VENEZUELAN JEWISH COMMUNITY COURTS INTERNATIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000637 SIPDIS SIPDIS HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DEPARTMENT FOR DRL/SEAS (GRICKMAN) E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2017 TAGS: PHUM PGOV PREL VE SUBJECT: VENEZUELAN JEWISH COMMUNITY COURTS INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT CARACAS 00000637 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR DANIEL LAWTON, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) Summary. The Confederation of Jewish Associations in Venezuela (CAIV) attracted considerable international support and media attention for its 40th anniversary celebration on March 24. Argentine First Lady and Senator Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner electrified the audience of several hundred with a strong, reassuring message that Latin American leaders are committed to combating anti-Semitism. CAIV succeeded in securing the attendance of representatives of Jewish organizations from 15 countries as well as most of the ambassadorial corps resident in Caracas. However, Minister for Popular Power for Foreign Affairs (MPPFA) Nicolas Maduro canceled his scheduled attendance shortly before the event, and no BRV official attended. CAIV has succeeded in raising international awareness of the situation of the Jewish community in Venezuela, but senior Venezuelan officials continue to spurn CAIV's efforts to foster a dialogue that addresses their ongoing concerns about growing anti-Semitism in the country. End Summary. -------------- CAIV Celebrates 40th Anniversary -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Amid tight security, the Confederation of Jewish Associations in Venezuela (CAIV) commemorated its 40th anniversary on March 24 with a series of speeches that highlighted the international community's solidarity with the small (20,000 plus) Jewish community of Venezuela. CAIV also hosted for the first time a special session of the Latin American Jewish Congress on March 23. Representatives of over 50 Jewish organizations from 15 countries, including the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League, attended the weekend's events. The 40th anniversary of CAIV was widely attended by the diplomatic corps, including Charge and A/PolCouns. Minister for Popular Power for Foreign Relations Nicolas Maduro accepted CAIV's invitation to attend, but canceled late and did not send a substitute government representative, according to a CAIV board member. ¶3. (SBU) Israeli Ambassador to Venezuela Schlomo Cohen presented awards to the current and previous CAIV presidents (or their family members) of CAIV. Spain's roving Ambassador for Jewish Community outreach Ana Solomon offered Spain's formal support for the event and noted that the doors to the Sepharad-Israel House in Madrid are "always open." Former CAIV president Elieser Rotkopf reviewed CAIV's close ties with Israel, highlighting the visits of numerous previous Israeli leaders to Venezuela. Current CAIV president Freddy Pressner, the son of Holocaust victims and a Romanian refugee who emigrated to Venezuela in 1960, thanked Venezuela for warmly receiving Jewish refugees, but also underscored growing concern about "signs of anti-Semitism" in Venezuela. -------------- Argentine First Lady Lends Solid Support -------------- ¶4. (SBU) Argentine First Lady and Senator Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner delivered a spirited, well-received keynote address to several hundred attendees gathered on the floor of the Hebrew Center gymnasium for the anniversary event. Senator Fernandez de Kirchner assured attendees that Latin American leaders would not just condemn, but would also take "concrete actions" against any signs of anti-Semitism. She noted that the bomb attacks on the Israeli Embassy in Buenos Aires in 1992 and against the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) in 1994 are considered by Argentines to be attacks "on Argentina," and not just anti-Semitic attacks. Noting that the first victims of Hitler's concentration camps were political dissidents, the Argentine First Lady stressed the continued universal importance of tolerance, diversity, and democracy. ¶5. (C) Members of CAIV's board met February 21 with Argentine President Kirchner February 21 during Kirchner's visit to Puerto Ordaz in eastern Venezuela. Through the Argentine President, they formally invited the Argentine First Lady at that time to be the keynote speaker at CAIV's 40th anniversary celebration. According to CAIV President Pressner, President Kirchner offered the Argentine CARACAS 00000637 002.2 OF 002 government's full support for the Jewish community of Venezuela. He also reportedly promised to intercede with President Chavez to try to facilitate a meeting between CAIV and Chavez. CAIV submitted just such a request in late February, but no such meeting has yet taken place. To CAIV's satisfaction, their 30-minute meeting with President Kirchner in Puerto Ordaz was picked up by the local media. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶6. (C) CAIV leaders used the organization's 40th anniversary as a means to generate very public demonstrations of international support and solidarity. They told the Ambassador in December 2006 that they are trying to maintain a low profile within Venezuela and to rely on international Jewish organizations to take a more public, proactive approach in response to attacks on the Jewish community. In that respect, CAIV succeeded in demonstrating to the BRV that many international actors are keeping a watchful eye on their situation in Venezuela. The First Family of Argentina has played a noteworthy and laudable role in standing firm against anti-Semitism. Regrettably, BRV officials do not appear to be ready to imitate the Kirchners' example. Foreign Minister Maduro's last minute cancellation is consistent with the BRV's pattern of malicious neglect, if not antipathy, toward Venezuela's small Jewish community. BROWNFIELD