Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09CARACAS388
2009-03-25 22:42:00
SECRET
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:  

VENEZUELA ISSUES ALMOST ALL PENDING DIPLOMATIC

Tags:  PREL PGOV EAID MCAP AMGT VE 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO0009
PP RUEHAG RUEHROV
DE RUEHCV #0388/01 0842242
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 252242Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2809
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000388 

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2029
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID MCAP AMGT VE
SUBJECT: VENEZUELA ISSUES ALMOST ALL PENDING DIPLOMATIC
VISAS

REF: A. CARACAS 00355

B. CARACAS 000252

CARACAS 00000388 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES JOHN CAULFIELD,
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000388

SIPDIS

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

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2029
TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID MCAP AMGT VE
SUBJECT: VENEZUELA ISSUES ALMOST ALL PENDING DIPLOMATIC
VISAS

REF: A. CARACAS 00355

B. CARACAS 000252

CARACAS 00000388 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: CHARGE D'AFFAIRES JOHN CAULFIELD,
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) Summary. USG protests against harassment of Embassy
operations have spurred some MFA action. The Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MFA) recently issued visas to almost all
pending PCS employees, several TDY visas, and pledged to
resume issuing all TDY visas. The Venezuelan government also
agreed in principle to allow the long-deferred importation of
an 8-cylinder Embassy official vehicle. The Charge is urging
the MFA to agree to an exchange of diplomatic notes agreeing
to the reciprocal issuance of diplomatic visas in the future.
Embassy recommends that incoming PCS personnel apply for the
visa now and that the Department consider taking reciprocal
action at an appropriate time in response to the MFA's
refusal to issue a visa to an incoming USAID employee.
Embassy also recommends that the Department convene an
inter-agency review of the current prohibition on Venezuelan
military personnel receiving U.S. flight safety training on
civilian aircraft. End Summary.


2. (C) Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) officials
recently assured the Charge that the MFA is issuing all
pending visas for Americans waiting to transfer to Embassy
Caracas. The Department confirmed on March 24 that the
Venezuelan Embassy in Washington approved the visa
applications for eight PCS employees and their families,
including the Defense Attache and Assistant Air Attache. MFA
officials also authorized the BRV Embassy in Washington to
issue some TDY visas and reportedly will issue other pending
TDY visas. MFA Protocol told the A/DCM March 24 that it does
not have higher level authorization to issue any new visas
for DEA personnel who are not already at post or to any
incoming USAID representatives, however.


3. (SBU) In addition, the MFA has agreed in principle to
request that Venezuelan customs authorities (SENIAT)
authorize the importation of an 8-cylinder armored vehicle
for the Mission which has been stuck at a Venezuelan port.
The MFA had applied a ban on the importation of 8-cylinder
vehicles retroactively on Embassy Caracas, blocking the
importation of Embassy armored official vehicles and three
8-cylinder personally-owned vehicles (POVs). These vehicles
had already been in port for several months and have accrued
thousands of dollars of demurrage to be paid by the USG. MFA
officials told us that the 8-cylinder personally-owned
vehicles (POVs) at port would not be allowed in, however.


4. (C) The MFA appears to have taken the aforementioned
actions in response to Washington officials raising
Venezuelan harassment of Embassy operations during President
Lula's recent visit to Washington. In addition, visiting
Representative William Delahunt raised these issues with
President Chavez, Foreign Minister Maduro, and other MFA
officials during his March 20 visit to Caracas (Ref A). In
effort to lock in this recent progress, the Charge has
proposed an exchange of notes agreeing to the regular
issuance of diplomatic visas on a reciprocal basis. This is
particularly important to ensure that critical position are
filled at Embassy Caracas during the summer 2010 transfer
season (Ref B). In the past, the MFA has cleared up
reciprocity issues, only to resume harassment of Embassy
operations weeks later.


5. (C) In addition, Embassy recommends that the Department
consider the following follow-on measures:

-- Urging all personnel slated to transfer to Caracas this
year to apply for their PCS visas now.
-- Taking reciprocal action at an appropriate time in
response to the MFA's determination not to issue visas to
USAID personnel.
-- Convening an inter-agency review to review the prohibition
on Venezuelan military personnel receiving flight safety
training in the United States on civilian aircraft.


6. (S) The USG tightened the interpretation of our ITAR
sanctions by barring the training of Venezuelan military
personnel in the wake of the GBRV's September 11, 2008,
expulsion of the Ambassador. The measure appears to have
strengthened anti-American hard-liners within the MFA and
spurred the MFA to respond disproportionately by restricting
visa issuances to U.S. PCS and TDY personnel. It has also

CARACAS 00000388 002.2 OF 002


significantly diminished our limited access to Venezuelan
military personnel to the detriment of broader U.S.
interests. These military personnel are also subject to
lengthy MANTIS VISA clearances.

CAULFIELD