Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CARACAS338
2009-03-18 21:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:  

SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS: CHARGE'S MEETING WITH

Tags:  PREL KSUM MASS TD VE 
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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)

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