Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ASUNCION743
2007-09-06 19:03:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Asuncion
Cable title:
PDVSA EXPANDING INTO PARAGUAY AND ELSEWHERE?
how-toVZCZCXYZ0008 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHAC #0743 2491903 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 061903Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY ASUNCION TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6152 INFO RUCNMER/MERCOSUR COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 000743
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
WHA/BSC (CCROFT, BFRIEDMAN)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2027
TAGS: ECON EPET PGOV PREL PA VE
SUBJECT: PDVSA EXPANDING INTO PARAGUAY AND ELSEWHERE?
Classified By: DCM Michael J. Fitzpatrick; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASUNCION 000743
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
WHA/BSC (CCROFT, BFRIEDMAN)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2027
TAGS: ECON EPET PGOV PREL PA VE
SUBJECT: PDVSA EXPANDING INTO PARAGUAY AND ELSEWHERE?
Classified By: DCM Michael J. Fitzpatrick; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Hermes Rafael "Rambo" Saguier, current advisor to
pre-presidential candidate Fernando Lugo, provided DCM with a
July 13 letter from PDVSA, Venezuela's state owned petroleum
company, which sought Saguier's legal services. The letter,
written "within the framework of the international policy of
energy integration and technological and social cooperation
between the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Republic
of Paraguay," contemplated the formation of a corporation
under Paraguayan law to be called "PDVSA Paraguay, S.A.",
which "would participate in mixed Venezuelan-Paraguayan
capital enterprises and the structuring of business with
Paraguayan public and private entities."
2. (C) The letter solicited resumes of Paraguayan lawyers,
and specifically attorneys with Venezuelan experience. It
also stated PDVSA would be most interested in retaining an
international law firm with offices in other countries that
"could be of interest to our company." It said PDVSA would
require any legal consultants hired to sign a strict
confidentiality agreement and to return to PDVSA or destroy
SIPDIS
all documents it provides. The author of the letter, Dr.
Yolanda Robles Calles, Legal Consultant, requested responses
be sent by July 23 to the following address: PDVSA America
S.A., Edif. PDVSA La Tahona, Av. Intercomunal Baruta-El
Hatillo con calle El Angel de La Tahona, Urb. Las Esmeraldas,
Baruta- Edo. Miranda; email roblesy@pdvsa.com; tefefono:
(58.212) 906.4345/ fax (58.212) 906.4695. She carbon copied
Armando Giraud, legal consultant for PDVSA.
3. (C) COMMENT: PDVSA's interest in Paraguay is not
surprising, particularly given the April elections. Perhaps
more interesting is the letter's one seemingly errant
reference to "Chilean" -vice Paraguayan- legal experts,
suggesting that PDVSA sent the same form letter to various
countries in Latin America in an effort to expand its
operations. We are not aware of any other Paraguayan
addressees, but Saguier told us he does not plan to respond.
(Saguier, a Liberal whose brother is the current president of
the Paraguayan Senate, was scandalized by the letter, which
he viewed as a Venezuelan effort to curry favor and financial
ties with the opposition coalition seeking to overturn
Colorado rule). We will continue to be alert to growing
Venezuelan activity here as the electoral season progresses.
END COMMENT.
Please visit us at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/asuncion
CASON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
WHA/BSC (CCROFT, BFRIEDMAN)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2027
TAGS: ECON EPET PGOV PREL PA VE
SUBJECT: PDVSA EXPANDING INTO PARAGUAY AND ELSEWHERE?
Classified By: DCM Michael J. Fitzpatrick; reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Hermes Rafael "Rambo" Saguier, current advisor to
pre-presidential candidate Fernando Lugo, provided DCM with a
July 13 letter from PDVSA, Venezuela's state owned petroleum
company, which sought Saguier's legal services. The letter,
written "within the framework of the international policy of
energy integration and technological and social cooperation
between the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela and the Republic
of Paraguay," contemplated the formation of a corporation
under Paraguayan law to be called "PDVSA Paraguay, S.A.",
which "would participate in mixed Venezuelan-Paraguayan
capital enterprises and the structuring of business with
Paraguayan public and private entities."
2. (C) The letter solicited resumes of Paraguayan lawyers,
and specifically attorneys with Venezuelan experience. It
also stated PDVSA would be most interested in retaining an
international law firm with offices in other countries that
"could be of interest to our company." It said PDVSA would
require any legal consultants hired to sign a strict
confidentiality agreement and to return to PDVSA or destroy
SIPDIS
all documents it provides. The author of the letter, Dr.
Yolanda Robles Calles, Legal Consultant, requested responses
be sent by July 23 to the following address: PDVSA America
S.A., Edif. PDVSA La Tahona, Av. Intercomunal Baruta-El
Hatillo con calle El Angel de La Tahona, Urb. Las Esmeraldas,
Baruta- Edo. Miranda; email roblesy@pdvsa.com; tefefono:
(58.212) 906.4345/ fax (58.212) 906.4695. She carbon copied
Armando Giraud, legal consultant for PDVSA.
3. (C) COMMENT: PDVSA's interest in Paraguay is not
surprising, particularly given the April elections. Perhaps
more interesting is the letter's one seemingly errant
reference to "Chilean" -vice Paraguayan- legal experts,
suggesting that PDVSA sent the same form letter to various
countries in Latin America in an effort to expand its
operations. We are not aware of any other Paraguayan
addressees, but Saguier told us he does not plan to respond.
(Saguier, a Liberal whose brother is the current president of
the Paraguayan Senate, was scandalized by the letter, which
he viewed as a Venezuelan effort to curry favor and financial
ties with the opposition coalition seeking to overturn
Colorado rule). We will continue to be alert to growing
Venezuelan activity here as the electoral season progresses.
END COMMENT.
Please visit us at http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/wha/asuncion
CASON