VENEZUELA RESPONDS TO USG REQUEST FOR PORT VISITS

UNCLAS CARACAS 001580 SIPDIS HQ SOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD TREASURY FOR MMALLOY COMMERCE FOR 4431/MAC/WH/JLAO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ASEC MARR PGOV EAIR PREL ETRD KHLS PTER EWWT, VE SUBJECT: VENEZUELA RESPONDS TO USG REQUEST FOR PORT VISITS ¶1. (SBU) Post has received a Diplomatic Note dated November 13 responding to the Embassy's October 6 Diplomatic Note, which stated that the GBRV must set a port visit date within 30 days of the Diplomatic Note's receipt, or the Coast Guard would impose "conditions of entry". An unofficial translation of the Note follows in para two. ¶2. (SBU) BEGIN UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION OF VENEZUELAN DIPLOMATIC NOTE 000643 The Ministry of Popular Power for Foreign Affairs, Office of the Vice Minister for North American Affairs and Multilateral Issues, salutes the Honorable Embassy of the United States of America and takes this opportunity to refer to Diplomatic Note No. 672 dated October 6, 2008, which requested a second United States Coast Guard visit to the port installations located in domestic territory. The Ministry would like to inform the Honorable Embassy of the United States that upon review of international and domestic legislation regarding this matter, the referenced visit is considered feasible ("viable" in Spanish),if and only if the visit consists of meetings and table top activities, and if the United Stated Coast Guard Command previously sends evidence that its inspections in other countries have contributed to an increase in port protection at those ports. Complimentary closing. Caracas, November 13, 2008 END UNOFFICIAL TRANSLATION ¶3. (SBU) Upon receiving the above Diplomatic Note on November 14, Econoff called the head of security at the National Institute of Aquatic Spaces (INEA),who did not answer repeated calls, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to request a meeting with INEA to discuss port visits. The MFA official stated she did not know if a meeting with INEA and Embassy staff would be possible, but promised to look into it. She then called back and suggested that the Embassy send a Diplomatic Note acknowledging receipt of the Venezuelan Diplomatic Note and requesting a meeting between Embassy personnel and INEA staff. ¶4. (SBU) Embassy proposes that we respond to the note describing what the Coast Guard visits include and again ask for a specific date. Clearly the BRV is playing for time. If they do not respond on a timely basis the USG should proceed as planned. CAULFIELD