VENEZUELA HARASSES CLASSIFIED POUCH TRANSFERS

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000693


E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/02/2029
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL AOPR AREP VE
SUBJECT: VENEZUELA HARASSES CLASSIFIED POUCH TRANSFERS

Classified By: Classified By: CHARGE D AFFAIRES JOHN P. CAULFIELD
FOR REASON 1.4(b)


1. (C) Summary: The Venezuelan Protocol Director phoned
Charge on June 4 to detail new procedures that compromise the
ability of the Embassy to receive classified escorted
diplomatic pouches. Despite claiming to be just "tidying up"
procedures, this action represents renewed efforts to harass
Embassy Caracas operations. To end this latest action and
forestall future ones we will need to bring our objection to
the attention of President Chavez, pointing out that actions
like these are inconsistent with Chavez, call for
normalization of relations including the exchange of
Ambassadors. End Summary.


2. (C) Protocol Director Ramon Gordils called Charge on June
4 to describe new limitations on the Embassy,s receipt of
diplomatic pouches. He claimed that the Embassy had
benefitted from "excessive" privileges such as permission for
American diplomatic staff to take possession of pouches on
the tarmac at planeside. He also claimed that the Embassy
was abusing its pouch privileges by sending large boxes of
items that should be shipped as normal cargo. This followed
an incident on June 2 when Venezuelan officials at the
airport denied an Embassy officer access to a classified
diplomatic pouch and insisted on inspecting and X raying the
pouch. After a standoff the Venezuelans agreed to return the
pouch uninspected, to the U.S. with the incoming courier and
refused to embark an outgoing Embassy pouch.


3. (C) Charge responded that we were no longer in the 18th
century and diplomatic correspondence required machines such
as computers that would be compromised if they were at any
time out of the control of our diplomatic personnel. Gordils
then insisted that the US did not extend privileges such as
planeside access to foreign diplomatic couriers in the US.
When the Charge expressed skepticism at this statement
Gordils asked him to verify what pouch procedures were for
foreign diplomats in the US and to get back to him.


4. (C) When the Charge asked Gordils who was responsible for
making this change in procedures, Gordils claimed that there
was really no change at all, just an "adjustment" to be
consistent with Venezuelan law and that no one person should
be considered responsible. (Comment: Obviously Gordils
himself is responsible.) Gordils then went on to describe a
series of changes in pouch procedures for US Embassy and
others (he specifically cited the UK Embassy) including the
requirement of advance notification of pouch delivery, the
names of Embassy personnel who would receive them, no vehicle
access to the tarmac to pick up large pouches, and the need
to submit "franquicias" (an official form describing
contents) for large pouches. Gordils finished by asking that
these actions not be given a political interpretation or seen
as an effort to complicate bilateral relations, Venezuela was
just tidying up its procedures.


5. (C) Comment: Protocol Director Gordils has consistently
looked for ways to harass Embassy operations including denial
of visas to permanently assigned and TDY staff, denial of
authorization by some employees to import personal vehicles,
and delays in issuance or denial of diplomatic credentials.
He was chagrined when the Brazilians informed President
Chavez of US complaints about the denial of visas to
diplomats, a policy that Chavez was not aware of. Gordils is
now back to his old tricks. Embassy believes the best way to
overcome his truculence is to again make clear to President
Chavez that harassment of Embassy Caracas is inconsistent
with Chavez,s stated goal of normalizing relations,
including the exchange of Ambassadors. End Comment.


CAULFIELD