Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CARACAS293
2007-02-09 21:26:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
FM MADURO RESPONDS TO SECRETARY'S COMMENTS, CUT
how-toVZCZCXRO3795 PP RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHROV DE RUEHCV #0293 0402126 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 092126Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7795 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7796
UNCLAS CARACAS 000293
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SNAR VE
SUBJECT: FM MADURO RESPONDS TO SECRETARY'S COMMENTS, CUT
IN ANTI-DRUG ASSISTANCE
REF: A. CARACAS 00242
B. CARACAS 00215
C. CARACAS 00090
UNCLAS CARACAS 000293
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SNAR VE
SUBJECT: FM MADURO RESPONDS TO SECRETARY'S COMMENTS, CUT
IN ANTI-DRUG ASSISTANCE
REF: A. CARACAS 00242
B. CARACAS 00215
C. CARACAS 00090
1. (U) SUMMARY. Minister of Foreign Affairs (FM) Nicolas
Maduro continued his anti-USG comments, this time in response
to Secretary Rice's February 7 remarks to the U.S. Congress
on the state of democracy in Venezuela. Maduro also
reiterated allegations that the U.S. is mounting a "campaign"
against Venezuela and insisted Venezuela does not need
counter narcotics assistance. END SUMMARY.
2. (U) FM Maduro, on business in Quito, responded February 8
in the media to Secretary Rice's remarks on Venezuela during
budget testimony before the House International Relations
Committee the previous day. Maduro said "no official of the
U.S. empire has the moral high ground to speak about
democracy in Venezuela, about President Chavez' leadership,
or about Venezuelan society."
3. (U) Maduro also repeated past accusations of a supposed
USG-sponsored international media campaign to "destabilize"
the Chavez government (ref A). Referring to President Bush's
upcoming visit to the region, Maduro said the President is
shifting his attention to South America in an attempt to
sabotage plans for regional integration. Chavez called on
Latin Americans to challenge U.S. efforts to "dominate the
world and its energy sources, and to get its imperialist
claws on our countries' natural resources, particularly those
of Venezuela."
4. (SBU) Maduro also referenced the release of the USG's
Foreign Affairs budget request. The BRV has not yet signed a
bilateral counternarcotics agreement, so the budget request
does not include funding for anti-drug efforts in Venezuela.
Maduro asserted U.S. aid assistance programs are used "to
control our policies, to conduct surveillance, and often
times to control the drug trade." Venezuela will now conduct
a more efficient and self-sufficient fight against drug
trafficking, said Maduro.
BROWNFIELD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV SNAR VE
SUBJECT: FM MADURO RESPONDS TO SECRETARY'S COMMENTS, CUT
IN ANTI-DRUG ASSISTANCE
REF: A. CARACAS 00242
B. CARACAS 00215
C. CARACAS 00090
1. (U) SUMMARY. Minister of Foreign Affairs (FM) Nicolas
Maduro continued his anti-USG comments, this time in response
to Secretary Rice's February 7 remarks to the U.S. Congress
on the state of democracy in Venezuela. Maduro also
reiterated allegations that the U.S. is mounting a "campaign"
against Venezuela and insisted Venezuela does not need
counter narcotics assistance. END SUMMARY.
2. (U) FM Maduro, on business in Quito, responded February 8
in the media to Secretary Rice's remarks on Venezuela during
budget testimony before the House International Relations
Committee the previous day. Maduro said "no official of the
U.S. empire has the moral high ground to speak about
democracy in Venezuela, about President Chavez' leadership,
or about Venezuelan society."
3. (U) Maduro also repeated past accusations of a supposed
USG-sponsored international media campaign to "destabilize"
the Chavez government (ref A). Referring to President Bush's
upcoming visit to the region, Maduro said the President is
shifting his attention to South America in an attempt to
sabotage plans for regional integration. Chavez called on
Latin Americans to challenge U.S. efforts to "dominate the
world and its energy sources, and to get its imperialist
claws on our countries' natural resources, particularly those
of Venezuela."
4. (SBU) Maduro also referenced the release of the USG's
Foreign Affairs budget request. The BRV has not yet signed a
bilateral counternarcotics agreement, so the budget request
does not include funding for anti-drug efforts in Venezuela.
Maduro asserted U.S. aid assistance programs are used "to
control our policies, to conduct surveillance, and often
times to control the drug trade." Venezuela will now conduct
a more efficient and self-sufficient fight against drug
trafficking, said Maduro.
BROWNFIELD