Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07LISBON2949
2007-11-19 17:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lisbon
how-toVZCZCXRO0221 OO RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHLI #2949 3231706 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 191706Z NOV 07 FM AMEMBASSY LISBON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6445 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES IMMEDIATE RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS IMMEDIATE 0067
C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 002949
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2017
TAGS: EUN PHUM VE PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL ON HUGO CHAVEZ VISIT
REF: A) STATE 157653 B) LISBON 2923
Classified By: pol/econ counselor Matt Harrington for reasons 1.4 (B) a
nd (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 002949
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2017
TAGS: EUN PHUM VE PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL ON HUGO CHAVEZ VISIT
REF: A) STATE 157653 B) LISBON 2923
Classified By: pol/econ counselor Matt Harrington for reasons 1.4 (B) a
nd (D).
1. (C) In a conversation with the Prime Minister,s senior
diplomatic advisor, Jorge Roza de Oliveira, DCM conveyed our
strong concerns regarding Chavez,s recent maneuvers on the
constitution, per ref A, and urged that the Prime Minister
represent them forcefully to Chavez during the latter's
Lisbon stopover on November 20. Roza de Oliveira made no
promises, saying the primary topics would be Socrates,s
concerns about treatment of the Portuguese community in
Venezuela, and potential collaboration in the energy sector.
Roza de Oliveira said the meeting would be exclusively
focused on bilateral, rather than EU, issues, although
Portugal had consulted with other Member States, including
the Spanish, about the meeting. He promised a readout after
the meeting
2. (C) Earlier, the Foreign Minister's diplomatic advisor,
Paulo Lourenco, called to provide us a heads-up that Socrates
would be meeting with Chavez during a "technical" (refueling)
stop in Lisbon. Pol/econ counselor underscored our concerns
about Chavez's efforts to concentrate executive power via
constitutional changes and encouraged the Prime Minister to
raise those concerns with Chavez. Lourenco replied that
Socrates and Chavez have a good personal relationship, and
that Socrates was not afraid to press the Venezuelan leader
on such matters. Socrates regularly raises with Chavez the
issues he ought to raise, Lourenco insisted.
Comment
--------------
3. (C) The Portuguese government generally shares our
concerns about Chavez but carefully avoids public criticisms,
concerned about the retaliation it might provoke against the
Portuguese community in Venezuela, which numbers
approximately half a million. Consequently, and as we
reported ref B, Portugal is very unlikely to issue its own
public rebuke of Chavez, even in the guise of an EU
presidency statement, but would not block common EU language
critical of recent developments in Venezuela.
Hoffman
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/19/2017
TAGS: EUN PHUM VE PO
SUBJECT: PORTUGAL ON HUGO CHAVEZ VISIT
REF: A) STATE 157653 B) LISBON 2923
Classified By: pol/econ counselor Matt Harrington for reasons 1.4 (B) a
nd (D).
1. (C) In a conversation with the Prime Minister,s senior
diplomatic advisor, Jorge Roza de Oliveira, DCM conveyed our
strong concerns regarding Chavez,s recent maneuvers on the
constitution, per ref A, and urged that the Prime Minister
represent them forcefully to Chavez during the latter's
Lisbon stopover on November 20. Roza de Oliveira made no
promises, saying the primary topics would be Socrates,s
concerns about treatment of the Portuguese community in
Venezuela, and potential collaboration in the energy sector.
Roza de Oliveira said the meeting would be exclusively
focused on bilateral, rather than EU, issues, although
Portugal had consulted with other Member States, including
the Spanish, about the meeting. He promised a readout after
the meeting
2. (C) Earlier, the Foreign Minister's diplomatic advisor,
Paulo Lourenco, called to provide us a heads-up that Socrates
would be meeting with Chavez during a "technical" (refueling)
stop in Lisbon. Pol/econ counselor underscored our concerns
about Chavez's efforts to concentrate executive power via
constitutional changes and encouraged the Prime Minister to
raise those concerns with Chavez. Lourenco replied that
Socrates and Chavez have a good personal relationship, and
that Socrates was not afraid to press the Venezuelan leader
on such matters. Socrates regularly raises with Chavez the
issues he ought to raise, Lourenco insisted.
Comment
--------------
3. (C) The Portuguese government generally shares our
concerns about Chavez but carefully avoids public criticisms,
concerned about the retaliation it might provoke against the
Portuguese community in Venezuela, which numbers
approximately half a million. Consequently, and as we
reported ref B, Portugal is very unlikely to issue its own
public rebuke of Chavez, even in the guise of an EU
presidency statement, but would not block common EU language
critical of recent developments in Venezuela.
Hoffman