DEMARCHE ON THE GROWING IRAN-VENEZUELA RELATIONSHIP

S E C R E T BUDAPEST 000844 SIPDIS SIPDIS EUR/NCE MICHELLE LABONTE E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/25/2032 TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM MASS ECON PTER SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON THE GROWING IRAN-VENEZUELA RELATIONSHIP REF: SECSTATE 61378 Classified By: Pol/Econ-C Eric V. Gaudiosi. Reasons: 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel remarks in separate meetings with MFA Iran Desk Officer Istvan Nyitrai and MFA Traveling Ambassador for the Andean Region Pal Varga-Koritar. While remarking that the current state of relations with Iran and Venezuela is "troubling," Mr. Nyitrai believes the significance of the relationship is "not sustainable" given the two countries differing ideologies and lack of mutual issues. Ambassador Varga-Koritar agreed that the situation is troubling and noted that Hungary is actively engaged in this issue with other EU member states. He noted that "Hungary's footprint in Venezuela is minimal" has the GoH has closed its embassy for budgetary reasons. Likewise trade and other bi-lateral relations with the GoV is "tiny." That said, Varga-Koritar believes that it is important to "discuss these issues openly" and plans to raise Iran-Venezuela relations "as appropriate" when he is in the region. He sees continued U.S.-EU engagement as the most promising path for this issue in the near term. LARSON