SALVADORAN MFA ON USG VS. BOLIVIA/VENEZUELA

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 001102 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/22/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL BL VZ ES SUBJECT: SALVADORAN MFA ON USG VS. BOLIVIA/VENEZUELA REF: STATE 99473 Classified By: Robert I. Blau, CDA, for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Acting MFA Director General for Foreign Policy Nelson Amaya told PolCouns September 22 that while the GOES was surprised when Bolivian President Morales expelled our Ambassador, it was not surprised when Venezuelan President Chavez followed suit. He said the GOES believes the charges leveled against our Ambassadors have no merit. ¶2. (C) Responding to Reftel demarche, he said counterparts at the Venezuelan MFA had suggested to him that their role has been reduced to putting out fires and cleaning up messes. Amaya assessed that Morales' and Chavez' goal was to divert attention from difficulties at home. Amaya said the Salvadorans were surprised when Honduran President Zelaya postponed accepting the U.S. Ambassador's credentials, speculating that there might have been some personal benefit involved for Zelaya (he strongly hinted at some sort of Venezuelan payoff) that outweighed the negative consequences for Honduras. BLAU