OAS PERMANENT COUNCIL MEMBERS DECRY VENEZUELA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 011119 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM KIRF PGOV PREL ASEC VE IS OAS SUBJECT: OAS PERMANENT COUNCIL MEMBERS DECRY VENEZUELA SYNAGOGUE ATTACK REF: CARACAS 000135 ¶1. (U) Summary: During the Organization of American States' (OAS) regular Permanent Council meeting on February 4, seven countries spoke out about the January 30-31 synagogue attack in Caracas (see reftel). Five countries, including the United States, decried anti-Semitism in the hemisphere, denounced the attacks and called on the Venezuelan government to bring the perpetrators to justice. Argentina condemned anti-Semitism and called for tolerance, but did not mention the attack or Venezuela by name. Venezuela also repudiated the attack but claimed it was also an "aggrieved party" because "some (were) seeking to use the incident as a stick with which to beat Venezuela" in anticipation of the upcoming referendum on presidential term limits. Venezuela also remarked that OAS member states should be as concerned about the "genocide" in Gaza as they are with the synagogue attack. End summary. ¶2. (U) OAS Permanent Council: The OAS holds Permanent Council meetings - meetings of all 34 member states' permanent representatives - approximately every two weeks. The February 4 meeting was the first since the synagogue attack. Seven member states spoke about the attack under "other business" at the end of the session. Here is a summary of the member states' remarks, in the order in which they spoke: -- Panama: Ambassador Aristides Royo noted the importance of religious freedom in the hemisphere and stated that all OAS member states "have the obligation to ensure religious freedom in our own neighborhoods." The ambassador denounced the attack on the synagogue and all forms of anti-Semitism. He also supported OAS Secretary General Insulza's "call for the Venezuelan government to bring the perpetrators to justice." -- Argentina: Ambassador Rodolfo Gil pointed out that Argentina has the second largest Jewish community in the American Diaspora. He spoke of the past bombing of the Israeli Embassy and of the Jewish cultural center in Buenos Aires, and emphasized Argentina's commitment to religious freedom and tolerance. He did not make direct reference to Venezuela but said that no form of bullying or hate speech should be countenanced. -- United States: Deputy Permanent Representative Lew Amselem said that all states, including OAS member states, have a responsibility to guarantee the rights and liberties of their citizens consistent with international commitments. Those commitments include the rights to religious freedom, free association and spiritual development. Amselem pointed out that freedom of belief is a central freedom under the U.S. Bill of Rights, as well. The attack against the synagogue must be condemned in the strongest terms and serves as a warning of what can happen in a highly politicized environment when intolerance is left to simmer. Violence against religious sites is a clear threat to religious diversity and fundamental human rights. Amselem called on Venezuela to investigate the attack thoroughly and prosecute those responsible. He said the United States is proud to stand in solidarity with the Venezuelan Jewish community and urged the Government of Venezuela to encourage a peaceful, pluralistic environment that includes diverse perspectives and open dialogue. -- Canada: Deputy PermRep Pierre Giroux next gave a very brief statement "condemning" the attack and urging Venezuela to investigate the crime and bring the responsible parties to justice. (The Canadians had said they would speak only if we did, and they would speak only after we did.) -- Venezuela: Venezuela's remarks were hardly brief. While the other representatives' comments lasted only a few minutes each, Ambassador Roy Chaderton gave a 26-minute rambling intervention, much of it filled with anti-Catholic invective, during which he said: (a) It is encouraging that the OAS "is so concerned about events that happen in member states". He hoped this was a "harbinger of hope" that OAS countries will also speak out about the "genocide that has been going on in Gaza." (b) This is a positive step forward and underlines the member states' moral authority to speak out not only on STATE 00011119 002 OF 002 events in the region, but around the world. (c) The synagogue attack "filled Venezuelans with regret." Since long before the Chavez government came to power, Venezuela has been home to a number of hate groups, including extreme Catholics "who have various sorts of Nazi paraphernalia in their homes." (d) The Chavez government has spoken out against anti-Semitism, which is an expression of hate "like anti-Islamic statements so much in vogue in some countries." (e) It is "curious and interesting" that this attack happened in the run-up to an election in Venezuela which is designed to let the people decide how long a president may serve. It is a "pity" the OAS does not show equal concern for "other occurrences" and it is "not fair Venezuela is not given credit for its tolerance." (f) The attack on the synagogue should not be "used as a stick with which to beat Venezuela as we approach the election." The Venezuelan Government was also "an aggrieved party." -- Costa Rica: Deputy Permanent Representative Luis Guardia said Costa Rica "repudiated the attack on the synagogue" and "totally censured it." -- El Salvador: Deputy Permanent Representative Luis Menendez ended the discussion by expressing its "solidarity and sympathy with the Venezuelan Jewish community" in the face of the attack. ¶3. (SBU) Comment: USOAS lobbied other Permanent Missions extensively before and during the meeting to encourage them to speak out against the attacks in Venezuela. Had the United States been alone in denouncing the attacks, it is likely the Venezuelans would have used the opportunity to attack the United States directly. Instead, Chaderton essentially claimed that member states were not giving sufficient attention to Gaza and should treat the Venezuelan government as a victim of the synagogue attack. In our judgment, both claims sounded hollow in the halls of the OAS. End comment. CLINTON