STILL NO AGREEMENT ON DRAFT DECLARATION FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001230 SIPDIS FOR WHA/AND/MBOND, AF/RSA/LMAZEL, AND NEA/RA/MADLER HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER) E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/17/2029 TAGS: PGOV PREL VE SUBJECT: STILL NO AGREEMENT ON DRAFT DECLARATION FOR UNASUR-AFRICAN UNION SUMMIT REF: CARACAS 1059 Classified By: Political Counselor Robin D. Meyer, for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (C) Summary: South African Ambassador Bhekizzizwe Gila told Ambassador Duddy on September 18 that South African President Zuma would attend the September 26-27 UNASUR -African Union Summit taking place on Venezuela's Margarita Island. Gila said the heads of state of Brazil, Libya, Algeria, and possibly Ecuador would also attend. He noted that the Venezuelan government (GBRV) has resisted making any changes in their proposal for a Summit Declaration, which includes several articles praising the "Bolivarian Socialist Revolution." Brazil and South Africa are negotiating separately to develop an alternative declaration. End Summary. -------------- President Zuma Coming to Venezuela -------------- ¶2. (C) In spite of earlier reports of minimal South African participation at the UNASUR - African Union Summit (reftel), Gila confirmed that President Zuma would attend the event. He noted that South Africa is hoping to increase its business relationship with Venezuela, especially with regards to the mining industry. He said that South Africa currently has only a very light presence in Venezuela, especially compared to Colombia, where South African investment is significant. The South African government is actively encouraging the GBRV to rejoin the Kimberley Process regulating the diamond trade. "The Venezuelans," Gila said, "are flooding the illegal market with diamonds, and affecting international prices." In addition to attending the Summit, President Zuma hopes to hold bilateral meetings with senior GBRV officials. -------------- -------------- Venezuelans Unwilling to Negotiate the Summit Declaration -------------- -------------- ¶3. (C) Preparatory meetings for Summit have apparently failed to result in a negotiated Summit Declaration. Gila said the Venezuelans do not seem to have the "necessary patience" required for multilateral negotiations, and the GBRV's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has refused to discuss any changes to the text. The GBRV proposal has over 80 articles, Gila said, beginning with several that praise the Bolivarian Socialist Revolution. Gila called the GBRV's projects like BancoSur and TeleSur symbolically acceptable, but "impractical." He also questioned the Venezuelans' insistence on locating all south-south institutions in Caracas. South Africa to date has refused to accept the declaration as drafted and is negotiating with Brazil on a separate two-page compromise document. Gila indicated that Venezuelan intransigence could result in no Summit declaration at all. DUDDY