VENEZUELAN DAILY ALLEGES BRV PLAN FOR SUPPORT TO

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 002034 SIPDIS SIPDIS HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/10/2017 TAGS: PGOV KDEM VE SUBJECT: VENEZUELAN DAILY ALLEGES BRV PLAN FOR SUPPORT TO BOLIVARIAN GROUPS IN MEXICO AND CENTRAL AMERICA REF: LIMA 002490 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT RICHARD DOWNES, REASON 1.4 (D) ¶1. (C) Summary. Venezuela daily "El Universal" recently published an article claiming that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) has, as part of its Plan for Socio-Economic Development 2007-2013, the stated goal of promoting "alternative groups" in Mexico and Central America. The report appears to match a schematic outline which the Ministry of Planning and Development has posted on its website which explains the goal of supporting alternative groups as part of the BRV's geopolitical goals. BRV Ambassador to Mexico Roy Chaderton issued a press release accusing "El Universal" of trying to undermine the BRV's relations with Mexico, but did not refute the accuracy of the newspaper's report. End Summary. ¶2. (SBU) Opposition-oriented Venezuelan daily "El Universal" ran a front page October 7 story entitled "Venezuela Will Support Alternative Groups in Central America" While it is generally understood that Venezuela promotes these types of organizations throughout Latin America and the Caribbean, this appears to be the first time that the Venezuelan press has reported that such efforts are an explicit part of the BRV's national strategy. According to "El Universal," as part of the Plan for Socio-Economic Development 2007-2013 that President Chavez recently presented to the National Assembly, the BRV is working to form a strong Venezuela-Cuba-Bolivia partnership to support Bolivarian movements in Central America and Mexico that are struggling against "imperialist domination." ¶3. (SBU) Because the story by "El Universal" specifically mentions Mexico as a target of the BRV, and this was picked up by the Mexican press, recently accredited BRV Ambassador to Mexico Roy Chaderton responded to the story by issuing a strongly worded press release posted on the MFA website that accuses "El Universal" of trying to destroy Venezuela's good relationship with Mexico. Chaderton accused "El Universal" of being a pillar of the "media dictatorship" in Venezuela but did not dispute the accuracy of the National Plan story. ¶4. (SBU) (Note: The schematic outline of the Plan for Socio-Economic Development 2007-2013 is posted on the official government website of the BRV Planning and Development Ministry. Post does not have a copy of the plan itself as it has not been made available to the public. The outline makes no specific mention of Mexico or Central America. Nevertheless, it does mention that the BRV intends to establish networks of alternative communication with Latin American social organizations for economic justice and solidarity with the people. Another of the BRV's stated goals in the plan is to push the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) as a better option than the Free Trade Area of the Americas. End Note.) DUDDY