Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07THEHAGUE778
2007-04-26 07:32:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy The Hague
Cable title:
NETHERLANDS/VENEZUELA: NEXT STEPS ON RCTV
how-toVZCZCXRO7626 PP RUEHAG RUEHKW RUEHROV DE RUEHTC #0778 1160732 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 260732Z APR 07 FM AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8981 INFO RUCNMUC/EU CANDIDATE STATES COLLECTIVE RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0641 RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO 0273 RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0042
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000778
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL CU VE NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/VENEZUELA: NEXT STEPS ON RCTV
REF: THE HAGUE 747
Classified By: CDA Chat Blakeman; reasons 1.4 (b and d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L THE HAGUE 000778
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL CU VE NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/VENEZUELA: NEXT STEPS ON RCTV
REF: THE HAGUE 747
Classified By: CDA Chat Blakeman; reasons 1.4 (b and d).
1. (C) MFA Director of the Americas Department, Laurent
Stokvis, told Charge April 25 that the Dutch expect
Venezuelan RCTV to close down. Bilateral and EU approaches
have had no impact, he said. He offered, as possible next
steps, holding the Venezuelan government to its word and
pressing it to offer RCTV's license for competitive bid.
Stokvis noted that this was not an EU position - none exists
yet - but that it is worth exploring.
2. (C) Stokvis said he did not believe Venezuela would go the
way of Castro's Cuba. He expressed concern with Chavez's
consolidation of power, with the lack of an effective
opposition, and with the parliament's grant of emergency
powers to the president. Still, he noted, Chavez has not yet
presented his new legislative package, so we cannot say what
the outcome will be. Also, he noted, Venezuela's new
socialism has had some positive impacts for poor Venezuelans
- access to health care, for instance.
BLAKEMAN
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/25/2017
TAGS: PHUM PREL CU VE NL
SUBJECT: NETHERLANDS/VENEZUELA: NEXT STEPS ON RCTV
REF: THE HAGUE 747
Classified By: CDA Chat Blakeman; reasons 1.4 (b and d).
1. (C) MFA Director of the Americas Department, Laurent
Stokvis, told Charge April 25 that the Dutch expect
Venezuelan RCTV to close down. Bilateral and EU approaches
have had no impact, he said. He offered, as possible next
steps, holding the Venezuelan government to its word and
pressing it to offer RCTV's license for competitive bid.
Stokvis noted that this was not an EU position - none exists
yet - but that it is worth exploring.
2. (C) Stokvis said he did not believe Venezuela would go the
way of Castro's Cuba. He expressed concern with Chavez's
consolidation of power, with the lack of an effective
opposition, and with the parliament's grant of emergency
powers to the president. Still, he noted, Chavez has not yet
presented his new legislative package, so we cannot say what
the outcome will be. Also, he noted, Venezuela's new
socialism has had some positive impacts for poor Venezuelans
- access to health care, for instance.
BLAKEMAN