preferred Seoul not host Chavez for a visit, especially in advance of the September U.S.-ROK summit. Lim assured A/POL that any visit would come after the September summit. Asked about a potential Chavez visit to North Korea, Lim answered that Seoul welcomed greater dialogue with the DPRK and had only asked the Venezuelans to keep Seoul informed. ¶3. (C) Lim explained that during Deputy Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se's June visit to Venezuela, Seoul received a warm reception. Venezuelan officials insisted Caracas wanted to strengthen ties to Asia. Venezuela, Lim said, planned to open an Embassy in Vietnam soon and open Embassies in Singapore, Thailand, and New Zealand by June 2007. Venezuela viewed South Korea as one of the four important countries in Asia along with India, China, and Malaysia, which, Lim said, was music to Korean ears. ¶4. (C) According to Lim, the ROK did not have any crucial interests in Venezuela. Seoul was looking to invest in the Venezuelan oil and gas industries for financial reasons. Transportation issues prevented oil imports from Venezuela from being feasible and Venezuela lacked good LNG facilities so gas imports were also not feasible. Seoul would look to other suppliers for oil diversification. In Venezuela, the ROK sought energy contracts for investment opportunities. Lim said that Seoul and Caracas recently signed a double-taxation avoidance agreement, something that had been in negotiation for a long time. CUBA: TIME TO IMPROVE RELATIONS? -------------- ¶5. (C) Lim asked about the "informal" USG reaction to Seoul's consideration of normalizing diplomatic relations with Cuba. The ROK had a trade office in Cuba, but, with an eye on providing consular assistance to Korean tourists, Seoul wondered about Washington's view on normalization. A/POL, again speaking informally, said Washington preferred Seoul not establish diplomatic relations with Cuba at this time. USG officials could consult with Seoul on ways to establish something like an interest section or liaison office to help increasing numbers of Korean travelers. FM BAN CAMPAIGNING FOR UNSYG IN SOUTH AMERICA -------------- ¶6. (C) Asked about Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon's purpose for visiting Peru and Argentina, Lim said that Ban was returning to Peru to press his UNSYG campaign with new leaders following recent elections there. Lim said that Ban had visited Peru and Argentina in March 2006 primarily for UNSYG purposes as well. VERSHBOW