PORTUGAL RESPONSE TO BOLIVIA/VENEZUELA DEMARCHE

C O N F I D E N T I A L LISBON 002596 SIPDIS STATE DEPT FOR WHA BOLIVIA DESK E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/19/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM PO BL SUBJECT: PORTUGAL RESPONSE TO BOLIVIA/VENEZUELA DEMARCHE REF: STATE 99473 Classified By: POL/ECON COUNSELOR RICHARD REITER, REASONS 1.4(B),(D) ¶1. (C) DCM and Pol/Econ Counselor delivered reftel demarche to Portuguese MFA diplomatic advisor Francisco Ribeiro Menezes on September 19. Menezes expressed firm support for the US position in the disputes with Bolivia and Venezuela, adding that Portugal had taken note of US "moderation". Saying that Portugal has "serious concerns about the way things are going in Latin America", he briefly reviewed developments in Bolivia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Argentina. ¶2. (C) Menezes said that Chavez will overnight in Lisbon on Sept 26 (as one stop on a trip that will take him to Moscow and Beijing) and will be received by Prime Minister Socrates. ¶3. (C) COMMENT. It is possible that Chavez' frequent stopovers in Lisbon (three this year) are becoming a matter of concern about image to the GOP. The media always make a big deal of a Chavez visit, and invariably columnists are critical about how low the GOP will stoop for oil. The 19 September cover of Portugal's weekly satirical newspaper has a photo of Chavez holding a baby with PM Socrates' head photoshopped onto it. Menezes also commented with obvious relief that he was glad ForMin Amado will be in New York next week and unavailable to participate in the Chavez visit, betraying a bit of exasperation with having to deal so frequently with Chavez and "his people". STEPHENSON