Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CARACAS215
2007-01-31 22:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
how-toVZCZCXRO4123 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHCV #0215 0312218 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 312218Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7664 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000215
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV VE
SUBJECT: MFA REJECTS NEGROPONTE'S COMMENTS
REF: CARACAS 00090
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES,
REASON 1.4 (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000215
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV VE
SUBJECT: MFA REJECTS NEGROPONTE'S COMMENTS
REF: CARACAS 00090
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES,
REASON 1.4 (D)
1. (SBU) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) issued a
January 30 press release criticizing Deputy
Secretary-designate Negroponte's remarks to the Senate
SIPDIS
Foreign Relations Committee earlier the same day. The MFA
release states that Negroponte "represents a real threat to
peace and democracy." Once again mischaracterizing
Negroponte's service as Ambassador to Honduras from 1981-85
(reftel),the MFA labels Negroponte as "an instrument of
genocidal and imperialist policies in Central America."
2. (SBU) The MFA press release also questions the credibility
of USG efforts to promote a new policy in Latin America when
"officials like Negroponte...continue to operate under the
imperialist and interventionist mentality of the Cold War."
The MFA release and Negroponte's remarks expressing concern
over President Chavez's influence in the region are receiving
wide play in the local media. Earlier this month, Foreign
Minister Nicolas Maduro personally insulted Negroponte
following the latter's testimony before the Senate Select
Committee on Intelligence (reftel).
3. (C) COMMENT: BRV officials appear to be operating under
the assumption that any and every perceived criticism merits
a quick and vitriolic rebuttal. Press statements, like the
one mentioned here, present additional opportunities for BRV
officials to expound on the need to accelerate and "deepen"
the "socialist" phase of President Chavez's Bolivarian
Revolution.
BROWNFIELD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/31/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV VE
SUBJECT: MFA REJECTS NEGROPONTE'S COMMENTS
REF: CARACAS 00090
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES,
REASON 1.4 (D)
1. (SBU) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) issued a
January 30 press release criticizing Deputy
Secretary-designate Negroponte's remarks to the Senate
SIPDIS
Foreign Relations Committee earlier the same day. The MFA
release states that Negroponte "represents a real threat to
peace and democracy." Once again mischaracterizing
Negroponte's service as Ambassador to Honduras from 1981-85
(reftel),the MFA labels Negroponte as "an instrument of
genocidal and imperialist policies in Central America."
2. (SBU) The MFA press release also questions the credibility
of USG efforts to promote a new policy in Latin America when
"officials like Negroponte...continue to operate under the
imperialist and interventionist mentality of the Cold War."
The MFA release and Negroponte's remarks expressing concern
over President Chavez's influence in the region are receiving
wide play in the local media. Earlier this month, Foreign
Minister Nicolas Maduro personally insulted Negroponte
following the latter's testimony before the Senate Select
Committee on Intelligence (reftel).
3. (C) COMMENT: BRV officials appear to be operating under
the assumption that any and every perceived criticism merits
a quick and vitriolic rebuttal. Press statements, like the
one mentioned here, present additional opportunities for BRV
officials to expound on the need to accelerate and "deepen"
the "socialist" phase of President Chavez's Bolivarian
Revolution.
BROWNFIELD