VENEZUELAN PLANNING FOR SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000478

SIPDIS

HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/16/2029
TAGS: PREL MOPS PGOV VE
SUBJECT: VENEZUELAN PLANNING FOR SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS

REF: STATE 036854

Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ,
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (SBU) Summary: The Government of the Bolivarian Republic
of Venezuela (GBRV) engaged post on the subjects of an
UNASUR-Obama meeting at the Summit of the Americas (SOA),and
de-confliction of the air space near Venezuela in support of
the SOA. However, the working level GBRV interlocutors did
not seem to have the most recent information. There has been
no response to the Energy and Climate Partnership of the
Americas (ECPA). End Summary.


2. (SBU) A/DCM conveyed reftel points April 15 to MFA North
America Director Yaneth Arocha and the staff of the Vice
Minister for Latin America and the Caribbean. The latter
confirmed that the GBRV had received President Bachelet's
invitation for the UNASUR meeting on Saturday, April 18. The
MFA could not confirm, however, that President Chavez would
attend. In responding to a reporter's query during the April
16 ALBA summit, Chavez affirmed that he would attend with the
other UNASUR members.


3. (C) Venezuela's Civil Aviation Authority (INAC) President
Jose Martinez and three Venezuelan Air Force (FAV) colonels
representing Air Operations, Air Space Control/Intelligence
and Air Defense met early April 16 with Charge and DATT in
response to the Embassy's long-standing request to consult on
logistical arrangements related to civil and military air
traffic going to and from nearby Trinidad and Tobago for the
SOA. Martinez acknowledged that they had received
instructions to hold the meeting late April 15 from the
office of Vice President/Defense Minister Ramon Carrizalez.
The reaction of Venezuelan civil and military officials
following the DATT brief was relaxed and gracious compared to
their formal opening.


4. (C) Martinez recommended that during the SOA, FAV and the
DATT office communicate directly rather than going through
the MFA. Air Operations LTCOL Puente Garcia and DATT
immediately exchanged phone numbers and made arrangements to
exchange phone lists. Martinez said he appreciated the
spirit of the briefing and that the USG was seeking to avoid
misunderstandings and deal constructively with any
emergencies and that Venezuela shared that interest. When
asked by the Charge if Chavez would fly directly to Trinidad
from the ALBA summit or first return to Caracas, Martinez
claimed no knowledge and apologized that the head of the
presidential flight detail was unable to attend because he
was out of town. (Note: President Chavez is meeting with his
ALBA counterparts in Cumana today. End Note.)


5. (C) Embassy conveyed via dipnote the USG's intent to
invite the nations of the hemisphere to join in an Energy and
Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA). The GBRV did not
respond.


6. (C) Comment: The lack of Venezuelan engagement in
bilateral and multilateral issues is the routine. Their
willingness to receive the briefing connected with the SOA is
the type of routine engagement we rarely see. End Comment.
CAULFIELD