BOLIVARIAN INSIDER CLAIMS FOREIGN MINISTRY

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001436

SIPDIS

HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/09/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV VE
SUBJECT: BOLIVARIAN INSIDER CLAIMS FOREIGN MINISTRY
HARASSMENT OF EMBASSY CARACAS DUE TO MINISTRY INFIGHTING

Classified By: CDA JOHN CAULFIELD, REASON 1.4(D)


1. (C) Summary. Embassy Bolivarian contact Rene Arreaza
expressed to ChargQ his frustration with the failure of his
Foreign Ministry to end harassment of Embassy Caracas'
operations and offered to make another attempt to overcome
these "bureaucratic" problems. His comments revealed GBRV
infighting over how to deal with the United States that does
not bode well for future bilateral relations. End Summary.


2. (C) ChargQ met October 8 with Venezuelan businessman Rene
Arreaza, an informal Embassy conduit to GBRV officials. He
informed Arreaza that the Department had called in GBRV
ChargQ Angelo Rivero Santos on October 7 to say that the GBRV
must close its Houston Consulate as a consequence of moving
to a new building without authorization, and to protest
Foreign Ministry harassment of Embassy Caracas. Arreaza was
not aware of the problem with the Houston Consulate but
mentioned that the GBRV Principal Officer had been assigned
there for several years and was known to act on his own
without coordinating with the Embassy in Washington. He
expressed frustration that he had been unable to assist
Embassy Caracas overcome its administrative problems with the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He said that when North
American Director Yaneth Arrocha had informed ChargQ on
September 19 that Mrs. Duddy would be able to return to
Caracas to pack out her effects she had only cleared it with
her immediate boss Vice Minister Jorge Valero and not with
Minister Maduro. Comment: This is not credible. Valero has
been ill and notably detached from our bilateral agrenda, nor
is he the type of person likely to have made such a decision
without consulting his superiors. End Comment.


3. (C) Arreaza acknowledged that most of the Embassy's
problems with the Foreign Ministry were in the area of
Protocol Director Ramon Gordils, but without going into
details he claimed that the real problem was bureaucratic
infighting among Vice Minister Valero, Vice Minister for
European Affairs Fleming and Tamir Porras, Minister Maduro's
Chief of Staff. ChargQ responded that regardless of the
cause of the Embassy's poor treatment the effect was the
same, and that the Department of State would respond to this
harassment. At this point Arreaza asked the ChargQ to
provide him with a list of Embassy Caracas' problems that he
would share with former GBRV Ambassador to the U.S. Bernardo
Alvarez who might be able to use his Foreign Ministry
contacts to help in resolving them. He thought that Alvarez
would be sympathetic to working out ways for our respective
missions to overcome bureaucratic problems.


4. (C) Charge' responded that Arreaza was well aware of our
problems which besides Mrs. Duddy's return included
discriminatory denial of vehicle import privileges, refusal
to issue visas to diplomats assigned to Embassy Caracas, or
to those visiting for temporary duty. He agreed to provide a
general list to Arreaza but pointed out that the real problem
was the inability of the GBRV to maintain a normal working
diplomatic dialogue to resolve these routine issues. This
failure to communicate did not bode well for the future of
our bilateral relations especially as we contemplate the
inauguration of a new U.S. administration.


5. (C) Arreaza said he wanted to return to his position as a
guest lecturer at Georgetown University in late October and
had just received his Exchange Visitor Visa form from the
University. He requested Embassy assistance in arranging an
expeditious appointment to apply for the required visa.
ChargQ directed him to the Consul General who should be able
to assist him with this request. When in the U.S. Arreaza
said he would like to meet with former Ambassadors Patrick
Duddy and Charles Shapiro with whom he had friendly relations
in Caracas. ChargQ offered to pass on this request.


6. (C) Comment. Arreaza was clearly uncomfortable that he
had previously assured the ChargQ that he could assist on a
variety of our administrative problems but had accomplished
nothing. His comments concerning divisions within the
Foreign Ministry on dealing with the U.S. indicate that
President Chavez has not articulated a policy line for
dealing with the U.S. prior to the inauguration of a new
administration, and may not even be aware of the harassment
of Embassy Caracas by his Foreign Ministry. End Comment.
CAULFIELD