Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CANBERRA1662
2007-11-20 07:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Canberra
Cable title:  

AUSTRALIAN RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON DEMOCRACY IN

Tags:  PGOV PHUM AS VE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0715
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DE RUEHBY #1662 3240711
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 200711Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8586
INFO RUEHSW/AMEMBASSY BERN IMMEDIATE 1511
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS IMMEDIATE 0102
RUEHHE/AMEMBASSY HELSINKI IMMEDIATE 0590
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO IMMEDIATE 0272
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO IMMEDIATE 1280
RUEHSM/AMEMBASSY STOCKHOLM IMMEDIATE 1075
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 2836
RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN IMMEDIATE 0002
RUEHWL/AMEMBASSY WELLINGTON IMMEDIATE 5144
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV IMMEDIATE 1190
RUEHBN/AMCONSUL MELBOURNE PRIORITY 4728
RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH PRIORITY 3019
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY PRIORITY 2899
C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 001662 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/AND LOURDES CUE AND EAP/ANP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM AS VE
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON DEMOCRACY IN
VENEZUELA

REF: STATE 157026 (NOTAL)

Classified By: Political Counselor James F. Cole for reasons 1.4 (b),(d
).

C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 001662

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/AND LOURDES CUE AND EAP/ANP

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM AS VE
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIAN RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON DEMOCRACY IN
VENEZUELA

REF: STATE 157026 (NOTAL)

Classified By: Political Counselor James F. Cole for reasons 1.4 (b),(d
).


1. (SBU) We presented reftel demarche points to John Owens,
Assistant Secretary for Canada and Latin America, Department
of Foreign Affairs and Trade, on November 20. Owens was
joined by John M.L.Woods, Director for the Canada and Latin
America Section, and Philip C.W.Lowday, Executive Officer.


2. (C) Owens said Australia was following with concern events
in Venezuela, including President Chavez' latest
constitutional reform proposal and watching for any signs
that the government was deviating from the path of a
market-based economy. While the Australian government's
current caretaker status, in advance of the November 24
national election, constrained its ability to speak out more
forcefully, Australia was attempting to register its concerns
in more more low key ways. For example, Owens himself had
recently expressed concerns to the Venezuelan charge in
Canberra about constitutional developments in his country,
warning of the need to maintain a stable investment
atmosphere, if Venezuela was to progress. Earlier in the
year, Australian Treasurer Peter Costello had criticized the
Venezuelan leader in Parliament for his moves to nationalize
the oil industry, and for calling the U.S. President "a
killer, a genocidal murderer and a madman," he added.


3. (C) Woods commented that Venezuela appeared to be
following Cuba's lead in seeking to expand its influence in
the South Pacific. The Venezuelan Vice Minister for Foreign
Affairs, Vladimir Poljak, had attended the late October
Pacific Island Forum as an observer, at Tonga's invitation.
Poljak had held out the promise of discounted fuel and
construction of a regional fuel storage facility as means of
cementing relations with Pacific Island states, noting that
would Venezuela would end the use of fuel as a weapon of
domination over smaller countries, Wood said.


4. (SBU) Trade between Australia and Venezuela amounts to
about AUD 25 million (USD 22.3 million) per year, almost 90
percent of which involves Australian exports of ships,
medecines, and wines. Investment is minimal; Australian
mining giant BHP Billiton closed down its USD 780 million hot
briquetted iron plant in Venezuela recently. For budget
reasons, Australia closed its embassy in Caracas in 2003.