Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CARACAS1107
2007-06-06 17:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:  

GOVERNOR ROSALES: SEEKING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

Tags:  PGOV PREL PHUM VE 
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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 001107 

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/05/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM VE
SUBJECT: GOVERNOR ROSALES: SEEKING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

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Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES,
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 001107

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HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)

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TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM VE
SUBJECT: GOVERNOR ROSALES: SEEKING INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT

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Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES,
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) Summary. Zulia Governor and de facto opposition
leader Manuel Rosales briefed the Ambassador June 1 on
Rosales' ongoing efforts to persuade other Latin American
governments that the "democratic deficit" in Venezuela is a
regional problem. Rosales considers his May 21-22 visit to
Panama a success and is planning to visit Uruguay June 13-15
in an effort to discourage the GOU from supporting
Venezuela's final entry into Mercosur. The Ambassador
briefed Rosales on USG assistance efforts in Zulia, including
his late June visit to Maracaibo to roll out a $2.2 million
counternarcotics cooperation program in Maracaibo. He also
refuted opposition rumors regarding the recent visit of
Congressman Delahunt. Rosales expects student demonstrations
against the government closure of RCTV to continue, but did
not elaborate. The Zulia Governor pledged to energize state
chambers and associations in support of an American Presence
Post in Maracaibo. End Summary.

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Lobbying Latin America
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2. (C) At his request, Zulia Governor and de facto opposition
leader Manuel Rosales called on the Ambassador June 1 at his
residence. Rosales said he will continue to work to educate
other Latin American governments on the "democratic deficit"
in Venezuela under President Chavez. He reported that he had
good May 21-22 meetings with OAS officials in Panama, as well
as excellent media opportunities. He is urging that the OAS
General Assembly debate or approve a resolution on Venezuela
at the June 3-5 OAS General Assembly. Rosales said GOP and
OAS reps were optimistic that Venezuela would be discussed.
He thought someone other than the United States should take
the lead, such as Canada.


3. (C) Rosales provided the Ambassador with the copy of his
eight-page letter to OAS Secretary General Insulza. The
letter on Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT) party stationery contains a
detailed description of the "democratic deficit" in Venezuela

and criticism of the BRV,s lack of protection of human
rights. Arguing that there exists a "change that affects the
constitutional order" of democracy in Venezuela and citing
the OAS Inter-American Democratic Charter, Rosales calls on
Insulza and the OAS Permanent Council to send officials to
conduct a fact-finding mission in Venezuela.


4. (C) Rosales next plans to travel to Montevideo, June
13-15, where he intends to talk to the press and GOU
officials about Venezuela and Mercosur. He hopes to
discourage the GOU from supporting Venezuela's final entry
into Mercosur. Rosales postponed a previously planned visit
to Uruguay after he and his team were unable to confirm
meetings with key interlocutors. They believe BRV officials
had persuaded officials not to meet with Rosales several
weeks ago.

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U.S. Cooperation with Zulia
--------------


5. (C) The Zulia governor reiterated his strong interest in
launching visible joint projects and programs with the USG.
The Ambassador noted the USG also wants to move ahead with a
U.S. contribution of $2.2 million to promote joint
cooperation. The Ambassador had postponed his visit planned
May 30-31 visit to Maracaibo due to RCTV protests, but
pledged to reschedule the trip later in June. Rosales said
he hoped USG support would go beyond training police and
enhancing security. The Ambassador assured Rosales that our
assistance efforts encompass education, health, and security.

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Student Demonstrations
--------------


6. (C) Rosales held a May 31 Caracas press conference in
which he lambasted the BRV's decision to close independent
broadcaster RCTV on May 28. During the media encounter,
Rosales challenged President Chavez to hold a nation-wide
consultative referendum on whether RCTV should be allowed
back on the free airwaves and seek the counsel of
international bodies, such as the UN, OAS, and Mercosur
partners. Rosales told the Ambassador that he expected
student protests against RCTV's closure to continue, but did

CARACAS 00001107 002.3 OF 002


not offer details as to why he thought that.

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Codel Delahunt Rumors
--------------


7. (C) Rosales said there is a rumor in opposition circles
that Congressman Delahunt and the Ambassador met with Chavez
to trade an increase in Venezuelan oil sales to the United
States in exchange for official silence on the RCTV matter.
The Ambassador corrected the record, noting that he did not
participate in the Congressman's May 30 meeting with Chavez.
Moreover, to the best of the Ambassador's knowledge, Chavez
and Delahunt did not discuss oil sales to the United States.
Rosales, while reassured, said it would be better for rumor
control if we got word out to the press on the visit. The
Ambassador agreed, but noted that the visit was organized
completely between the Congressman and the BRV, so our
ability to influence was limited. Rosales expressed a
willingness to meet or designate a senior UNT party official
to meet with any visiting U.S. congresspersons.

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Consulate Maracaibo
--------------


8. (C) Reflecting on the BRV's decision not to respond to the
USG request to open an American Presence Post (APP) in
Maracaibo over the last 14 months, Rosales asked if he should
generate public pressure in Zulia. The Ambassador responded
that that would be useful if Rosales could do it in
non-political way. He urged him to play on Zulianos' desire
to obtain consular, commercial, cultural, and educational
services in Maracaibo, instead of having to travel to
Caracas. Rosales said he may try to energize interested
chambers and associations. Rosales speculated that Chavez
himself is probably blocking the opening of the APP.


9. (SBU) Rosales was accompanied by UNT International Affairs
Advisor Timoteo Zambrano, Zulia Sports Director Oslando
Munoz, Advisor Armando Leon, and Advisor Ruben Barboza. The
DCM and Poloff joined the Ambassador.

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Comment
--------------


10. (C) Zulia Governor Rosales, to his credit, remains ready
to associate himself and his state government publicly with
U.S. assistance programs, despite the political risks. He
also continues to seek U.S. diplomatic support, wherever
possible, for his international efforts to raise concerns
about Chavez' increasingly authoritarian rule. Rosales told
the Ambassador in January that he planned to mobilize local
opinion on lobbying the BRV to allow the USG to open a
"consulate" in Maracaibo, but has not yet done so. The Zulia
governor's brief visit to Caracas gave him an opportunity to
express support for students demonstrating against RCTV's
closure before the national and international media.
Contrary to BRV assertions of an opposition conspiracy,
Rosales, like other opposition politicians, appears to be
pleasantly surprised and did not suggest he has played a role
in coordinating student demonstrators. A National Resistance
Command leader harshly criticized Rosales' RCTV referendum
idea, and student leaders continue to keep opposition parties
at arms length from their events.

BROWNFIELD