FOREIGN MINISTRY PROMISES TO RESOLVE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000356

SIPDIS

HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/20/2029
TAGS: PREL PGOV AMGT VE
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTRY PROMISES TO RESOLVE
ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES -- AGAIN

CARACAS 00000356 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: A/POLITICAL COUNSELOR DANIEL LAWTON,
FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) Summary: On the margins of the March 19 visit of
Congressman William Delahunt, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
(MFA) Chief of Staff Temir Porras promised -- again -- to
resolve persistent administrative issues impeding Embassy
operations. Porras spoke directly with the Charge March 18
and 19 and pledged to oversee the release of both official
and personal (POV) eight-cylinder vehicles awaiting customs
clearances at the port and the issuance of outstanding
permanent change-of-station (PCS) visas, including to members
of the Embassy's Defense Attache Office. Charge urged the
MFA to agree to the already proposed exchange of diplomatic
notes to establish regular, reciprocal diplomatic visa
issuances. Porras was receptive to the Charge's proposal
tha the Venezuelan and U.S. officials work together t
facilitate communication on air traffic relatedto the
upcoming Summi of the Americas in nearbyTrinidad. The
Charge told Porras that he would ransmit to Washington the
MFA's positive messages but underscored the need for the MFA
to put itsprofessed good intentions into action. End
Summry.


2. (C) MFA Chief of Staff Temir Porras phned the Charge
late on March 18 to report that he MFA would issue pending
visas for U.S. membersof the Defense Attache Office. He
said he wouldcontact Customs (SENIAT) Director David Cabello
ondon personally to break the hold on our eight-ylinder
vehicles. (Note: There is one official eight-cylinder
vehicle and three POVs currently at the port. End Note.)
The Charge welcomed the news and asked if the vehicles
included privately-owned as well as official cars. Porras
responded that he thought all pending cars would be allowed
in. Porras agreed to speak with the Charge further while
receiving CODEL Delahunt (Septel) March 19 at the airport.

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PORRAS PLEDGES TO RELEASE VISAS
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3. (C) Charge met with Porras, accompanied by Venezuelan
CDA in Washington Angelo Rivero, at the VIP room in Maiquetia
Airport on March 19. Porras confirmed that Venezuela would
be issuing visas to all pending Defense Attaches. The Charge
mentioned a proposal -- already delivered to Rivero in
Washington -- to exchange diplomatic notes pledging normal
issuance of visas to diplomats assigned to our respective
missions. Porras agreed with the idea in principle. He also
mentioned that he had heard a "rumor" that during the meeting
between President Obama and Brazilian President Lula, Obama
had brought up the visa issue with Lula. (Note: We
understand the NSC Advisor raised this issue with the
Brazilians in a separate meeting. End Note.) Porras said
that President Chavez was surprised when he got this feedback
from the Brazilians because Chavez was unaware of the visa
problems. Porras confided that after Chavez's intemperate
language towards President Obama, he was relieved that the
worst that came up was visas.


4. (C) Charge noted that all reciprocity problems are a
direct result of actions by the MFA's Protocol Office.
Porras responded that although such actions may appear
deliberate, they were often simply the result of inefficiency
in the Venezuelan bureaucracy. He said that he had spoken
personally with SENIAT Director Cabello to resolve the
eight-cylinder vehicle problem and that Cabello was meeting
with an MFA team at that moment to resolve the issue. Porras
reiterated that this referred to both official and POVs.


5. (C) Congressman Delahunt arrived and joined the group to
continue the discussion. Porras said that the MFA had
received instructions from Chavez to resolve our
administrative issues. Charge reminded Porras that without a
written understanding on visa reciprocity, the issue would
continue to require high-level attention to resolve. He
cited as an example the Embassy's large anticipated personnel
turnover in Summer 2009, adding that any visa delay would
create a serious bilateral problem. Other issues in the
pipeline include the non-issuance of diplomatic license
plates to American diplomats and the building of a Marine
Security Guard residence on the Embassy compound.


6. (C) Rivero commented that he would like diplomatic
license plates for his car in Washington and permission to
transfer Venezuelan diplomatic personnel from elsewhere in

CARACAS 00000356 002.2 OF 002


his mission to the Venezuelan Consulate in Houston. Porras
added that the MFA wanted visas for their Consul General in
Puerto Rico and for Venezuelan military personnel seeking to
participate in civilian aircraft maintenance and safety
training in the United States.

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SUMMIT PLANNING
--------------


7. (C) Turning to the upcoming Summit of the Americas,
Porras said he had visited Trinidad March 16 and was
concerned about Trinidad and Tobago's logistical
preparations. The Charge noted that the USG is working with
Port-of-Spain on these issues as well. Given the large
logistical footprint of a POTUS visit to Trinidad and its
physical proximity to Venezuela, the Charge suggested
developing a channel of communication between U.S. and
Venezuelan military and civilian aviation representatives to
avoid misunderstandings and facilitate contingency planning.
Porras agreed and suggested designating a point of contact in
Caracas. The Charge suggested that the incoming U.S. Air
Attache, if he receives his visa, would be a good
interlocutor on this issue.


8. (C) Comment: The tone of the Charge's meetings with MFA
Chief of Staff Porras was friendly and positive both before
and after Representative Delahunt's arrival. It appears that
the MFA has received instructions from the Venezuelan
president to move ahead on reciprocity issues. At the same
time, Porras and other Venezuelan officials candidly
expressed frustration with the MFA Chief of Protocol, a
position that reports to Porras. It is not clear to us how
the Protocol Chief has been able to pursue harassment of
Embassy Caracas without higher approval. Porras and other
senior Venezuelan officials have previously provided
assurances that they would cease harassing Embassy
operations, but it remains to be seen whether they can and
will deliver. End Comment.

CAULFIELD