Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08CARACAS409
2008-03-25 15:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
VENEZUELA TO OPEN EMBASSIES IN AFRICA'S EMERGING
how-toVZCZCXRO4070 PP RUEHAG RUEHDE RUEHROV DE RUEHCV #0409 0851538 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 251538Z MAR 08 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0843 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE RUEHHH/OPEC COLLECTIVE RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS RUEHJL/AMEMBASSY BANJUL 0005 RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM RUEHTO/AMEMBASSY MAPUTO 0014 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000409
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2018
TAGS: ENRG EPET PREL GA MZ SU VE
SUBJECT: VENEZUELA TO OPEN EMBASSIES IN AFRICA'S EMERGING
PETRO-PRODUCERS
REF: 2007 BANJUL 0332
Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Daniel Lawton
for Reason 1.4(d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000409
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2018
TAGS: ENRG EPET PREL GA MZ SU VE
SUBJECT: VENEZUELA TO OPEN EMBASSIES IN AFRICA'S EMERGING
PETRO-PRODUCERS
REF: 2007 BANJUL 0332
Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Daniel Lawton
for Reason 1.4(d).
1. (C) Summary. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV)
announced the assignment of personnel to open new embassies
in Gambia, Sudan and Mozambique. These three embassies will
bring the total to 17 of 18 planned Venezuelan missions in
Africa. The three newest missions all correspond to nations
on the cusp of becoming significant oil and gas producers.
Chavez will likely try to persuade these emerging
petro-nations to support his call to use petroleum as a tool
to promote socialism. End Summary.
EMBASSIES STAFFED
--------------
2. (U) The Foreign Ministry in a March 13 ceremony
announced the assignment of personnel to new Venezuelan
embassies in Gambia, Sudan and Mozambique. Vice Foreign
Minister for Africa Reinaldo Bolivar said that opening these
new embassies is in keeping with Venezuela's 2005 pledge to
open 18 missions in Africa. Minister Counselor Lourdes
Perez, previously assigned to Kenya, will open the mission in
the Republic of Gambia as the Commercial Counselor. Carlos
Garcia from the FM's Africa Bureau will join her. President
Chavez visited Gambia in July 2006. (REFTEL) The two
countries signed 12 bilateral accords in May 2007. Counselor
Javier Merayo and Antonio Torrealba will open the mission in
Khartoum, while Business AttachQ Nestor Fajardo and Richard
Rivero will start the mission in Mozambique. Sudan and
Gambia are expected to open missions in Caracas in the near
future and according to the BRV news service, Bala Garba
Juhumpa has been named Gambia's ambassador to Venezuela.
PETRO-PALS
--------------
3. (U) Alexander's Gas and Oil Connection estimates that
Gambia sits astride a potential oil reserve of 100 million
barrels in the Gulf of Guinea. Oil and Gas Journal
calculated Sudan's proven reserves at 5 billion barrels and
Mozambique has proven natural gas deposits of 3.5 trillion
cubic feet according to Reuters. The agreements between
Gambia and Venezuela included cooperation on exploration and
development. Vice Minister Bolivar said Venezuela had "great
empathy for Sudan" because they had both "been attacked by
the United States for their oil wealth."
4. (C) COMMENT: Chavez uses Venezuela's petro-dollars to
buy influence around the globe. Although his attempts during
the November 2007 summit to use OPEC "as an active
geopolitical agent" were rebuffed, we expect Chavez to court
these three emerging African producers to use their energy
resources in support of "international socialism." END
COMMENT.
Minimize Considered.
FRENCH
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2018
TAGS: ENRG EPET PREL GA MZ SU VE
SUBJECT: VENEZUELA TO OPEN EMBASSIES IN AFRICA'S EMERGING
PETRO-PRODUCERS
REF: 2007 BANJUL 0332
Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Daniel Lawton
for Reason 1.4(d).
1. (C) Summary. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV)
announced the assignment of personnel to open new embassies
in Gambia, Sudan and Mozambique. These three embassies will
bring the total to 17 of 18 planned Venezuelan missions in
Africa. The three newest missions all correspond to nations
on the cusp of becoming significant oil and gas producers.
Chavez will likely try to persuade these emerging
petro-nations to support his call to use petroleum as a tool
to promote socialism. End Summary.
EMBASSIES STAFFED
--------------
2. (U) The Foreign Ministry in a March 13 ceremony
announced the assignment of personnel to new Venezuelan
embassies in Gambia, Sudan and Mozambique. Vice Foreign
Minister for Africa Reinaldo Bolivar said that opening these
new embassies is in keeping with Venezuela's 2005 pledge to
open 18 missions in Africa. Minister Counselor Lourdes
Perez, previously assigned to Kenya, will open the mission in
the Republic of Gambia as the Commercial Counselor. Carlos
Garcia from the FM's Africa Bureau will join her. President
Chavez visited Gambia in July 2006. (REFTEL) The two
countries signed 12 bilateral accords in May 2007. Counselor
Javier Merayo and Antonio Torrealba will open the mission in
Khartoum, while Business AttachQ Nestor Fajardo and Richard
Rivero will start the mission in Mozambique. Sudan and
Gambia are expected to open missions in Caracas in the near
future and according to the BRV news service, Bala Garba
Juhumpa has been named Gambia's ambassador to Venezuela.
PETRO-PALS
--------------
3. (U) Alexander's Gas and Oil Connection estimates that
Gambia sits astride a potential oil reserve of 100 million
barrels in the Gulf of Guinea. Oil and Gas Journal
calculated Sudan's proven reserves at 5 billion barrels and
Mozambique has proven natural gas deposits of 3.5 trillion
cubic feet according to Reuters. The agreements between
Gambia and Venezuela included cooperation on exploration and
development. Vice Minister Bolivar said Venezuela had "great
empathy for Sudan" because they had both "been attacked by
the United States for their oil wealth."
4. (C) COMMENT: Chavez uses Venezuela's petro-dollars to
buy influence around the globe. Although his attempts during
the November 2007 summit to use OPEC "as an active
geopolitical agent" were rebuffed, we expect Chavez to court
these three emerging African producers to use their energy
resources in support of "international socialism." END
COMMENT.
Minimize Considered.
FRENCH