URUGUAY DEMARCHED ON GROWING IRAN-VENEZUELA

S E C R E T MONTEVIDEO 000445 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT ALSO FOR WHA/BSC, WHA/AND AND NEA/IRAN NSC FOR DFISK AND JCARDENAS SOUTHCOM FOR POLAD E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/07/2017 TAGS: PREL MARR PHUM MASS ECON PTER PINS VE IR UY SUBJECT: URUGUAY DEMARCHED ON GROWING IRAN-VENEZUELA RELATIONSHIP REF: STATE 061378 Classified By: Charge D'Affaires James D. Nealon for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (S) On May 8, Polcouns delivered reftel demarche to the MFA's Acting Director General for Political Affairs Gerardo Prato. Prato was keenly attentive to all of the general, political, military, economic and social points presented. He lamented that a paper copy of the demarche could not be left for him to study and suggested that the information be made publicly available, if possible. ¶2. (S) Prato said that he had served five years in New York with the Uruguayan mission and was an eyewitness to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center. He stated that, "It is one thing for Venezuela to confront the US in the Western Hemisphere - you are used to that. But it is something else for Chavez to bring the problems of the Middle East here, including its nuclear risks. This information takes things to an entirely different level." ¶3. (S) Prato promised to discuss the matter with senior MFA colleagues and said that he was open to further contacts on the subject. He mused aloud on whether Venezuela was possibly intent on acquiring a nuclear weapon of its own or if the BRV was materially assisting Iran to carry out its nuclear enrichment program or terrorist activities. He appeared especially disturbed by the weekly Iran Air/Conviasa flights between Caracas and Teheran, with a stopover in Damascus. ¶4. (S) Embassy will continue to raise reftel demarche with other senior GOU officials as appropriate. Nealon