DEMARCHE ON THE GROWING IRAN-VENEZUELA

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRIDGETOWN 000717 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/AND STATE FOR NEA/IRAN ADDIS ABABA FOR ANTHONY FISHER E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/30/2017 TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM MASS ECON PTER VE IR XL SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON THE GROWING IRAN-VENEZUELA RELATIONSHIP DELIVERED REF: STATE 61378 Classified By: CDA Mary Ellen T. Gilroy for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (C) We delivered reftel demarche to six countries in the Eastern Caribbean. Officials of all six countries expressed concern about the growing ties between Venezuela and Iran, but as is typical for the Eastern Caribbean, they refused to commit to speaking out or taking action in international fora. Embassy Grenada will report on their demarche septel. ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA -------------- ¶2. (C) MFA Permanent Secretary Ambassador Colin Murdoch told PolOff that his nation has not yet developed an opinion on the growing Iranian-Venezuelan relationship. He stated that the GOAB would probably adopt the CARICOM position toward the relationship, once one was formulated. PS Murdoch did express concern about Venezuela helping Iran circumvent U.N. Security Council resolutions, and asked the USG to forward any information it had in this regard to his government. BARBADOS -------------- ¶3. (C) MFA Permanent Secretary Ambassador Teresa Marshall, former Barbados Ambassador to Venezuela, was strongly critical of the current situation in Venezuela. She shared U.S. concerns about the growing relationship between Venezuela and Iran, which she viewed as a negative development for the region. However, she indicated that Barbados would not go so far as to oppose Venezuela on this issue in international fora. DOMINICA -------------- ¶4. (C) MFA Permanent Secretary Steve Ferrol stated that his government was monitoring the Iran-Venezuela relationship. He was confident that, if this relationship were to deepen and impact the region, the CARICOM heads of government would focus on the issue. ST. KITTS AND NEVIS -------------- ¶5. (C) MFA Permanent Secretary Theresa Nisbitt said her government was unaware of the growing relationship between Iran and Venezuela. She thanked the USG for bringing this to the attention of her government. ST. LUCIA -------------- ¶6. (C) Permanent Secretary for External Affairs Ambassador Anthony Severin stated that St. Lucia was also concerned with the long-term implications of the deepening Iran-Venezuela relationship and that St. Lucia would be watching this closely. He further stated, however, that while St. Lucia saw this relationship as risky, St. Lucia would not involve itself in anyway that would infringe on Venezuela's sovereignty. ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES -------------- ¶7. (C) MFA Permanent Secretary Patricia Martin reminded PolOff of St. Vincent's good relations with Venezuela, but stated that it would not let its strong relationship with Venezuela blind it from supporting basic principles of democracy. PS Martin stated that she was confident that multilateral bodies, such as the UN Security Council, would keep this situation under control. COMMENT -------------- ¶8. (C) The Eastern Caribbean responded to this demarche in a typical fashion: while they may share USG concerns about Venezuela's growing ties with Iran, they will take no action in international venues that could undermine their generally friendly -- and for some, lucrative -- relations with Venezuela. Betraying the region's sensitivities with regard to Venezuela, a few of our interlocutors were defensive and concerned until they realized that the demarche did not concern their relations with Venezuela. The references to CARICOM consensus and the principle of sovereignty are also standard default responses in the region, which may pay lip service to our shared goals and concerns but is rarely willing to stand up and be counted when it matters. GILROY