Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CARACAS233
2008-02-22 21:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
NO SURPRISE, CHAVEZ BACKS RUSSIA AGAINST KOSOVO
how-toVZCZCXRO5266 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHCV #0233 0532134 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 222134Z FEB 08 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0653 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE PRIORITY RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 0308 RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI PRIORITY 0001 RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI PRIORITY 0034 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 0009 RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE VIENNA PRIORITY 0003 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000233
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2032
TAGS: PGOV PREL UNMIK VE KV EU
SUBJECT: NO SURPRISE, CHAVEZ BACKS RUSSIA AGAINST KOSOVO
INDEPENDENCE
REF: A. STATE 16319
B. STATE 13716
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT RICHARD DOWNES
FOR REASON 1.4 (D)
(C) Venezuelan President Chavez often deliberately takes
positions in the international fora contrary to those taken
by the United States, such as with his outreach and support
of Iran, and has been currying favor with Russia, which has
become Venezuela's major arms supplier. The Embassy was
therefore not surprised on February 21 when President Chavez
said the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) opposed
recognition of Kosovo. In a lengthy speech that all domestic
radio and television broadcasters were required to carry,
Chavez said that Kosovo's independence was part of a "plan by
the Empire" (the United States) to "weaken the governments of
the world", a development that he saw as "fundamentally
dangerous" to the peace of nations. President Chavez said he
was with Russia and China in this position and as well as
with Spain. He accused European countries who have
recognized Kosovo's independence of subordinating their
interests to the United States. Chavez implied that should
Russia recognize the independence of breakaway regimes in
Georgia or other former parts of the Soviet Union, the BRV
might very well follow suit. While President Chavez' often
accuses the United States of fomenting a non-existent
separatist movement in the Western oil rich and opposition
lead state of Zulia, Venezuela faces no domestic separatist
challenges.
DUDDY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2032
TAGS: PGOV PREL UNMIK VE KV EU
SUBJECT: NO SURPRISE, CHAVEZ BACKS RUSSIA AGAINST KOSOVO
INDEPENDENCE
REF: A. STATE 16319
B. STATE 13716
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT RICHARD DOWNES
FOR REASON 1.4 (D)
(C) Venezuelan President Chavez often deliberately takes
positions in the international fora contrary to those taken
by the United States, such as with his outreach and support
of Iran, and has been currying favor with Russia, which has
become Venezuela's major arms supplier. The Embassy was
therefore not surprised on February 21 when President Chavez
said the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) opposed
recognition of Kosovo. In a lengthy speech that all domestic
radio and television broadcasters were required to carry,
Chavez said that Kosovo's independence was part of a "plan by
the Empire" (the United States) to "weaken the governments of
the world", a development that he saw as "fundamentally
dangerous" to the peace of nations. President Chavez said he
was with Russia and China in this position and as well as
with Spain. He accused European countries who have
recognized Kosovo's independence of subordinating their
interests to the United States. Chavez implied that should
Russia recognize the independence of breakaway regimes in
Georgia or other former parts of the Soviet Union, the BRV
might very well follow suit. While President Chavez' often
accuses the United States of fomenting a non-existent
separatist movement in the Western oil rich and opposition
lead state of Zulia, Venezuela faces no domestic separatist
challenges.
DUDDY