Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CARACAS1937
2007-09-28 22:15:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
CHAVEZ AND AHMADINEJAD: PROUD TO BE BROTHERS IN
how-toVZCZCXRO1555 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHCV #1937 2712215 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 282215Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9836 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 0118 RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY PRIORITY RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0928
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001937
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/26/2017
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL IR VE
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ AND AHMADINEJAD: PROUD TO BE BROTHERS IN
THE FIGHT AGAINST IMPERIALISM
REF: A. LA PAZ 2626
B. CARACAS 0091
Classified By: Economic Counselor Andrew Bowen for reason 1.4(b).
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001937
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/26/2017
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL IR VE
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ AND AHMADINEJAD: PROUD TO BE BROTHERS IN
THE FIGHT AGAINST IMPERIALISM
REF: A. LA PAZ 2626
B. CARACAS 0091
Classified By: Economic Counselor Andrew Bowen for reason 1.4(b).
1. (U) On the evening of September 27, 2007 Iranian
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited President Chavez at the
Miraflores, Presidential Palace. Arriving in Caracas from La
Paz, Bolivia, in an aircraft provided by the Bolivarian
Republic of Venezuela (BRV),Ahmadinejad received full formal
honors and spoke privately with Chavez during the 2 hours and
30 minute visit. Publicly, Chavez and Ahmadinejad affirmed
their "united fight against imperialism," pledged their
"support to their "brother President Evo Morales who is in
the vanguard in the fight for fundamental change in Latin
America," and stated that "imperialism has no option but to
respect the will of the people or face defeat." Ahmadinejad
reiterated that he and Chavez "were two revolutionary
brothers who would always be together." Chavez and
Ahmadinejad signed three cooperation agreements pledging to
develop petrochemical, agricultural processing, and auto
parts manufacturing plants. Chavez made no mention of Iran's
nuclear program, which he had defended as recently as
September 23. In a gesture of solidarity, during the signing
ceremony, Chavez switched the Iranian flag to his side of the
table.
2. (C) Caracas was Ahmadinejad's second stop after his
departure from the 62nd United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) in New York. The Iranian President traveled
commercially to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, then flew to La Paz on a
BRV supplied aircraft, and after a meeting with President
Morales (reftel A),used the same aircraft to fly to Caracas.
Sensitive sources indicate that while in Bolivia,
Ahmadinejad and his party traveled in security vehicles
provided by the BRV.
3. (C) Comment: Not surprisingly given the lack of advance
notice and short duration of the Ahmadinejad visit, little of
substance was announced during his layover in Caracas. On
the other hand the entire formal reception was carried on
local television which suggests Chavez' interest in
underscoring publicly his determination to build his
relationship with Iran. The symbolic meeting offered a
temporary distraction from Chavez' proposed Constitutional
reforms. This is Ahmadinejad's third visit to Venezuela
since becoming President in 2005. Ahmadinejad's most recent
visit was January 13, 2007 (reftel B).
DUDDY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/26/2017
TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL IR VE
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ AND AHMADINEJAD: PROUD TO BE BROTHERS IN
THE FIGHT AGAINST IMPERIALISM
REF: A. LA PAZ 2626
B. CARACAS 0091
Classified By: Economic Counselor Andrew Bowen for reason 1.4(b).
1. (U) On the evening of September 27, 2007 Iranian
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visited President Chavez at the
Miraflores, Presidential Palace. Arriving in Caracas from La
Paz, Bolivia, in an aircraft provided by the Bolivarian
Republic of Venezuela (BRV),Ahmadinejad received full formal
honors and spoke privately with Chavez during the 2 hours and
30 minute visit. Publicly, Chavez and Ahmadinejad affirmed
their "united fight against imperialism," pledged their
"support to their "brother President Evo Morales who is in
the vanguard in the fight for fundamental change in Latin
America," and stated that "imperialism has no option but to
respect the will of the people or face defeat." Ahmadinejad
reiterated that he and Chavez "were two revolutionary
brothers who would always be together." Chavez and
Ahmadinejad signed three cooperation agreements pledging to
develop petrochemical, agricultural processing, and auto
parts manufacturing plants. Chavez made no mention of Iran's
nuclear program, which he had defended as recently as
September 23. In a gesture of solidarity, during the signing
ceremony, Chavez switched the Iranian flag to his side of the
table.
2. (C) Caracas was Ahmadinejad's second stop after his
departure from the 62nd United Nations General Assembly
(UNGA) in New York. The Iranian President traveled
commercially to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, then flew to La Paz on a
BRV supplied aircraft, and after a meeting with President
Morales (reftel A),used the same aircraft to fly to Caracas.
Sensitive sources indicate that while in Bolivia,
Ahmadinejad and his party traveled in security vehicles
provided by the BRV.
3. (C) Comment: Not surprisingly given the lack of advance
notice and short duration of the Ahmadinejad visit, little of
substance was announced during his layover in Caracas. On
the other hand the entire formal reception was carried on
local television which suggests Chavez' interest in
underscoring publicly his determination to build his
relationship with Iran. The symbolic meeting offered a
temporary distraction from Chavez' proposed Constitutional
reforms. This is Ahmadinejad's third visit to Venezuela
since becoming President in 2005. Ahmadinejad's most recent
visit was January 13, 2007 (reftel B).
DUDDY