Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE18819
2008-02-25 22:31:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Secretary of State
Cable title:
NO SURPRISE, CHAVEZ BACKS RUSSIA AGAINST KOSOVO
how-toVZCZCXYZ0009 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHC #8819 0562235 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 252231Z FEB 08 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO AMEMBASSY ZAGREB PRIORITY 9825
C O N F I D E N T I A L STATE 018819
SIPDIS
SIPDIS - ZAGREB FOR BELGRADE
THE FOLLOWING CARACAS 000233 DTD 22FEB08 SENT ACTION
SECSTATE INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE WESTERN
HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POST BELGRADE MOSCOW TBILISI
AIT TAIPEI USNATO HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI USOSCE VEINNA
NSC REPEATED FOR YOUR ACTION 25FEB08
QUOTE:
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000233
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2032
TAGS: PGOV PREL UNMIK VE KV EU
SUBJECT: NO SURPRISE, CHAVEZ BACKS RUSSIA AGAINST KOSOVO
INDEPENDENCE
REF: A. STATE 16319
B. STATE 13716
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT RICHARD DOWNES
FOR REASON 1.4 (D)
(C) Venezuelan President Chavez often deliberately takes
positions in the international fora contrary to those taken
by the United States, such as with his outreach and support
of Iran, and has been currying favor with Russia, which has
become Venezuela's major arms supplier. The Embassy was
therefore not surprised on February 21 when President Chavez
said the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) opposed
recognition of Kosovo. In a lengthy speech that all domestic
radio and television broadcasters were required to carry,
Chavez said that Kosovo's independence was part of a "plan by
the Empire" (the United States) to "weaken the governments of
the world", a development that he saw as "fundamentally
dangerous" to the peace of nations. President Chavez said he
was with Russia and China in this position and as well as
with Spain. He accused European countries who have
recognized Kosovo's independence of subordinating their
interests to the United States. Chavez implied that should
Russia recognize the independence of breakaway regimes in
Georgia or other former parts of the Soviet Union, the BRV
might very well follow suit. While President Chavez' often
accuses the United States of fomenting a non-existent
separatist movement in the Western oil rich and opposition
lead state of Zulia, Venezuela faces no domestic separatist
challenges.
DUDDY
UNQUOTE: RICE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS - ZAGREB FOR BELGRADE
THE FOLLOWING CARACAS 000233 DTD 22FEB08 SENT ACTION
SECSTATE INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE WESTERN
HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POST BELGRADE MOSCOW TBILISI
AIT TAIPEI USNATO HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI USOSCE VEINNA
NSC REPEATED FOR YOUR ACTION 25FEB08
QUOTE:
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000233
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO AID/OTI RPORTER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/30/2032
TAGS: PGOV PREL UNMIK VE KV EU
SUBJECT: NO SURPRISE, CHAVEZ BACKS RUSSIA AGAINST KOSOVO
INDEPENDENCE
REF: A. STATE 16319
B. STATE 13716
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT RICHARD DOWNES
FOR REASON 1.4 (D)
(C) Venezuelan President Chavez often deliberately takes
positions in the international fora contrary to those taken
by the United States, such as with his outreach and support
of Iran, and has been currying favor with Russia, which has
become Venezuela's major arms supplier. The Embassy was
therefore not surprised on February 21 when President Chavez
said the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) opposed
recognition of Kosovo. In a lengthy speech that all domestic
radio and television broadcasters were required to carry,
Chavez said that Kosovo's independence was part of a "plan by
the Empire" (the United States) to "weaken the governments of
the world", a development that he saw as "fundamentally
dangerous" to the peace of nations. President Chavez said he
was with Russia and China in this position and as well as
with Spain. He accused European countries who have
recognized Kosovo's independence of subordinating their
interests to the United States. Chavez implied that should
Russia recognize the independence of breakaway regimes in
Georgia or other former parts of the Soviet Union, the BRV
might very well follow suit. While President Chavez' often
accuses the United States of fomenting a non-existent
separatist movement in the Western oil rich and opposition
lead state of Zulia, Venezuela faces no domestic separatist
challenges.
DUDDY
UNQUOTE: RICE