UNT LOBBIES EU, PLANS MEETING WITH OAS TO RAISE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 001936

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/28/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
SUBJECT: UNT LOBBIES EU, PLANS MEETING WITH OAS TO RAISE
CONCERNS ABOUT CHAVEZ' CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

REF: CARACAS 001913

CARACAS 00001936 001.2 OF 002


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


1. (C) Summary. Former presidential candidate Manuel Rosales
and Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT) party leaders are actively sharing
their concerns about the anti-democratic nature of Chavez'
proposed constitutional changes with foreign governments and
the OAS. Zulia Governor Rosales briefed 13 European
Ambassadors in Caracas September 27; the ambassadors appeared
most concerned about the potential economic impact of Chavez'
constitutional package. UNT leaders tell us that OAS SecGen
Insulza has agreed to receive them sometime in October.
Rosales will also seek meetings with senior USG officials
while in Washington. While conceding they have an uphill
struggle to defeat Chavez' reform package in a December 2
public referendum, opposition activists want Chavez to pay a
political cost internationally for concentrating even more
power in his presidency. End Summary.


--------------
Rosales Briefs European Ambassadors
--------------


2. (SBU) Zulia Governor Manuel Rosales, accompanied by UNT
Secretary General Gerardo Blyde and UNT International

SIPDIS
Coordinator Timoteo Zambrano, briefed 13 ambassadors from EU
member states September 27 at the Portuguese Embassy in
Caracas. After the meeting, Rosales told the local media
that he stressed that Chavez' proposals to change 33 articles
of the 1999 Constitution would eliminate political pluralism.
"Whoever is not a socialist will be excluded and will be
violating the (new) constitution," said Rosales. The former
consensus opposition presidential candidate publicly urged
European and other countries to use their diplomatic
influence to promote solutions that will end "abuses" and
restore the balance of power among government branches in
Venezuela.


3. (C) UNT International Coordinator Zambrano told Poloff
that the European ambassadors were most interested in UNT's
analysis of the potential economic impact of Chavez' proposed
constitutional changes. They were particularly concerned
about the possible dilution of constitutional protections of
private property and potential affects on existing European
investments in Venezuela. Zambrano said the European
Ambassadors did not appear to be as concerned about Chavez'
proposals to eliminate presidential term limits and
concentrate more power in the presidency at the expense of
state and local governments.

--------------
UNT Asks for Observers
--------------


4. (C) Finnish Ambassador Mikko Pyhala told PolCouns that the
UNT specifically requested that the European Union mount an
electoral observation mission (EOM) for the constitutional
referendum planned for December 2. Pyhala said the European
ambassadors told Rosales that it would be difficult for the
EU to do. The EU mounted EOMs during the 2005 parliamentary
and 2006 presidential elections; the BRV has largely ignored
the EU's electoral recommendations.

--------------
UNT to Visit Washington
--------------


5. (C) Zambrano also told Poloff that Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT)
has asked for a meeting with OAS Secretary General Insulza to
raise the party's concerns about Chavez' constitutional
reform package. Insulza has agreed to a Washington meeting
with Rosales and other UNT leaders sometime in October,
perhaps on or about October 12, but his staff has not yet
confirmed the date. Zambrano said Rosales would also seek
meetings with senior USG officials while he is in Washington.
A group of 400 Venezuelan civil society leaders led by
former Venezuelan Ambassador to the UN Milos Alcalay and
other former Venezuelan ambassadors separately sent a letter
to OAS SecGen recently to urge the OAS and its member states
to consider Chavez' proposals a violation of the OAS
Inter-American Democratic Charter.

--------------

CARACAS 00001936 002.2 OF 002


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


6. (C) UNT leaders and other opposition party leaders
privately concede that they are unlikely to defeat Chavez'
constitutional reform package in a public referendum slated
for early December (Reftel). UNT leaders are more hopeful
that their concerted efforts to educate the international
community about the anti-democratic nature of Chavez'
constitutional reform will undermine Chavez' international
image. Other opposition parties, such as Primero Justica,
have been less active internationally, but are considering
trying to do more international outreach. Meanwhile, the
BRV, through its embassies, foreign assistance programs, and
National Assembly delegations, is reportedly deploying abroad
additional resources in defense of Chavez' constitutional
package.

DUDDY