AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL TRIP TO MARACAIBO

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CARACAS 001382

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/11/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ECON VE
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S FAREWELL TRIP TO MARACAIBO

Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT R. DOWNES
FOR REASON 1.4 (D)


1. (C) Summary. The Ambassador traveled to Maracaibo, Zulia
state June 26-27 to meet with local leaders, visit social
programs, and meet with the press during his farewell visit.
He called on San Francisco Mayor Saady Bijani and President
of the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference Monsignor Ubaldo
Santana. He attended a luncheon co-hosted by three business
chambers and a reception hosted by the binational center
CEVAZ. The Ambassador distributed scholarships to 30
indigenous girls to study English and participated in two
events with the U.S. Men's National Soccer Team. He visited
the site of the former Consulate where he served as
Vice-Counsel from 1979-1981. The Ambassador also visited the
editorial boards of the two leading Maracaibo dailies "La
Verdad" and "Panorama" and gave several press interviews.
The visit achieved its public diplomacy objectives to notify
Embassy contacts of the Ambassador's departure, to assure
them that the USG's policy toward the BRV will remain
constant despite his departure, and to lend support to the
U.S. Soccer Team. End Summary.

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Local leaders
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2. (SBU) The Ambassador ended his public travels in
Venezuela, where he began his Foreign Service career with a
visit to Maracaibo, Zulia state from June 26 to 27. During a
June 26 press conference, the Ambassador announced over USD
230,000 in NAS-sponsored support for security upgrades to La
Chinita International Airport, including 27 fixed cameras and
7 rotating cameras. He stressed the importance of bilateral
cooperation on aviation security and counter-narcotics.
Airport Director Rino Montiel noted that the new equipment
will, for the first time, provide airport authorities with
continuous video coverage of the cargo area and runways. The
Ambassador added that these upgrades will help La Chinita
become one of the most important airports in western
Venezuela and the Andean region.


3. (U) The Ambassador fielded several questions from the
press regarding increased Senate funding for the "Voice of
America" and the non-renewal of Radio Caracas Television's
broadcasting license. He dismissed BRV's allegations that
the USG is supporting the pro-RCTV demonstrations.


4. (C) After visiting La Chinita, the Ambassador called on
San Francisco Mayor Saady Bijani and announced a USG donation
of 20 computers for patrol cars valued at over USD 93,000.
The computers will relay incident-related information to
patrol vehicles and thus provide faster response times. In a
private meeting before the announcement, Bijani thanked the
Ambassador for the positive working relationship they enjoyed
during his tenure.


5. (C) The Ambassador met privately with Monsignor Ubaldo
Santana, Archbishop of Maracaibo and President of the
Venezuelan Episcopal Conference (CEV),and Vicario Eduardo
Ortigoza on June 26. The Ambassador notified Monsignor
Santana of his departure and assured him that his successor
would continue to support the Church's social programs. The
Ambassador explained that his departure did not signify a
shift in USG policy toward Venezuela. Monsignor Santana and
the Ambassador then discussed different ways to increase
cooperation between U.S. and Venezuelan churches. The
Ambassador offered to serve as a liaison between Cardinals in
the U.S. and the CEV prior to assuming his new assignment.
The Ambassador noted that Venezuelan and Colombian border
city parishes often deal with similar issues and expressed
his intention to collaborate with the CEV from Bogota.
Following the meeting, the Ninos Cantores del Zulia, a
children's choir, treated the Ambassador to a concert.


6. (SBU) The Ambassador was the keynote speaker at a June 26
luncheon co-hosted by the Maracaibo Chamber of Commerce, the
Chamber of Industry, the Venezuelan American Chamber of
Commerce (Venamcham) Western Region, and the Venezuelan
American Center of Zulia (CEVAZ). The Ambassador's remarks
focused on the long-standing U.S.-Venezuelan commercial
relationship as well as the status of the bilateral
relationship. In addition, he fielded questions on the BRV's
nationalization projects and his departure from Venezuela.
The Ambassador urged the business community in Maracaibo to
continue to work with U.S. partners and the Embassy for the
development of western Venezuela.


CARACAS 00001382 002 OF 003


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Outreach Programs
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7. (SBU) The binational center CEVAZ hosted a farewell
reception for the Ambassador on June 26. Prior to the
reception, the Ambassador congratulated recent recipients of
the "College Horizons Scholarship" and toured the newly
inaugurated main foyer. The President of CEVAZ' Board of
Directors Humberto Amado and General Director Ilse Chemaly
thanked the Ambassador for his service to Venezuela and
CEVAZ. The Ambassador praised CEVAZ's work and added that
its services contributed to a greater appreciation of
U.S.-Venezuelan ties.


8. (SBU) The Ambassador visited the Pitahaya Vocational
Center and distributed "Miranda-Washington Scholarships" to
30 indigenous and Afro-Venezuelan girls to study English for
two years at a local school affiliated with CEVAZ. The
Ambassador toured Pitahaya's facilities, congratulated the
young women, and spoke to them about the benefits of learning
English.


9. (SBU) The Ambassador participated in a youth soccer clinic
with assistant coaches Mike Sorber and Juergen Sommer of the
U.S. Men's National Soccer Team, participating in the
regional Copa America soccer tournament. Prior to the event,
the Ambassador and Rafael Romero, the President of
Maracaibo's Institute for Sports and Recreation, an
organization affiliated with MRV Mayor of Maracaibo Giancarlo
DiMartino, held a press conference and exchanged team soccer
shirts. The Ambassador told the press that he anticipated a
Team USA victory over Argentina and hoped to return to
Maracaibo for the final game if the U.S. team advanced.
Assistant coaches Sorber and Sommer practiced soccer drills
with the participants, while the Ambassador donated Team USA
t-shirts to the youngsters.


10. (SBU) After the clinic, the Ambassador attended a private
lunch with the members of Team USA and the coaching staff.
The Ambassador and Kasey Keller, the team's goal keeper, held
a press conference before the lunch where the Ambassador
reiterated his support for the team. At the lunch, Team USA
presented the Ambassador with a team jersey.

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Meeting the Press
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11. (SBU) The Ambassador visited the editorial boards of the
two leading Maracaibo dailies "La Verdad" and "Panorama." He
met with the editor and director of "La Verdad," an
opposition-leaning paper and the second largest daily in
Maracaibo, on June 26. The Ambassador discussed the lack of
transparency behind Venezuela's arms purchases, his Senate
confirmation hearing, and the natural U.S.-Venezuelan
commercial relationship. Regarding the public warning issued
by the Department during the Copa America, the Ambassador
said the Embassy has a responsibility to inform American
citizens of events and security concerns in the country. He
also outlined the need to work with the BRV on practical
issues, such as civil aviation, terrorism, and extradition.


12. (SBU) The Ambassador met with "Panorama's" Board of
Directors on June 27. "Panorama" enjoys the widest
circulation in western Venezuela and has a pro-government
editorial tendency. The members of the Board indicated they
would be more centrist (less pro-government) in the future.
The Ambassador, sporting his Team USA jersey, discussed his
departure from Post, the BRV's nationalization projects, the
anti-Castro militant Posada Carriles, and sustained that his
departure did not indicate a shift in the USG's policy toward
Venezuela. "Panorama" covered the two-day trip
extensively, however, they also gave considerable attention
to Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez' response to the Ambassador's
comment's on Posada Carriles.


13. (C) Juan Carlos Fernandez, a well known local journalist
and former International Visitor's Program participant,
interviewed the Ambassador on the Day of the Journalist, June
27, for the morning television show "A Punto." The
Ambassador discussed RCTV's closure, recent student protests,
and freedom of expression. The Ambassador noted the need to
establish dialogue with the BRV based on issues of mutual
interest, similar to the U.S.-Russian relationship during the
Cold War.

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CARACAS 00001382 003 OF 003


Re-Opening the Consulate
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14. (SBU) The Ambassador paid an ad-hoc visit to the site of
the old Consulate where he served as Vice-Counsel from
1979-1981. The Ambassador outlined the history of the U.S.
Consulate in Maracaibo, and subsequently fielded questions
from by-standers and the press on its status. The Ambassador
stated that the USG requested that the BRV re-open the
Consulate over a year ago but we have yet to receive a
response. The Ambassador lamented that Maracuchos (citizens
of Maracaibo) have to travel to Caracas for consular services
when the same services could be offered in Maracaibo. The
Ambassador noted that the BRV currently has nine consular
offices in the United States.

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Comment
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15. (C) The two-day visit achieved its public diplomacy
objectives to notify Embassy contacts of the Ambassador's
departure and to assure them that the USG's policy toward the
BRV will remain constant despite the arrival of a new Chief
of Mission. The trip also lent support to the U.S. Soccer
Team and Embassy-sponsored social programs. The Ambassador's
farewell trip generated significant press coverage in both
regional and national media.


16. (C) The Ambassador did not clear this cable.

FRENCH