Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LISBON1130
2008-05-12 13:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Lisbon
Cable title:  

PM SOCRATES HEADS TO VENEZUELA: OIL-FOR-FOOD AND

Tags:  PREL PGOV VE PO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1821
RR RUEHBW RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHROV RUEHSR
DE RUEHLI #1130 1331353
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 121353Z MAY 08 ZDK
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6818
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0079
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 0133
C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 001130 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/AND

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV VE PO
SUBJECT: PM SOCRATES HEADS TO VENEZUELA: OIL-FOR-FOOD AND
EXPATS TOP THE AGENDA

Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor Matt Harrington for reasons 1.4 (B) a
nd (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 001130

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR WHA/AND

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV VE PO
SUBJECT: PM SOCRATES HEADS TO VENEZUELA: OIL-FOR-FOOD AND
EXPATS TOP THE AGENDA

Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor Matt Harrington for reasons 1.4 (B) a
nd (D).


1. (C) Prime Minister Socrates has two principal
objectives for his visit to Venezuela May 13-15, according to
his diplomatic advisor for Latin American issues, Frederico
Ludovice. He intends both to strengthen ties to the
500,000-strong community of Portuguese citizens resident in
Venezuela, many of them dual nationals who hail originally
from the Portuguese archipelago of Madeira, and to boost
bilateral commercial relations, including in the energy
sector.

Portuguese community
--------------


2. (U) Socrates intends to send a strong message of support
for a community that is among the largest of the Portuguese
diaspora and one that has sometimes been the target of
harassment by the Chavez government. He is also hoping to
reinforce connections with younger dual nationals whose ties
to the motherland are more tenuous. Many Portuguese
residents are involved in food distribution, including
ownership of grocery stores, and Socrates wants to discuss
the impact of recent restrictions on food imports. There
will be two events with Portuguese citizens in Caracas: a
reception and a concert with Portuguese fado singer Mariza.

Possible business deals
--------------


3. (SBU) Socrates plans to travel with his Ministers of
Economy, Foreign Affairs, and Public Works, and with a number
of business leaders. The delegation will travel to the the
Orinoco Delta to finalize discussions that have been ongoing
for some time between PDVSA and Galp, Portugal's largest oil
company. Portugal imports all of its oil and natural gas
and, as part of its expanding energy diversification efforts,
has pushed recently for signature of an "oil for milk" deal
with Venezuela involving exchange of Portuguese dairy
products for Venezuelan oil. Ludovice added that the
delegation would also be looking at opportunities for
investment in infrastructure development, but he did not
elaborate.

Next stop...
--------------


4. (U) After Venezuela, Socrates plans to attend the
EU-Latin America summit in Lima May 16-17.

Comment
--------------


5. (C) Although the Prime Minister's office and the MFA are
usually reluctant to share details of high-level
Portugal-Venezuela visits with us, well aware of U.S.
preferences that Lisbon minimize its interactions with the
Chavez government, this time they have been forthcoming and
even proactive (the PM's diplomatic advisor has kept DCM up
to date on the evolution of this trip for over a month.) Our
interlocutors regularly underscore to us that concerns about
the well-being of Portuguese citizens in Venezuela require
engagement with Chavez, and they insist that they deliver
tough messages in private.
Stephenson