T&T RELUCTANT TO CRITICIZE EITHER VENEZUELA OR IRAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L PORT OF SPAIN 000518 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/24/2017 TAGS: PREL PARM ETTC UNSC IR VZ PM AR TD SUBJECT: T&T RELUCTANT TO CRITICIZE EITHER VENEZUELA OR IRAN REF: A. SECSTATE 61378 ¶B. SECSTATE 67462 Classified By: DCM, Eugene P. Sweeney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: In response to Ambassador Austin,s demarche on the expanding relationship between Venezuela and Iran, Foreign Minister Piggott was strictly neutral, saying that T&T is primarily interested in the maintenance of peace and the solution of all conflicts through dialogue. He implied that, as a small country, T&T has to be careful of being potentially trampled by the elephants on either side of it. The embassy view is that, for the foreseeable future, T&T will not criticize Venezuela and will continue to be engaged only on issues it perceives to be of direct relevance or tangible benefit to it. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Ambassador Austin selectively delivered the points presented in Ref A, on May 22, in a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Arnold Piggott. In addition, he summarized the points contained in Ref. B for the minister and asked him to review them more closely after the meeting. The Ambassador told Piggott that, in view of our bilateral efforts to stem the tide of transnational crime and terrorism and in view of T&T,s participation in overall hemispheric initiatives against crime and terrorism, the GOTT would do well to voice its concern over the clear threat posed to the international community by the expanding military, economic and diplomatic relationship between Venezuela and Iran. ¶3. (C) In particular, the Ambassador highlighted the fact that Venezuela, Syria and Cuba were the only countries which supported Iran when the IAEA voted to refer to the Security Council the matter of Iran,s noncompliance with IAEA,s demands that it cease its nuclear enrichment activities. He further pointed to Venezuela,s illegal transfer of F-5 aircraft engines to Iran for refurbishment, and said that the construction of an unmanned aerial vehicle for use by Venezuela ought to raise concerns in T&T with respect to its maritime border with Venezuela. Finally, the Ambassador suspected that Iran would be using the new air link between Caracas, Damascus and Tehran to transport more than just tourists and legitimate business people, and that the $2 billion fund for the promotion of &revolutionary thought8 is not intended for use inside Venezuela and Iran. -------------- 
PIGGOTT'S RESPONSE -------------- ¶4. (C) Piggott listened but then expounded on T&T,s commitment to peaceful coexistence with Venezuela and its aspiration for peace in the world. He said that, as a small state, T&T,s best interests are served by not interfering in the affairs of other states, not engaging in war and not supporting states that do engage in war. He reminded the Ambassador that, at one time, relations between T&T and Venezuela were difficult but that T&T,s first Prime Minister Dr. Eric Williams worked hard to regularize them. Piggott emphasized that T&T,s principal bilateral objective with Venezuela is an MOU on the monetization of the cross-border gas reserves and the liquefaction of that gas for export. Piggott did assure the Ambassador that, although Venezuela has &its own ethos and program8, T&T will never abandon its bedrock doctrine of democracy and good governance. ¶5. (C) Piggott made some attempts at sanitizing Hugo Chavez,s image and pointed out what he thought was a double standard in US foreign policy. He said that Chavez has concluded oil deals which are beneficial to local communities in the US, that the US has itself begun to engage in dialogue with Iran, and that the US has not yet resolved the Luis Posada Carriles situation. In response, the Ambassador reminded Piggott that, whether in his actions toward the people of the United States or in his policies toward the Caribbean, Chavez is not motivated by altruism but rather by a desire to expand his influence beyond his borders while diminishing that of the US government and weakening the strength of Caricom. As for Posada Carriles, the Ambassador reminded Piggott that those who criticize the US in this matter simply do not understand that US courts are independent and that the US Government must comply with judicial orders. ¶6. (C) COMMENT: The Ambassador,s meeting with Piggott illustrated once more T&T,s narrow view of its interests in the international arena. For the US to engage T&T,s cooperation, the issue has to be of direct relevance and tangible benefit to T&T. Most importantly, T&T will not criticize Venezuela and risk jeopardizing its hoped for deal on the cross border gas fields. The exploitation of these fields has become a top GOTT priority. ¶7. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED: T&T respects the military and economic power of the US and admires its education system. However, it jealously guards its independence and is as wary of undue US influence as it is of Venezuelan influence. Piggott told the Ambassador: &any mistake that Venezuela makes or any mistake that the US makes is likely to become our mistake8. For the foreseeable future, US attempts to engage T&T,s attention on wider global conflicts will likely fail. The only exception might be those occasions when T&T can hide behind a united Caricom front. END COMMENT. AUSTIN