Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SEOUL2746
2006-08-14 06:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
MOFAT OFFICIALS DISCUSS VENEZUELA, CUBA
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHUL #2746/01 2260643 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 140643Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 9643 INFO RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0077 RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 0338 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1069 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1149 RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0007 RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J5 SEOUL KOR RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J2 SEOUL KOR RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA SCJS SEOUL KOR
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
-------
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
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