SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS: CHARGE'S MEETING WITH

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000338 SIPDIS NSC FOR AMBASSADOR DAVIDOW E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/18/2019 TAGS: PREL KSUM MASS TD VE SUBJECT: SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS: CHARGE'S MEETING WITH TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO AMBASSADOR ALI - MARCH 17 REF: PORT OF SPAIN 00119 Classified By: A/POLITICAL COUNSELOR DANIEL LAWTON, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) ¶1. (C) Summary: Charge met Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) Ambassador to Venezuela Razi Ali March 17 to discuss the upcoming Summit of the Americas (SOA). Charge raised both the need to avoid any potential incidents with the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) given the volume of U.S. traffic traveling to and from the island and the lack of GBRV engagement so far on this issue. Ali told Charge she would raise the need for opening Summit-planning technical lines of communication between the USG and GBRV with T&T Prime Minister Manning prior to his March 21 meeting with Chavez. Ali reported that Chavez has not yet confirmed his attendance at the summit, but hopes Chavez will confirm during Prime Minister Manning's upcoming visit to Caracas. Note. Chavez announced on TV March 17 he plans to attend the summit. End Note. Ali expressed particular confidence in the "calming" personalities of President Obama and Brazilian President Lula de Silva and predicted that the Summit will be a diplomatic success. End Summary. -------------- T&T Prime Minister to Meet with Chavez -------------- ¶2. (C) Trinidad and Tobago Ambassador Razi Ali told the Charge March 17 that Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Manning planned to meet with Chavez on March 21 to discuss the upcoming Summit of the Americas. CDA Caulfield discussed with Ali the need to avoid any military or civilian incidents given the large volume of aircraft and support craft that will be required to support travel to and from the Summit of the Americas in April. Charge expressed his concern that should an emergency arise during the summit, an alternate landing site be needed, or an air or sea vessel accidentally stray into Venezuelan territory, the anomaly could be used by Chavez as a pretext for further confrontation with the USG. Trinidad and Tobago is situated only several miles off the Venezuelan coast, leaving a very narrow geographic window of navigation into and out of the summit. ¶3. (C) Given the logistics involved in supporting such a high profile event, Charge shared with Ali the unwillingness of the GBRV so far to engage the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, despite Embassy's ongoing efforts to open technical channels of communication between USG and GBRV military and commercial aviation personnel. Ali assured Charge that she would discuss the issue with Prime Minister Manning prior to his upcoming visit with Chavez on March 21. -------------- T&T Ambassador Hopeful Chavez will attend -------------- ¶4. (C) Ambassador Ali told Charge that during previous meetings with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Maduro and a vice-minister, both indicated that Chavez would most likely attend the Summit of the Americas. Ambassador Ali said that while she had not yet received written confirmation that Chavez will attend the summit, the Venezuelan president frequently changes his mind and may not decide until the last minute whether or not he will go to Trinidad. Ali, who has been posted to Caracas for two years, said that she was cautiously optimistic that Chavez would attend the Summit and believes he has very little to gain by avoiding the "olive branch" that a friendly summit would provide. Speaking on state television the night of March 16, Chavez said he plans to host an ALBA Heads of State meeting in Caracas on April 16 and travel to Trinidad with "lots of artillery." He sharply criticized the exclusion of Cuba from the Summit. ¶5. (C) Ali said T&T Prime Minister Manning would meet March 19 with Brazilian President Lula de Silva. Ali opined that the Lula meeting plus Manning's March 21 meeting with Chavez, would help ensure that the Summit will be conducted diplomatically. Despite the fact that her island has never held an event as big as the upcoming SOA, Ambassador Ali said she is optimistic that the calming effect of both President Obama's and Lula De Silva's personalities would defuse any potential tensions. CAULFIELD