Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CARACAS55
2007-01-09 21:30:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
IRAN - BRV VIEWS ON UNSCR 1737
how-toVZCZCXRO3601 PP RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR DE RUEHCV #0055 0092130 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 092130Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7458 INFO RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0701 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000055
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2017
TAGS: MNUC KNNP KDGOV VE
SUBJECT: IRAN - BRV VIEWS ON UNSCR 1737
REF: 06 STATE 202585
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES FOR 1.4 (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000055
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2017
TAGS: MNUC KNNP KDGOV VE
SUBJECT: IRAN - BRV VIEWS ON UNSCR 1737
REF: 06 STATE 202585
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES FOR 1.4 (D)
1. (C) PolCouns delivered the points on UN Security Council
Resolution 1737 regarding Iran's nuclear and missile programs
(reftel) to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director for North
American and Multilateral Affairs Yaneth Arocha.
Uncharacteristically for the Bolivarian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Arocha provided a substantive response to the
demarche. While most of her lengthy response could be better
characterized as a critique of U.S. policy in Iraq, Arocha
said the BRV viewed Iran's nuclear energy program and
international concerns with it, as a very grave matter. She
noted that Venezuela was fully aware of its international
obligations under the United Nations system, but did not
believe that the UN Security Council was the proper venue for
discussions of Iran's nuclear development program. She also
said the BRV was surprised by the timing of the resolution,
expecting discussions in the UN Security Council to have been
more lengthy.
2. (C) Notwithstanding our explanation that the UNSC acted
unanimously, only after all other mechanisms had been
exhausted, Arocha said Venezuela continued to believe that
the IAEA was the proper forum to discuss Iran and the BRV
felt negotiations were better vehicles for resolving this
issue than sanctions at this point. Repeating her
government's position that there was more space for
negotiation, she ended by noting that the BRV felt strongly
both that all nations had a right to develop nuclear energy
for peaceful purposes and that there was not enough evidence
that Iran intends to use its program for non-peaceful
purposes.
3. (C) PolCouns reinforced reftel points regarding the
existing international consensus that Iran's nuclear program
extends far beyond merely peaceful energy purposes. He also
emphasized the BRV's obligation to implement, rather than
just be aware of its international obligations under the
United Nations system.
WHITAKER
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/04/2017
TAGS: MNUC KNNP KDGOV VE
SUBJECT: IRAN - BRV VIEWS ON UNSCR 1737
REF: 06 STATE 202585
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES FOR 1.4 (D)
1. (C) PolCouns delivered the points on UN Security Council
Resolution 1737 regarding Iran's nuclear and missile programs
(reftel) to Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director for North
American and Multilateral Affairs Yaneth Arocha.
Uncharacteristically for the Bolivarian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Arocha provided a substantive response to the
demarche. While most of her lengthy response could be better
characterized as a critique of U.S. policy in Iraq, Arocha
said the BRV viewed Iran's nuclear energy program and
international concerns with it, as a very grave matter. She
noted that Venezuela was fully aware of its international
obligations under the United Nations system, but did not
believe that the UN Security Council was the proper venue for
discussions of Iran's nuclear development program. She also
said the BRV was surprised by the timing of the resolution,
expecting discussions in the UN Security Council to have been
more lengthy.
2. (C) Notwithstanding our explanation that the UNSC acted
unanimously, only after all other mechanisms had been
exhausted, Arocha said Venezuela continued to believe that
the IAEA was the proper forum to discuss Iran and the BRV
felt negotiations were better vehicles for resolving this
issue than sanctions at this point. Repeating her
government's position that there was more space for
negotiation, she ended by noting that the BRV felt strongly
both that all nations had a right to develop nuclear energy
for peaceful purposes and that there was not enough evidence
that Iran intends to use its program for non-peaceful
purposes.
3. (C) PolCouns reinforced reftel points regarding the
existing international consensus that Iran's nuclear program
extends far beyond merely peaceful energy purposes. He also
emphasized the BRV's obligation to implement, rather than
just be aware of its international obligations under the
United Nations system.
WHITAKER