GBRV INCENSED OVER LEAKED GAO REPORT

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000935 SIPDIS HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER) E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/19/2019 TAGS: PREL SNAR VE SUBJECT: GBRV INCENSED OVER LEAKED GAO REPORT Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR DARNALL STEUART, FOR REASON 1.4 (B) & (D) ¶1. (SBU) International media reports during the week of July 13 referred to a "congressional report", classifying Venezuela as "approaching a narco-state," have raised the ire of the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV). (Note: A GAO report on U.S. - Venezuelan counter-drug cooperation was released July 20. End Note.) Venezuela's top law man, Minister of Interior and Justice Tarek El Aissami, told the press July 14, "the squeals of the empire are of little concern." Defending Venezuela's record based on United Nations statistics, El Aissami added that the United States "acts like we're a colony." (Note: The GBRV usually refers to the 2007 UNODC World Drug Report, although the 2009 report lists Venezuela as being the leading drug transit nation and states it has not eradicated a single hectare of opium poppies nor coca bushes since 2005. End Note.) President Hugo Chavez, while on a state visit to Bolivia on July 17, called the report "another lie." He accused the United States being the largest narco-trafficker on the planet, adding that the report is "an imperialist weapon ...to demonize countries they don't like." ¶2. (C) Comment: The reaction of the GBRV follows the standard format of avoiding the substance of the report, accusing the messenger and invoking sovereignty. While the substance of the report will come as no surprise to Venezuelans who increasingly suffer from drug related violence, corruption and a culture of impunity, it will complicate counter-drug engagement with the GBRV. Nevertheless, state governments and local municipalities, fed up with the central government's inaction, continue to engage with the mission's Narcotics Affairs Section. End Comment CAULFIELD