Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CARACAS1985
2007-10-09 19:46:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR DUDDY PRESENTS CREDENTIALS COPIES TO
how-toVZCZCXRO4863 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHCV #1985 2821946 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 091946Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9876 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001985
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR DFISK
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10092032
TAGS: PGOV VE
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DUDDY PRESENTS CREDENTIALS COPIES TO
FOREIGN MINISTER MADURO
Classified By: DCM French for reason 1.4(b)
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001985
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR DFISK
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10092032
TAGS: PGOV VE
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DUDDY PRESENTS CREDENTIALS COPIES TO
FOREIGN MINISTER MADURO
Classified By: DCM French for reason 1.4(b)
1. (C) A pleasant but disengaged Foreign Minister Nicolas
Maduro, accompanied by North America Vice Foreign Minister
Jorge Valero, received Ambassador Duddy,s copies of letters
of credence and recall in his office Saturday, Oct 6. During
the 20-minute meeting the Ambassador noted the FM,s October
1 encounter with WHA Assistant Secretary Shannon in New York
and expressed our desire to establish a more regular channel
of communication with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
(BRV). The Ambassador suggested working together on
counter-narcotics as a possible area of pragmatic
cooperation, given that Venezuela was victimized by the drug
trade along with its neighbors, the United States, Europe and
the Caribbean. Maduro was non-committal, acknowledging only
that the drug trade was "a monster with a thousand heads"
with traffickers, guerrillas and paramilitaries all involved.
2. (C) Maduro resisted any substantive discussion beyond the
issue of hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia (FARC). He called Chavez,s efforts to mediate an
historic opportunity, after so many years, for a humanitarian
breakthrough. Responding to the Ambassador,s prodding for
reaction on a variety of subjects, Maduro did acknowledge the
vitality of the commercial relationship, claiming that the
BRV has never wanted to damage that relationship. Maduro
added that the bilateral relationship is no more difficult
than others that the United States has or has had with other
governments, and would not get any worse.
3. (C) Gesturing towards Valero, Maduro suggested Valero be
the principal point of contact with the Embassy, and endorsed
the notion of more frequent communication. As the meeting
ended Maduro said he would urge President Chavez to receive
the Ambassador,s credentials soon.
DUDDY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
NSC FOR DFISK
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10092032
TAGS: PGOV VE
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DUDDY PRESENTS CREDENTIALS COPIES TO
FOREIGN MINISTER MADURO
Classified By: DCM French for reason 1.4(b)
1. (C) A pleasant but disengaged Foreign Minister Nicolas
Maduro, accompanied by North America Vice Foreign Minister
Jorge Valero, received Ambassador Duddy,s copies of letters
of credence and recall in his office Saturday, Oct 6. During
the 20-minute meeting the Ambassador noted the FM,s October
1 encounter with WHA Assistant Secretary Shannon in New York
and expressed our desire to establish a more regular channel
of communication with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
(BRV). The Ambassador suggested working together on
counter-narcotics as a possible area of pragmatic
cooperation, given that Venezuela was victimized by the drug
trade along with its neighbors, the United States, Europe and
the Caribbean. Maduro was non-committal, acknowledging only
that the drug trade was "a monster with a thousand heads"
with traffickers, guerrillas and paramilitaries all involved.
2. (C) Maduro resisted any substantive discussion beyond the
issue of hostages held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of
Colombia (FARC). He called Chavez,s efforts to mediate an
historic opportunity, after so many years, for a humanitarian
breakthrough. Responding to the Ambassador,s prodding for
reaction on a variety of subjects, Maduro did acknowledge the
vitality of the commercial relationship, claiming that the
BRV has never wanted to damage that relationship. Maduro
added that the bilateral relationship is no more difficult
than others that the United States has or has had with other
governments, and would not get any worse.
3. (C) Gesturing towards Valero, Maduro suggested Valero be
the principal point of contact with the Embassy, and endorsed
the notion of more frequent communication. As the meeting
ended Maduro said he would urge President Chavez to receive
the Ambassador,s credentials soon.
DUDDY