CHARGE'S MEETING WITH VICE MINISTER VALERO-JULY 30

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 001526 SIPDIS SIPDIS HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER) E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/31/2017 TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM PTER SNAR VE SUBJECT: CHARGE'S MEETING WITH VICE MINISTER VALERO-JULY 30 CARACAS 00001526 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR DANIEL LAWTON, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) Summary. Foreign Ministry Vice Minister Valero told Charge July 30 that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) wants more dialogue with the USG, so long as the USG "respects our sovereignty." Valero raised U.S. financing of Venezuelan NGOs, energy and commercial relations, consular reciprocity issues, and the extradition of Posada Carriles as possible topics for further discussion when Ambassador Duddy arrives. Charge reinforced USG interest in enhancing bilateral counterterrorism and counternarcotics cooperation and urged the BRV to avoid rhetorical and personal attacks. Valero praised Chavez' socialist revolution at length and said the BRV would not engage in dialogue with the "disloyal opposition." End Summary. -------------- Prospects For Bilateral Dialogue -------------- ¶2. (C) Jorge Valero, Vice Minister for North American and Multilateral Affairs at the Ministry of Popular Power for Foreign Affairs, welcomed Charge to his office on July 30. Valero had returned from the United States on July 28 and said he made meeting the arriving Charge a priority. He was joined by Wendy Viteri of the North American Affairs office; A/PolCouns accompanied the Charge. ¶3. (C) Charge noted that Ambassador Duddy is likely to arrive by mid to late August and stressed the USG's interest in a practical diplomatic dialogue on issues of mutual interest. Valero replied that the BRV also wants dialogue. He recognized that bilateral discussion has been "frozen," despite agreement on possible topics. The Vice Minister said he appreciated the Charge's visit and saw it as a positive sign. He noted that the BRV is waiting for the arrival of Ambassador Duddy to begin further substantive discussions. At the same time, the BRV appreciates its ongoing dialogue in Washington with WHA A/S Shannon and at the OAS. He cautioned, however, that the BRV will engage in dialogue only if the USG "respects our sovereignty." ¶4. (C) Reflecting haphazardly and dogmatically on possible topics for bilateral discussions, Valero said the BRV is concerned about U.S. financing of NGOs in Venezuela. He �00A;agreed with Charge's statement that commercial and energy relations are positive and fluid. He is pleased that some consular reciprocity issues have been ironed out at the working level and said the BRV is considering extending the length of diplomatic visas. He reiterated the BRV's interest in the extradition of Posada Carriles. ¶5. (C) Charge said that with respect to energy, the Embassy would appreciate more contact with the state oil company PDVSA. He also flagged the USG's interest in working with the BRV in other areas, including counterterrorism and conternarcotics. Charge also stressed the importance of working cooperatively and not engaging in rhetorical and personal attacks. Valero weighed this last point, but did not respond. -------------- Socialism in the 21st Century -------------- ¶6. (C) Valero spent considerable time defending Chavez' "socialist revolution." While conceding that "Socialism in the 21st Century" is still ill-defined, he said the BRV is embarking on significant, homegrown social experiments that will enhance "democracy, social justice, and equality." He said Chavez' proposals for significant constitutional changes are expected soon and predicted that the BRV would submit them to a referendum by the end of 2007. Citing recent polling data, the Vice Minister also asserted that the middle class is expanding in Venezuela and that poverty is being reduced. ¶7. (C) Charge noted that the USG and BRV shares similar goals for their populations, but very different visions on how to achieve them. Valero said Venezuela's image internationally would improve once the country's opposition participated "loyally" and stressed the BRV would not engage in dialogue with the "disloyal opposition." He regretted the radical left's decision to engage in armed struggle starting in 1963, instead of trying to win democratic elections. He accused Venezuela's opposition of CARACAS 00001526 002.2 OF 002 being similarly misguided and of pursuing extra-constitutional means to defeat Chavez. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) Valero was somewhat tense in his first meeting with Charge, but he relaxed over the course of the 45-minute meeting. After dwelling on the BRV's commitment to inclusiveness and social equality, Valero concluded the meeting by offering rave reviews of some of Caracas' most exclusive and expensive restaurants. The fact that Valero agreed to meet with the Charge so soon after returning from the U.S. (Valero remains double-hatted as the BRV's Ambassador to the OAS) is a positive sign, but the substance of Valero's perceptions on how to further dialogue with the USG is not encouraging. The same day Valero warned a group of parliamentarians from the Amazon region, as well as the local media, against U.S. "interest in taking over the Amazon." FRENCH