AMBASSADOR DUDDY PRESENTS CREDENTIALS COPIES TO

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