Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MANAGUA1311
2007-05-22 21:42:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Managua
Cable title:
GON RESPECTS VENEZUELAN DECISION TO CLOSE RCTV,
how-toVZCZCXRO3265 PP RUEHLMC DE RUEHMU #1311 1422142 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 222142Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY MANAGUA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0284 INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1102 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ PRIORITY 0189 RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE PRIORITY 0102 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 0454 RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA PRIORITY 0031 RUMIAAA/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAGUA 001311
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
WHA/CEN, WHA/USOAS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SCUL NU VE
SUBJECT: GON RESPECTS VENEZUELAN DECISION TO CLOSE RCTV,
BUT CLAIMS NICARAGUA WILL CONTINUE TO GUARANTEE PRESS
FREEDOM
REF: STATE 67643
Classified By: Ambassador Paul A. Trivelli. Reasons 1.4 (B,D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L MANAGUA 001311
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
WHA/CEN, WHA/USOAS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SCUL NU VE
SUBJECT: GON RESPECTS VENEZUELAN DECISION TO CLOSE RCTV,
BUT CLAIMS NICARAGUA WILL CONTINUE TO GUARANTEE PRESS
FREEDOM
REF: STATE 67643
Classified By: Ambassador Paul A. Trivelli. Reasons 1.4 (B,D).
1. (C) On May 21, the Ambassador raised with Foreign
Minister Samuel Santos the demarche points on press freedom
contained in refetel. The Ambassador expressed concern that
the imminent closure of Venezuelan television channel RCTV is
an act that violates the OAS' Inter-American Convention on
Human Rights, to which the Governments of Nicaragua and
Venezuela are parties. Further, President Ortega's recent
endorsement of the decision on the margins of the ALBA
meeting in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, could lead to the
assumption that Ortega supports this type of measure.
Attempting to rationalize Venezuelan President Chavez'
decision not to renew RCTV's license and Ortega's support for
the measure, Santos asserted that in Nicaragua there is full
press freedom and that at times one faces a "fine line" when
making "technical" decisions regarding the operation of media
outlets.
2. (C) The Ambassador clarified that President Chavez's
action appears to be driven entirely by political interests,
as Chavez himself has stated that he will not renew RCTV's
license because the channel opposes him. Moreover, a number
of NGOs, as well as the OAS, have publicly opposed Chavez's
decision. Santos countered that the Nicaraguan government
(GON) respects Venezuela's decision. He added that some
media in Nicaragua are also problematic, for example
(right-of-center) daily La Prensa, which he claimed often
distorts or manipulates what he and other GON officials say;
nonetheless, all media are allowed to operate freely in
Nicaragua.
3. (C) Comment: It is clear from the conversation that the
Ortega government is willing to support Chavez even when it
comes to violating such basic rights like press freedom.
Foreign Minister Santos asserts that press freedom is
guaranteed in Nicaragua. Maybe for now, but the signs are
not encouraging. The Ortega administration has cancelled
government advertising in La Prensa in an attempt to
financially hurt the paper, and President Ortega frequently
rails against La Prensa and Nicaragua's right-of-center
Channel 2. More likely, Ortega envies Chavez's ability to
clamp down on RCTV and dreams of the day when he can do the
same with Nicaragua's Channel 2.
TRIVELLI
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
WHA/CEN, WHA/USOAS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM SCUL NU VE
SUBJECT: GON RESPECTS VENEZUELAN DECISION TO CLOSE RCTV,
BUT CLAIMS NICARAGUA WILL CONTINUE TO GUARANTEE PRESS
FREEDOM
REF: STATE 67643
Classified By: Ambassador Paul A. Trivelli. Reasons 1.4 (B,D).
1. (C) On May 21, the Ambassador raised with Foreign
Minister Samuel Santos the demarche points on press freedom
contained in refetel. The Ambassador expressed concern that
the imminent closure of Venezuelan television channel RCTV is
an act that violates the OAS' Inter-American Convention on
Human Rights, to which the Governments of Nicaragua and
Venezuela are parties. Further, President Ortega's recent
endorsement of the decision on the margins of the ALBA
meeting in Barquisimeto, Venezuela, could lead to the
assumption that Ortega supports this type of measure.
Attempting to rationalize Venezuelan President Chavez'
decision not to renew RCTV's license and Ortega's support for
the measure, Santos asserted that in Nicaragua there is full
press freedom and that at times one faces a "fine line" when
making "technical" decisions regarding the operation of media
outlets.
2. (C) The Ambassador clarified that President Chavez's
action appears to be driven entirely by political interests,
as Chavez himself has stated that he will not renew RCTV's
license because the channel opposes him. Moreover, a number
of NGOs, as well as the OAS, have publicly opposed Chavez's
decision. Santos countered that the Nicaraguan government
(GON) respects Venezuela's decision. He added that some
media in Nicaragua are also problematic, for example
(right-of-center) daily La Prensa, which he claimed often
distorts or manipulates what he and other GON officials say;
nonetheless, all media are allowed to operate freely in
Nicaragua.
3. (C) Comment: It is clear from the conversation that the
Ortega government is willing to support Chavez even when it
comes to violating such basic rights like press freedom.
Foreign Minister Santos asserts that press freedom is
guaranteed in Nicaragua. Maybe for now, but the signs are
not encouraging. The Ortega administration has cancelled
government advertising in La Prensa in an attempt to
financially hurt the paper, and President Ortega frequently
rails against La Prensa and Nicaragua's right-of-center
Channel 2. More likely, Ortega envies Chavez's ability to
clamp down on RCTV and dreams of the day when he can do the
same with Nicaragua's Channel 2.
TRIVELLI