DEMARCHE ON U.S. AMBASSADORS TO BOLIVIA AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L PRAGUE 000621 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/18/2018 TAGS: PREL KDEM BL VE EZ SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON U.S. AMBASSADORS TO BOLIVIA AND VENEZUELA DECLARED PERSONA NON GRATA: CZECH RESPONSE REF: STATE 99473 Classified By: Political/Economic Counselor Charles O. Blaha, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Political/Economic Counselor delivered reftel demarche September 19 to Czech MFA American States Department Deputy Director Veronika Bajgarova ¶2. (C) Bajgarova said Venezuela has recently attempted to intensify diplomatic dialogue with the Czech Republic. The incoming Czech ambassador to Venezuela was received by President Chavez and FM Maduro shortly after arriving in country. FM Maduro has proposed traveling to Prague, but the Czechs prefer to meet with Maduro on the margins of UNGA instead, although Bajgarova said Maduro's attendance at UNGA is still uncertain. Bajgarova speculated that Venezuela's overtures are connected to the Czech Republic's upcoming EU Presidency. Bajgarova said the Czechs stress human rights and democratic processes in all meetings with ranking Venezuelan officials. Graber