Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CARACAS1805
2007-09-12 14:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
PERUVIAN AMBASSADOR ON VENEZUELA'S RE-ENTRY INTO
how-toVZCZCXRO5431 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHCV #1805 2551400 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 121400Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9695 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001805
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD VE
SUBJECT: PERUVIAN AMBASSADOR ON VENEZUELA'S RE-ENTRY INTO
ANDEAN COMMUNITY
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT R. DOWNES
FOR REASON 1.4 (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001805
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD VE
SUBJECT: PERUVIAN AMBASSADOR ON VENEZUELA'S RE-ENTRY INTO
ANDEAN COMMUNITY
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT R. DOWNES
FOR REASON 1.4 (D)
1. (C) Speaking "unofficially" Peruvian Ambassador Luis Santa
Maria Calderon told the Ambassador during an initial courtesy
call September 10 that Peru would probably welcome
Venezuela's reintegration into the Andean Community of
Nations (CAN),but prefers that Venezuela be re-admitted as
an associate member. Venezuela withdrew from the CAN in
April 2006 to protest Peru and Colombia's signing of free
trade agreements with the United States. However, President
Chavez announced on August 31 that Venezuela may return to
the CAN if social issues became a pillar of the
organization's activities. Santa Maria said Chavez' overly
ambitious aspirations of becoming a regional economic player
led the Venezuelan president to opt out of the CAN and pursue
entry into Mercosur. He asserted that the Brazilian and
Paraguayan congresses' decision to delay Venezuela's entry
into Mercosur over political concerns has forced Chavez to
reconsider his decision to leave the CAN.
2. (C) Santa Maria noted that Venezuela technically remains a
full member of the CAN because the withdrawal process takes
five years to complete. To save face, however, Santa Maria
believes Venezuela may only seek re-admission as an associate
member. (Note: Santa Maria did not indicate that Peru would
or could challenge Venezuela if it decided to rejoin the CAN
as a full member. End Note.)
3. (C) Venezuela's re-entry as a full member would shift the
balance of power within the bloc, Santa Maria said.
Currently, Peru and Colombia are the two largest economies
and exert significant influence over the other member states.
For this reason, Bolivian President Evo Morales and
Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa support Venezuela's
reintegration as a full member. According to Santa Maria,
Morales commented that Venezuela's re-entry would give the
"popular" governments the upper hand (a three to two margin)
in the regional trade bloc.
DUDDY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV ETRD VE
SUBJECT: PERUVIAN AMBASSADOR ON VENEZUELA'S RE-ENTRY INTO
ANDEAN COMMUNITY
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT R. DOWNES
FOR REASON 1.4 (D)
1. (C) Speaking "unofficially" Peruvian Ambassador Luis Santa
Maria Calderon told the Ambassador during an initial courtesy
call September 10 that Peru would probably welcome
Venezuela's reintegration into the Andean Community of
Nations (CAN),but prefers that Venezuela be re-admitted as
an associate member. Venezuela withdrew from the CAN in
April 2006 to protest Peru and Colombia's signing of free
trade agreements with the United States. However, President
Chavez announced on August 31 that Venezuela may return to
the CAN if social issues became a pillar of the
organization's activities. Santa Maria said Chavez' overly
ambitious aspirations of becoming a regional economic player
led the Venezuelan president to opt out of the CAN and pursue
entry into Mercosur. He asserted that the Brazilian and
Paraguayan congresses' decision to delay Venezuela's entry
into Mercosur over political concerns has forced Chavez to
reconsider his decision to leave the CAN.
2. (C) Santa Maria noted that Venezuela technically remains a
full member of the CAN because the withdrawal process takes
five years to complete. To save face, however, Santa Maria
believes Venezuela may only seek re-admission as an associate
member. (Note: Santa Maria did not indicate that Peru would
or could challenge Venezuela if it decided to rejoin the CAN
as a full member. End Note.)
3. (C) Venezuela's re-entry as a full member would shift the
balance of power within the bloc, Santa Maria said.
Currently, Peru and Colombia are the two largest economies
and exert significant influence over the other member states.
For this reason, Bolivian President Evo Morales and
Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa support Venezuela's
reintegration as a full member. According to Santa Maria,
Morales commented that Venezuela's re-entry would give the
"popular" governments the upper hand (a three to two margin)
in the regional trade bloc.
DUDDY