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
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