Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LIMA628
2009-04-30 22:09:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lima
Cable title:
ROSALES' ASYLUM: VENEZUELA RECALLS ITS AMBASSADOR
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHPE #0628 1202209 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 302209Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY LIMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0486 INFO RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION PRIORITY 2332 RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA PRIORITY 6533 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 8269 RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES PRIORITY 3832 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 1379 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ APR 5159 RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO PRIORITY 9714 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 2514 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO PRIORITY 2354 RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUMIAAA/USCINCSO MIAMI FL PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 000628
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/29/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM VE PE
SUBJECT: ROSALES' ASYLUM: VENEZUELA RECALLS ITS AMBASSADOR
REF: A. LIMA 00602
B. LIMA 00589
C. CARACAS 00503
Classified By: Ambassador P. Michael McKinley for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 000628
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/29/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM VE PE
SUBJECT: ROSALES' ASYLUM: VENEZUELA RECALLS ITS AMBASSADOR
REF: A. LIMA 00602
B. LIMA 00589
C. CARACAS 00503
Classified By: Ambassador P. Michael McKinley for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: In response to the Garcia administration's
granting of political asylum to former Venezuelan
presidential candidate and Maracaibo Mayor Manuel Rosales
(ref B),the Venezuelan Ambassador was recalled to Caracas
for consultations. While the GOP sought to soften the
diplomatic blow by basing Rosales' asylum on humanitarian
considerations, an APRA insider told us President Garcia had
no hesitation in supporting the decision and "goading" his
regional rival. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Immediately following Peru's April 27 decision to
approve Rosales' asylum petition, Venezuela recalled its
newly-accredited Ambassador to Peru, Aristides Medina Rubio
to "evaluate" the bilateral relationship. GBRV authorities
continue to maintain that Rosales illegally enriched himself
when he was governor of oil-rich Zulia state and then skipped
his court date (ref C). Venezuela has issued a warrant for
his arrest. (Note: Rosales is at least the third Venezuelan
leader to recently seek refuge in Peru. The others include
the former Governor of Yaracuy Eduardo Lapi and President of
the Venezuelan Workers Confederation Carlos Ortega. End Note.)
3. (SBU) Meanwhile, Rosales' lawyer and APRA Congressman
Javier Valle-Riestra indicated to the press that his client
was obviously "very happy" with the GOP's decision. Most
members of Congress also appear satisfied with the move.
Among the exceptions were Ollanta Humala's Nationalist Party
(PNP) members, several of whom highlighted that Caracas had
cooperated on the extradition to Peru of President Fujimori's
former intelligence chief Vladimir Montesinos. A Foreign
Ministry official with responsibility for South America told
us that the asylum decision need not have a long term impact
on Peru's relations with Venezuela, including in its
important commercial dimension.
4. (C) President Garcia has publicly defended the Rosales
decision by stating that, "Peru's first duty is to provide
protection to someone who feels threatened" and tried to calm
the waters by extolling the virtues of Venezuela's democracy.
One APRA insider told us that President Garcia had no
hesitation in supporting the decision, which was one reason
the process took just over four days from start to finish.
He added that, in addition to honoring Peru's democratic
commitments and the APRA party's history with asylum (ref A),
Garcia took a certain pleasure in "goading" Chavez, but
without taking the point too far. GOP officials have
underscored that one condition of Rosales' asylum was that he
maintain a low profile and refrain from criticizing Chavez
while here.
MCKINLEY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/29/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM VE PE
SUBJECT: ROSALES' ASYLUM: VENEZUELA RECALLS ITS AMBASSADOR
REF: A. LIMA 00602
B. LIMA 00589
C. CARACAS 00503
Classified By: Ambassador P. Michael McKinley for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: In response to the Garcia administration's
granting of political asylum to former Venezuelan
presidential candidate and Maracaibo Mayor Manuel Rosales
(ref B),the Venezuelan Ambassador was recalled to Caracas
for consultations. While the GOP sought to soften the
diplomatic blow by basing Rosales' asylum on humanitarian
considerations, an APRA insider told us President Garcia had
no hesitation in supporting the decision and "goading" his
regional rival. End Summary.
2. (SBU) Immediately following Peru's April 27 decision to
approve Rosales' asylum petition, Venezuela recalled its
newly-accredited Ambassador to Peru, Aristides Medina Rubio
to "evaluate" the bilateral relationship. GBRV authorities
continue to maintain that Rosales illegally enriched himself
when he was governor of oil-rich Zulia state and then skipped
his court date (ref C). Venezuela has issued a warrant for
his arrest. (Note: Rosales is at least the third Venezuelan
leader to recently seek refuge in Peru. The others include
the former Governor of Yaracuy Eduardo Lapi and President of
the Venezuelan Workers Confederation Carlos Ortega. End Note.)
3. (SBU) Meanwhile, Rosales' lawyer and APRA Congressman
Javier Valle-Riestra indicated to the press that his client
was obviously "very happy" with the GOP's decision. Most
members of Congress also appear satisfied with the move.
Among the exceptions were Ollanta Humala's Nationalist Party
(PNP) members, several of whom highlighted that Caracas had
cooperated on the extradition to Peru of President Fujimori's
former intelligence chief Vladimir Montesinos. A Foreign
Ministry official with responsibility for South America told
us that the asylum decision need not have a long term impact
on Peru's relations with Venezuela, including in its
important commercial dimension.
4. (C) President Garcia has publicly defended the Rosales
decision by stating that, "Peru's first duty is to provide
protection to someone who feels threatened" and tried to calm
the waters by extolling the virtues of Venezuela's democracy.
One APRA insider told us that President Garcia had no
hesitation in supporting the decision, which was one reason
the process took just over four days from start to finish.
He added that, in addition to honoring Peru's democratic
commitments and the APRA party's history with asylum (ref A),
Garcia took a certain pleasure in "goading" Chavez, but
without taking the point too far. GOP officials have
underscored that one condition of Rosales' asylum was that he
maintain a low profile and refrain from criticizing Chavez
while here.
MCKINLEY