Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07PRETORIA3013
2007-08-29 08:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Pretoria
Cable title:
CHAVEZ CANCELS SOUTH AFRICA VISIT AT LAST MINUTE
how-toVZCZCXRO2812 RR RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHSA #3013 2410814 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 290814Z AUG 07 FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1411 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0264 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 6461 RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 2120 RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 0193 RUEHTN/AMCONSUL CAPE TOWN 4746 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 003013
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S R. MARBURG, WHA/AND
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2017
TAGS: PREL VE SF
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ CANCELS SOUTH AFRICA VISIT AT LAST MINUTE
REF: PRETORIA 02636
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Donald Teitelbaum. Reasons 1.4(b) and
(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L PRETORIA 003013
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S R. MARBURG, WHA/AND
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2017
TAGS: PREL VE SF
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ CANCELS SOUTH AFRICA VISIT AT LAST MINUTE
REF: PRETORIA 02636
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Donald Teitelbaum. Reasons 1.4(b) and
(d).
1. (C) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez canceled his
long-planned September 4-5 visit to South Africa despite
extensive preparations, according to Department of Foreign
Affairs (DFA) Deputy Director Annelize Schroeder (protect).
Schroeder said that Venezuelan officials called on August 25
to inform her of the decision, citing "security reasons."
Chavez was to visit Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia, Namibia
and Mali (reftel). Elements of Chavez's advance team had
already arrived in South Africa.
2. (C) Schroeder said that South African officials were
"extremely frustrated" by the late cancellation. They had
invested significant effort and time into the Chavez trip,
which was to be a State visit with a formal address to
Parliament. Chavez's decision was particularly annoying
since it was the Venezuelans that had been pushing for more
than two years for the visit. Schroeder recounted, for
example, a Chavez request at the NAM Summit in Havana in
September 2006 to join Mbeki on his plane the next day for a
surprise visit to South Africa, a request Mbeki politely
declined.
3. (C) DFA Director General Ayanda Ntsaluba and a team of
senior officials spent a week in Venezuela in late July to
lay the groundwork for the Chavez visit. Schroeder, who
accompanied Ntsaluba, said the Venezuelans were "very
disorganized," "worse than the Africans." When the South
African delegation arrived in Caracas, no appointments were
scheduled. Only when Ntsaluba called the Venezuelan
ambassador in Pretoria to complain did their schedule begin
to fall in place.
4. (C) While SAG officials were frustrated by the late
cancellation, Schroeder admitted that they were also
privately relieved. The SAG had attempted to "contain" the
Chavez visit by restricting him to Cape Town, which they
hoped would minimize opportunities for public embarrassment.
Chavez had requested to do a "walkabout" in Soweto to be
"with the people," as well as unveil a statue of Bolivar in
Pretoria. The SAG said no to both requests.
5. (C) Schroeder said the South Africans believe that Chavez
remains relatively popular at home, particularly with the
poor. However, his management of the Venezuelan economy and
commitment to democracy "leave much to be desired," Schroeder
commented. Chavez has inserted his military allies in key
ministry positions, and sidelined experienced, competent
officials. Schroeder said that officials joke about the
ForMin, a former "bus driver." Venezuelan officials told the
South African delegation that Chavez expects to stay in power
until 2030, the 200th anniversary of Bolivar's death.
6. (C) COMMENT: By canceling his visit at the last minute,
Chavez made few friends in South Africa. The clumsy handling
of the DG's July visit to Caracas also had an impact. While
the SAG will continue to show wholehearted support for the
NAM and G-77 policy agendas, they may be more reticent to
follow Chavez's unilateral initiatives.
Teitelbaum
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR AF/S R. MARBURG, WHA/AND
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/27/2017
TAGS: PREL VE SF
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ CANCELS SOUTH AFRICA VISIT AT LAST MINUTE
REF: PRETORIA 02636
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Donald Teitelbaum. Reasons 1.4(b) and
(d).
1. (C) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez canceled his
long-planned September 4-5 visit to South Africa despite
extensive preparations, according to Department of Foreign
Affairs (DFA) Deputy Director Annelize Schroeder (protect).
Schroeder said that Venezuelan officials called on August 25
to inform her of the decision, citing "security reasons."
Chavez was to visit Kenya, South Africa, Ethiopia, Namibia
and Mali (reftel). Elements of Chavez's advance team had
already arrived in South Africa.
2. (C) Schroeder said that South African officials were
"extremely frustrated" by the late cancellation. They had
invested significant effort and time into the Chavez trip,
which was to be a State visit with a formal address to
Parliament. Chavez's decision was particularly annoying
since it was the Venezuelans that had been pushing for more
than two years for the visit. Schroeder recounted, for
example, a Chavez request at the NAM Summit in Havana in
September 2006 to join Mbeki on his plane the next day for a
surprise visit to South Africa, a request Mbeki politely
declined.
3. (C) DFA Director General Ayanda Ntsaluba and a team of
senior officials spent a week in Venezuela in late July to
lay the groundwork for the Chavez visit. Schroeder, who
accompanied Ntsaluba, said the Venezuelans were "very
disorganized," "worse than the Africans." When the South
African delegation arrived in Caracas, no appointments were
scheduled. Only when Ntsaluba called the Venezuelan
ambassador in Pretoria to complain did their schedule begin
to fall in place.
4. (C) While SAG officials were frustrated by the late
cancellation, Schroeder admitted that they were also
privately relieved. The SAG had attempted to "contain" the
Chavez visit by restricting him to Cape Town, which they
hoped would minimize opportunities for public embarrassment.
Chavez had requested to do a "walkabout" in Soweto to be
"with the people," as well as unveil a statue of Bolivar in
Pretoria. The SAG said no to both requests.
5. (C) Schroeder said the South Africans believe that Chavez
remains relatively popular at home, particularly with the
poor. However, his management of the Venezuelan economy and
commitment to democracy "leave much to be desired," Schroeder
commented. Chavez has inserted his military allies in key
ministry positions, and sidelined experienced, competent
officials. Schroeder said that officials joke about the
ForMin, a former "bus driver." Venezuelan officials told the
South African delegation that Chavez expects to stay in power
until 2030, the 200th anniversary of Bolivar's death.
6. (C) COMMENT: By canceling his visit at the last minute,
Chavez made few friends in South Africa. The clumsy handling
of the DG's July visit to Caracas also had an impact. While
the SAG will continue to show wholehearted support for the
NAM and G-77 policy agendas, they may be more reticent to
follow Chavez's unilateral initiatives.
Teitelbaum