MFA OFFICIALS 'PLEASED' WITH 2008 TIP DESIGNATION

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000771 SIPDIS HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER) E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/04/2028 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM KCRM SMIG VE SUBJECT: MFA OFFICIALS 'PLEASED' WITH 2008 TIP DESIGNATION REF: A. SECSTATE 58561 ¶B. 07 CARACAS 02229 ¶C. CARACAS 00196 Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT R. DOWNES FOR REASON 1.4 (D) ¶1. (C) PolCouns and PolOff met with MFA Director for North America and Multilateral Affairs Yaneth Arocha and U.S. Desk Officer Marie Borregales to deliver a courtesy copy of Venezuela's country narrative in the 2008 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report and to inform them of their change in status to Tier 2 Watchlist. (Note: Since 2004, Venezuela has been designated as a Tier 3 country in the TIP Report. End Note). Arocha told us she is "very pleased" with the designation. She stated she would brief Vice Minister Jorge Valero on the designation upon his return from the OAS General Assembly meeting in Colombia. Arocha credited her staff for working diligently to arrange meetings between Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) and USG officials despite tensions in the bilateral relationship. She also said the visit of G/TIP's Barbara Fleck in October 2007 provided the BRV with an opportunity to showcase its law enforcement efforts and public awareness campaigns (Ref. B). Arocha referred to the change in status as an example that both parties can work together to strengthen the bilateral relationship, particularly on technical issues. She added that greater cooperation was likely in similar issues. ¶2. (C) Comment. Arocha and Borregales have expended some capital in getting Embassy officials TIP-related information and were thus visibly pleased with this year's TIP designation. By showing that cooperation and information sharing with the USG is duly acknowledged, we have helped create trust among these BRV officials at the working level. We believe this also demonstrates the USG's interest in moving beyond the political rhetoric on technical issues. ¶3. (C) Post requests the Department take careful consideration of our TIP grant proposals for support of NGOs in Venezuela in light of some progress on this issue (Ref. C). End Comment. FRENCH