MFA FINDS SECRETARY'S COMMENTS DISRESPECTFUL

UNCLAS CARACAS 000867 SIPDIS HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL KDEM VE SUBJECT: MFA FINDS SECRETARY'S COMMENTS DISRESPECTFUL REF: CARACAS 858 ¶1. (SBU) A communique late on July 8 from the Ministry of Foreign Relations criticized Secretary Clinton's comments on Venezuela during a July 7 interview with Globovision, Venezuela's last opposition television channel. Calling the interview "unfriendly," the MFA questioned the sincerity of the USG's desire for improved relations and accused the Secretary of falling into the old habit of "passing judgment and giving orders" about Venezuelan democracy. Branding Secretary Clinton's comments as a "clumsy and aggressive" act aimed at Venezuela, Latin America and the Caribbean, the GBRV called for a rectification for the good of relations between the two nations. Although it criticized the interview itself, the communique does not object to any specific statements by the Secretary, ¶2. (U) TRANSLATED TEXT OF COMMUNIQUE (original sent to WHA/AND) Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela Ministry of Popular Power for Foreign Affairs COMMUNIQUE At a time when great efforts are being made to improve relations with the government of the United States, the Secretary of State, Hillary Rodham Clinton, repeats the old practice of giving instructions and passing judgments about Venezuelan democracy and the sovereign relations of our country with other nations. The insinuations of the Secretary of State reflect a profound lack of knowledge of our reality as well as disdain to the popular will our people have demonstrated numerous times under the framework of a true participatory democracy. It is difficult to believe that the efforts to rebuild our bilateral relations are sincere given such unfriendly acts. The opinions stated by the Secretary of State yesterday constitute a clumsy and aggressive signal by the United States towards Venezuela, Latin America and the Caribbean. The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela rejects this disrespectful gesture and urges a rectification for the sake of the relations between the Government of the United States and the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. DUDDY