Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CARACAS90
2007-01-16 22:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
how-toVZCZCXRO9298 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHCV #0090 0162249 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 162249Z JAN 07 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7495 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 000090
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/16/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL VE
SUBJECT: FM MADURO INSULTS NEGROPONTE
REF: CARACAS 00053
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES,
REASON 1.4 (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000090
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/16/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL VE
SUBJECT: FM MADURO INSULTS NEGROPONTE
REF: CARACAS 00053
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES,
REASON 1.4 (D)
1. (U) On January 12, Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro called
U.S. National Intelligence Director John Negroponte a
"criminal" after Negroponte expressed concern over the state
of democracy in Venezuela and Bolivia during a hearing before
the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Grossly
mischaracterizing Ambassador Negroponte's service in Honduras
in the 1980s, Maduro said Negroponte did not have the "moral
high ground" to speak about Venezuela in such terms. Maduro
rejected Negroponte's comments and said that President Chavez
and Bolivian President Evo Morales are leading their
countries down the "right path" toward democracy and social
justice.
2. (U) Maduro issued his statement from Managua where he and
President Chavez were attending the swearing-in ceremony of
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. His personal attack on
Negroponte received wide press play in Venezuela.
3. (C) COMMENT: Maduro's remarks come on the heels of
Chavez's insults against OAS Secretary General Insulza
(reftel). Since his appointment as Foreign Minister in
August 2006, Maduro has repeatedly amplified, rather than
tempered, Chavez's anti-American rhetoric. END COMMENT.
BROWNFIELD
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/16/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL VE
SUBJECT: FM MADURO INSULTS NEGROPONTE
REF: CARACAS 00053
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES,
REASON 1.4 (D)
1. (U) On January 12, Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro called
U.S. National Intelligence Director John Negroponte a
"criminal" after Negroponte expressed concern over the state
of democracy in Venezuela and Bolivia during a hearing before
the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Grossly
mischaracterizing Ambassador Negroponte's service in Honduras
in the 1980s, Maduro said Negroponte did not have the "moral
high ground" to speak about Venezuela in such terms. Maduro
rejected Negroponte's comments and said that President Chavez
and Bolivian President Evo Morales are leading their
countries down the "right path" toward democracy and social
justice.
2. (U) Maduro issued his statement from Managua where he and
President Chavez were attending the swearing-in ceremony of
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega. His personal attack on
Negroponte received wide press play in Venezuela.
3. (C) COMMENT: Maduro's remarks come on the heels of
Chavez's insults against OAS Secretary General Insulza
(reftel). Since his appointment as Foreign Minister in
August 2006, Maduro has repeatedly amplified, rather than
tempered, Chavez's anti-American rhetoric. END COMMENT.
BROWNFIELD