(U) VENEZUELA-COLOMBIA BORDER TENSIONS

S E C R E T STATE 124629

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/04/2034
TAGS: PINR ECON ETRD PREL CO VE
SUBJECT: (U) VENEZUELA-COLOMBIA BORDER TENSIONS
(C-AL9-02397)

Classified By: ELISSA G. PITTERLE, DIRECTOR, INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C).


1. (S/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS HAVE A KEEN INTEREST IN THE
DEVELOPING CONFLICT BETWEEN COLOMBIA AND VENEZUELA. AS TIME
AND RESOURCES ALLOW, WE WOULD APPRECIATE ANY INSIGHT POST
COULD PROVIDE THAT MIGHT SHED LIGHT ON POLITICAL, ECONOMIC,
AND MILITARY STEPS CARACAS IS TAKING TO PROVOKE BOGOTA AND
DISTRACT THE VENEZUELAN POPULATION FROM DOMESTIC PROBLEMS,
PARTICULARLY WITH RESPECT TO THE QUESTIONS BELOW. MANY
THANKS FROM WASHINGTON.



A. (S) ARE ANY SPECIFIC TYPES OF TRADE SHIPMENTS OR
INDIVIDUALS HAVING UNUSUAL DIFFICULTY ENTERING VENEZUELA? ARE
VENEZUELAN CUSTOMS OFFICIALS APPLYING A CONSISTENT SET OF
CRITERIA BEFORE DENYING ENTRY OF INDIVIDUALS OR GOODS? HAVE
THESE CRITERIA CHANGED IN RECENT WEEKS? HAVE OFFICIALS
RECEIVED SPECIFIC ORDERS TO SLOW OR PREVENT THE ENTRY OF
CERTAIN TYPES OF GOODS FROM COLOMBIA OR ARE THEY ACTING AT
THEIR OWN DISCRETION?


B. (S) HAS CARACAS STEPPED UP ENFORCEMENT AGAINST FUEL
SMUGGLERS OR INDIVIDUALS SMUGGLING OTHER GOODS INTO COLOMBIA?


C. (S/NF) IS THE VENEZUELAN FOREIGN MINISTRY DELIVERING A
DEMARCHE ON THE BORDER SITUATION TO FOREIGN MISSIONS IN
CARACAS? IF SO, DOES THE MESSAGE VARY ACCORDING TO COUNTRY?


D. (S/NF) WE ARE INTERESTED IN ANY DETAILS ON CHAVEZ'S
EMOTIONAL/PSYCHOLOGICAL STATE OR DEMEANOR: DOES HE APPEAR
ANGRY, UPSET, OR OTHERWISE EMOTIONAL ABOUT CURRENT EVENTS IN
PRIVATE? IS HIS BEHAVIOR INCREASINGLY PARANOID, SUSPICIOUS,
OR CHANGED FROM HIS TYPICAL BEHAVIOR? HAS HE ISOLATED
HIMSELF FROM KEY ADVISERS OR CABINET MINISTERS, OR IS HE
INTERACTING WITH THEM AS USUAL? DOES HE APPEAR TO BE ACTING
AT HIS USUAL LEVEL OF RATIONALITY?


2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-AL9-02397 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF
REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS.
CLINTON