GBRV "SURPRISED" ABOUT THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE

UNCLAS CARACAS 001321 SENSITIVE SIPDIS C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM VE SUBJECT: GBRV "SURPRISED" ABOUT THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE ¶1. (SBU) The Venezuelan government (GBRV) reacted immediately and strongly to the October 9 news that President Obama had won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. Venezuela's Public Defender Gabriela Ramirez said early that morning on the government-owned VTV the award "made a mockery of human rights," and the government Agencia Bolivariana de Noticias issued a press release with her statement. Shortly after noon Minister of Foreign Affairs Nicolas Maduro said he was "surprised" at the announcement, since "Obama has only just begun." He suggested Obama demonstrate his commitment to peace by ending the U.S. use of Colombian military bases. ¶2. (U) President Chavez criticized the decision in his weekly column "Las Lineas de Chavez" October 11, asking "What has Obama done to merit this prize?" After accusing the jury of forgetting President Obama's "determination to keep troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and his decision to establish new military bases in Colombia," Chavez said it was like giving a baseball pitcher a Cy Young award at the beginning of a season. DUDDY