Search through 251'286 wikileaks cables

In Identifier:

In Subject:

Any office:

Any classification:

ALL or ANY tag:

Pages 1 2 3

1'000 rows / 2'340 results

Identifier	Subject	Date	Office	Classification	Tags
01CARACAS182	CHAVEZ AND COLOMBIA: IT WON'T GET BETTER [...] (C) THE RIVALRY BETWEEN VENEZUELA AND COLOMBIA HAS BEEN LONGSTANDING, WITH ROOTS REACHING BACK AS FAR AS THE BREAK- UP OF GRAN COLOMBIA INTO SEPARATE STATES. OVER THE YEARS, THE RIVALRY BETWEEN THE TWO COUNTRIES - AND ESPECIALLY BETWEEN THEIR RESPECTIVE MILITARIES - MANIFESTED ITSELF AS A PER [...]	2001-01-22 20:56:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL VE CO

03CARACAS2865	WILL THE REAL FBL PLEASE STAND UP? [...] (C) An August 8 Bolivarian Liberation Forces (FBL) press release asserted that the group defended Venezuela's sovereignty by attacking the Colombian National Liberation Army (ELN) July 31. Tachira state media, ranchers, and law enforcement officials told poloff August 5 and 6 that the expandin [...]	2003-08-22 18:43:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PINR PTER VE
04CARACAS100	GOV SEIZES USD 2.5 MILLION BELONGING TO LARGEST [...] (C) VENEZUELAN CUSTOMS AUTHORITIES SEIZED A SHIPMENT OF USD 2.5 MILLION IN CASH OWNED BY ITALCAMBIO, THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST CURRENCY EXCHANGE HOUSE. THE MONEY WAS ABOARD A FLIGHT FROM MIAMI. ITALCAMBIO PRESIDENT CARLOS DORADO CLAIMED THE SHIPMENT WAS ROUTINE AND THE SEIZURE IS IN RETALIATION [...]	2004-01-09 19:34:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON EFIN PGOV VE
04CARACAS1009	OPPOSITION GOVERNORS, MAYOR: A SNAPSHOT OF [...] (C) The violence that hit Venezuela February 27 to March 4 unmasked the radical bent of President Hugo Chavez's revolution, Caracas Mayor Alfredo Pena and Governors David De Lima (Anzoategui) and Luis Lippa (Apure) told the Ambassador March 16. They noted the influence of Cubans in the Vene [...]	2004-03-24 22:02:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS101	VENEZUELAN OIL PRODUCTION: A LOOK AHEAD FOR 2004 [...] (C) Despite a number of optimistic predictions that Venezuelan oil production will increase by the end of 2004 (which seem largely to be attributable to the success of Venezuelan lobbying efforts in the U.S.),our sources in Venezuela are not as sanguine. While some believe that Venezuela's 2 [...]	2004-01-09 19:34:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	EPET VE
04CARACAS1011	GOV DAMAGE CONTROL OVERWHELMED BY BARRAGE OF [...] (C) The GOV attempted to supersede negative international media and NGO reports about alleged human rights violations by speaking directly to the international community in Caracas March 14 and 16. Among the efforts, President Hugo Chavez called together Ambassadors to Venezuela March 5 and t [...]	2004-03-25 12:22:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS103	CHAVEZ TURNS UP THE HEAT ON CENTRAL BANK FOR [...] (C) President Chavez has renewed his struggle with the Central Bank over USD 1 billion in international reserves, which he has demanded be handed over to the GOV for agricultural spending. The Bank has to this point resisted, citing controlling legal restrictions. The National Assembly joine [...]	2004-01-12 12:09:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON EFIN PGOV VE
04CARACAS1031	A PEEK BENEATH LARA STATE'S REVOLUTIONARY FACADE [...] (C) Information Officer traveled March 10-14 to Barquisimeto, Lara state to seek private media views on freedom of expression and on the state's economic and political landscape. Most private media owners and managers maintain a low profile and present both pro- Venezuelan government (GOV) [...]	2004-03-26 14:06:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON KDEM KPAO PGOV PHUM PREL VE
04CARACAS1054	VENEZUELA PREPARES FOR REGIONAL ELECTIONS [...] (C) Opposition and pro-government candidates are registered for the August 1 regional elections as the registration period closed March 25. At stake are 23 governors, the high mayor of the metropolitan Caracas district, 336 mayors, and hundreds of municipal council positions -- in sum, the la [...]	2004-03-26 20:28:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS1080	CHAVISTAS LAND PUNCH IN SUPREME COURT BOXING MATCH [...] (C) THE SUPREME COURT (TSJ) CONSTITUTIONAL CHAMBER MARCH 23 NULLIFIED THE TSJ ELECTORAL CHAMBER'S MARCH 15 DECISION ORDERING THE NATIONAL ELECTORAL COUNCIL (CNE) TO INCLUDE OVER 870,000 DISPUTED SIGNATURES, GIVING THE OPPOSITION ENOUGH FOR A REFERENDUM. D'LSA SOLORZANO, DEMOCRATIC COORDINATIN [...]	2004-03-29 20:34:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS1083	THE OPPOSITION PRESENTS CANDIDATES FOR REGIONAL [...] (C) Opposition political parties have registered their candidates for the August 1 gubernatorial and mayoral elections (ref b) despite criticism from opposition NGOs that see the elections as a distraction from the recall referendum against President Hugo Chavez. Opposition parties largely po [...]	2004-03-29 22:10:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS1087	FOREIGN MINISTER PEREZ: RELATIONS COULD NOT GET [...] (C) In a March 23 meeting with the Ambassador, Foreign Minister Jesus Perez said the relationship between the U.S. and Venezuela could not get worse. Perez said there was a lot of fear in the GoV that the USG was planning to overthrow the Chavez regime. The Ambassador told him that there is n [...]	2004-03-30 17:32:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS1090	PRIVATE TV OWNERS DECRY NEW GOV TAX [...] (U) National tax collection agency SENIAT has ordered Venezuela's four leading television channels to pay SENIAT almost USD 3.3 million in taxes for allegedly donated spots during the December 2002-February 2003 opposition-sponsored national strike. Globovision, RCTV, Venevision, and Televen [...]	2004-03-30 19:40:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	KDEM KPAO PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS1107	PROMINENT HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP CRITICIZES GOV [...] (U) The human rights NGO "Committee of the Relatives of Victims of February 1989" (COFAVIC) criticized the GOV March 18 for not appropriately addressing alleged human rights abuses during the February 27-March 4 period. The COFAVIC report describes alleged abuses, including deaths, use of exc [...]	2004-03-31 19:53:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV PINS VE
04CARACAS1114	CELLIST TELLS OF TORTURE AND FLUBBED INVESTIGATION [...] (C) National Guard troops detained Carlos Izcaray, first cellist with the National Symphony Orchestra, March 1 while he was observing demonstrations in Caracas. Guardsmen beat him, subjected him to electrical shocks, forced him to inhale tear gas in an enclosed space, and burned tear gas powde [...]	2004-03-31 20:38:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV PINS VE
04CARACAS1115	FEAR OF REPRISALS AND UNDERREPORTED HUMAN RIGHTS [...] (C) The Coordinadora Democratica (CD) claims its figures on human rights violations are the most accurate in Venezuela, though they are higher than those reported by the media and NGOs. DCC Judicial Advisor D'lsa Solorzano told poloff March 23 that even DCC numbers, do not portray the true ma [...]	2004-03-31 23:01:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS1116	WHEN CHAVISTAS ATTACK: OPPOSITION ACCUSATIONS/GOV [...] (C) The Coordinadora Democratica (CD) documented 210 assaults on opposition supporters by civilians or plainclothes security forces between February 27 and March 5. National Assembly Deputy Pedro Diaz Blum (Proyecto Venezuela) told poloff March 17 that National Guard troops allowed armed Chav [...]	2004-03-31 23:12:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS1133	ELECTORAL CHAMBER REAFFIRMS ITS JURISDICTION [...] (C) The Electoral Chamber of Venezuela's Supreme Court (TSJ) March 29 confirmed its jurisdiction in matters concerning the National Electoral Council (CNE) and urged the TSJ en banc to decide the jurisdictional dispute between the SIPDIS court's Electoral and Constitutional chambers (reftels [...]	2004-04-01 19:10:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS1134	ROPE A DOPE [...] (C) I HOSTED A MEETING THIS MORNING IN WHICH MARK FEIERSTIEN, PROJECT MANAGER FOR POLLING FIRM GREENBERG QUINLAN ROSNER RESEARCH, BRIEFED THE AMBASSADORS OF BRAZIL, CANADA, CHILE, MEXICO, AND PORTUGAL AND MYSELF ON THE RESULTS OF THE POLL HE COMPLETED ON MARCH 27. (HE PROMISED TO SEND US THE P [...]	2004-04-01 21:00:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV VE
04CARACAS1138	EVO, THE ICC, AND THE U.N.: VENEZUELA POLITICAL [...] (U) Leftist Bolivian legislator Evo Morales joined President Hugo Chavez in Caracas March 30 to announce plans to stage international demonstrations to commemorate the events of April 2002, when Chavez was temporarily removed from power and returned in triumph. Members of the Venezuelan human [...]	2004-04-01 22:07:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS1139	CHAVEZ TO ILO: FRY MONKEYS! [...] (C) A preliminary report by the International Labor Organization's (ILO) Committee on Freedom of Association determined that Venezuela's December 2002 - February 2003 work stoppage was tantamount to a general strike. The Committee deplored the mass dismissal of more than 18,000 PDVSA workers [...]	2004-04-01 22:08:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL ELAB PGOV VE
04CARACAS1154	TORTURE VICTIM DIES OF INJURIES [...] (U) ARMY PERSONNEL OF THE 11TH INFANTRY BATTALION DETAINED JUAN CARLOS ZAMBRANO, HIS COMMON-LAW WIFE, HIS BROTHER AND ANOTHER COMPANION MARCH 6 IN LAGUNILLAS, ZULIA STATE. DURING MARCH 6-9, THEY ALLEGEDLY BEAT AND TORTURED THE MEN AND RAPED ZAMBRANO'S WIFE. ZAMBRANO DIED OF HIS INJURIES ON MA [...]	2004-04-02 20:56:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV VE
04CARACAS1155	TORTURED DETAINEES RELEASED FOR LACK OF EVIDENCE [...] (U) SEVEN YOUTHS (DAVID AMUNDARAIN, HEBER GUSTAVO PRADA, JOSE PERALTA, RODRIGUO ALEGRETT, JOSE MOYO ROJAS, ANGEL KENT DAVIOTT, AND JOSE RAMON MERLO) DETAINED DURING POLITICAL DISTURBANCES FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 5 WERE RELEASED FROM LA PLANTA PRISON IN CARACAS MARCH 31, ACCORDING TO NEWS REPORTS. PR [...]	2004-04-02 20:58:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM VE
04CARACAS1156	CHAVISTAS SEE REGIONAL ELECTIONS AS DE FACTO [...] (C) Pro-Chavez political parties registered their candidates in March in anticipation of the August 1 elections for governors and mayors. As with the opposition, the Chavistas see the regional elections as a referendum of sorts on President Hugo Chavez. They also see the elections as an oppo [...]	2004-04-02 21:04:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS1157	CHAVISTAS SEE REGIONAL ELECTIONS AS DE FACTO [...] (C) Pro-Chavez political parties registered their candidates in March in anticipation of the August 1 elections for governors and mayors. As with the opposition, the Chavistas see the regional elections as a referendum of sorts on President Hugo Chavez. They also see the elections as an oppo [...]	2004-04-02 21:04:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS1159	CAPRILES, CNE AND CEV: VENEZUELA POLITICAL UPDATE [...] (U) The Criminal Chamber of Venezuela's Supreme Court (TSJ) dismissed on procedural ground the order to detain Baruta Mayor Henrique Capriles April 1, and ordered the case sent to a new court. Supporters of President Hugo Chavez objected to the possibility National Electoral Council (CNE) alt [...]	2004-04-02 21:08:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	PREL PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS1161	GOV REPRESSION'S "FAIR AND REASONABLE" LEGAL FACADE [...] (C) The GOV has been using a range of legal actions, administrative procedures, and illicit activities to punish and harass opponents. Tax investigations, broadcasting private phone conversations, and blacklisting signers of a presidential recall petition from GOV services or employment are a [...]	2004-04-02 21:39:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ELAB PGOV PHUM PREL VE
04CARACAS1169	SIGNATURE TALKS ADVANCE AT CNE [...] (C) National Electoral Council (CNE) Director Jorge Rodriguez announced April 5 that talks between the opposition and the GOV are "well advanced" on an agreement over the appeals process for the signatures collected in support of a recall vote on President Hugo Chavez. Rodriguez said the CNE [...]	2004-04-05 19:42:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS12	CHAVEZ MAINTAINS POPULARITY, BUT STILL VULNERABLE [...] (C) President Hugo Chavez climbed one point to 45 percent in approval ratings in December, according to two polls, after hitting a popularity trough of 30 percent in May 2003. Of the 59 percent of those likely to vote in a recall, however, only 34 percent say they would keep Chavez, with 65 pe [...]	2004-01-02 20:49:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS1203	MURDER CHARGES DROPPED AGAINST FOUR NATIONAL [...] (U) JUDGE JORGE MENDEZ ORDERED FOUR NATIONAL GUARDSMEN (CAPT. WILLIAN CAMPOS, SALVADOR FRANCHI, GUSTAVO PUERTA AND PEDRO BELISARO) RELEASED MARCH 31 AND ALL CHARGES AGAINST THEM DROPPED IN THE NOVEMBER 10, 2003 MURDER OF SEVEN INMATES OF VISTA HERMOSA PRISON IN CIUDAD BOLIVAR, BOLIVAR STATE. T [...]	2004-04-06 19:06:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV VE
04CARACAS1241	PDVSA PRESIDENT RODRIGUEZ COUNSELS PRAGMATISM [...] (C) In an April 2 meeting with the Ambassador, Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) President Ali Rodriguez counseled a "dose of pragmatism" for U.S. relations with Venezuela. He defended the recent OPEC decision to reduce production but said Venezuela would be able to supply gasoline to the U.S. t [...]	2004-04-12 20:24:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	EPET PREL VE
04CARACAS1247	REVALIDATING THE SIGNATURES -- VOICES OF DISSENT [...] (C) The Coordinadora Democratica (CD) has pressed forward, negotiating with the National Electoral Council (CNE) a process for verifying petition signatures for a presidential recall referendum (CNE Director Jorge Rodriguez announced April 6 that the sides were close to agreement). There are [...]	2004-04-12 21:12:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS1267	COURT BATTLE CLOUDS CNE SIGNATURE TALKS [...] (C) Two chambers of the Venezuelan Supreme Court (TSJ) issued conflicting decisions on April 12 regarding the recall referendum against President Hugo Chavez. The Electoral Chamber issued its definitive decision nullifying the National Electoral Council's (CNE) disqualification of 876,000 sig [...]	2004-04-14 21:00:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS1270	CHAVEZ LOSING SUPPORT AMIDST SHIFT IN VOTER MOOD. [...] (SBU) A poll and a focus group study on Venezuelan politics published at the end of March highlighted President Hugo Chavez' job approval rating falling from 44% to 36%. The poll suggests that the National Electoral Council,s handling of the signature verification process for the Presidential [...]	2004-04-15 12:17:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS1313	POLITICIZING VENEZUELA'S ECONOMIC BUREAUCRACY [...] (C) Current efforts to ensure loyalty within Venezuelan government institutions by using the list of persons who signed the recall petition against President Chavez, take place against the backdrop of a longer history of politically motivated firings and personnel shuffling aimed at cementing [...]	2004-04-16 20:52:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON ETRD PGOV VE
04CARACAS1316	DISAPPEARANCES, AN ONGOING CONTROVERSY [...] (U) The Democratic Coordinating Committee (CD) announced March 9 that eight opposition protesters had disappeared during the February 27-March 5 political disturbances. Subsequently, one of the eight reappeared, and the GOV denied that the remaining seven were missing, citing the lack of compl [...]	2004-04-20 13:44:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV VE
04CARACAS1331	MEDIA AND GOV MAKE HAY OUT OF GENERAL HILL [...] (C) Leading Venezuelan national dailies, "El Universal" and "El Nacional," printed articles April 3 and 4 that distort parts of General James Hill's March 24 and April 1 statements on Venezuela to the U.S. House and Senate Armed Forces Committees. Both newspapers' articles were based on an [...]	2004-04-20 19:33:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	KPAO PGOV PINR PM PTER VE
04CARACAS1346	CNE ANNOUNCES SIGNATURE APPEALS PROCESS FOR MAY [...] (C) The National Electoral Council (CNE) said on April 21 it will hold the appeals process May 27-31 for signatures collected in support of the presidential recall referendum. The CNE board approved regulations governing the appeals ("reparos") but did not immediately release the text. The CN [...]	2004-04-21 21:21:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS1347	OAS DEMOCRATIC CHARTER: REACTION TO COLOMBIAN [...] (U) The GOV and the National Assembly reacted harshly to the vote April 13 by the Colombian Senate to request that the OAS consider applying the Democratic Charter to Venezuela. Opponents of President Chavez have generally welcomed the vote as a sign of international support for the opposition [...]	2004-04-21 21:21:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL KDEM VE OAS
04CARACAS1348	SUPREME COURT LAW REEMERGES [...] (U) Pro-GOV National Assembly (AN) deputies reestablished the Supreme Court Law as a legislative priority April 15, after the bill laid dormant since 2003. The Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court removed potential legal roadblocks to the bill with a 3 to 2 January 26 ruling asserting [...]	2004-04-21 21:21:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS1350	CHAVEZ RAISES OIL CUT-OFF AGAIN [...] (C) President Chavez has again raised the threat of stopping oil sales to the U.S., this time in response to President Bush's alleged "intervention." The remarks, made to an Italian newspaper, follow several weeks in which this theme had lain dormant (although he has turned to other forms o [...]	2004-04-21 21:29:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ENRG PREL EPET VE
04CARACAS1368	JULIO BORGES LEANS TOWARDS ACCEPTING [...] (C) Julio Borges told DCM and PolOff April 21 that Primero Justicia would decide whether to participate in the signature verification process once the National Electoral Council released details of the plan on April 23 or 24, with an opposition decision likely 24 hours later. He seemed to be [...]	2004-04-23 18:13:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS1369	CODEL NELSON: GOV REACTIONS TO PRESS STATEMENTS [...] (U) GOV OFFICIALS REACTED STRONGLY TO REMARKS MADE BY SENATOR BILL NELSON (D-FL) TO THE MIAMI HERALD ON APRIL 18TH. IN THE INTERVIEW SENATOR NELSON HAD NOTED THAT THE U.S. KNEW THAT THE GOV WAS AIDING THE FARC, WAS FAILING TO CONTROL A BLACK MARKET IN VENEZUELAN PASSPORTS, AND WAS INTERFE [...]	2004-04-23 18:13:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL KDEM VE
04CARACAS1384	GOV GLOATS OVER CARTER LETTER ON SIGNATURE TALKS [...] (C) The GOV released on April 22 a letter sent a week earlier by former President Carter to President Hugo Chavez registering concerns over delays in the signature appeals process negotiations. The letter offered recommendations to the GOV on the parameters of the appeals process and proposed [...]	2004-04-26 15:40:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS1410	CODEL NELSON: MEETINGS WITH FM PEREZ AND NA VICE [...] (C) In separate meetings, Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) pressed Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jesus Perez and National Assembly Vice President Ricardo Gutierrez on the referendum, relations with Cuba, GOV support to the FARC, passport fraud, and agrement for Ambassador-designate Brownfield. Gutier [...]	2004-04-26 20:42:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PTER KDEM VE
04CARACAS1426	VISIT TO VENEZUELA OF SENATOR NELSON - ECONOMIC [...] (C) During his April 15-17 visit to Venezuela Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) met with representatives of U.S. energy businesses operating in Venezuela, with state oil corporation PDVSA President Ali Rodriguez, and with members of the board of the Venezuela-U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Industry ( [...]	2004-04-27 21:27:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON ENRG PREL VE
04CARACAS1431	FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER CHADERTON STICKS TO MESSAGE [...] (C) THE AMBASSADOR HAD BREAKFAST WITH FORMER FOREIGN MINISTER, NOW AMBASSADOR-DESIGNATE TO FRANCE, ROY CHADERTON APRIL 22. CHADERTON LAMENTED THE POOR STATE OF U.S.-VENEZUELA RELATIONS, AND BLAMED THE SITUATION ON SCHEMING COLOMBIANS AND ON MEDIA OWNERS LIKE GUSTAVO CISNEROS. THE AMBASSADOR [...]	2004-04-28 16:23:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS1444	VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION GREEN LIGHTS SIGNATURE [...] (C) Venezuela's Coordinadora Democratica (CD) decided April 27 to participate in the appeals process, scheduled for May 27-31, for the signatures collected to petition for a recall referendum against President Hugo Chavez. CD leader Governor Enrique Mendoza told Poloff April 26 it is technica [...]	2004-04-28 21:14:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS1446	GOV DENIES OIL WILL GO TO CHINA [...] (C) The GOV said once again on April 26 that Venezuela would continue to be a reliable oil supplier to the United States. The statement was made in response to a story in Miami's "El Nuevo Herald" picked up by all leading Caracas dailies the morning of April 26, which alleges that Chavez has [...]	2004-04-29 10:51:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ENRG PREL EPET VE
04CARACAS1474	FIRST VENEZUELAN NATIONAL FORUM ON HUMAN RIGHTS [...] (U) AT A HUMAN RIGHTS FORUM ORGANIZED BY THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR AND JUSTICE (MIJ) GOV SPEAKERS DISMISSED ALLEGATIONS OF VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE DISTURBANCES FROM FEBRUARY 27 - MARCH 5. SENIOR MIJ OFFICIALS CONTENDED THAT HUMAN RIGHTS ARE MULTIFACETED, AND THE GOV IS ADVANCING SOC [...]	2004-04-30 20:47:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS1476	GOV: RENEWED OFFENSIVE AGAINST EX-PDVSA EMPLOYEES [...] (U) THE GOV RESUMED FORCED EVICTIONS OF EX-OIL WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES EARLY THE MORNING OF APRIL 22 AT THE CAMPO MEDICO RESIDENTIAL AREA IN FALCON STATE. UP TO 80 NATIONAL GUARD (GN) TROOPS IN FULL RIOT GEAR SURROUNDED THE HOME OF ANDRES AND MARISOL PACHECO AND FORCED THE FAMILY TO VACATE [...]	2004-04-30 21:34:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV VE
04CARACAS1479	VENEZUELA MACROECONOMIC UPDATE [...] (U) Venezuela's most recently published economic indicators illustrate the negative effects of deep recession, exchange and price controls, and chronic fiscal deficits. Strong international reserves position and high average oil prices have contributed to reduce the country risk and facilitate [...]	2004-05-03 16:26:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	ECON EFIN PGOV VE
04CARACAS1505	VENEZUELAN READINESS FOR ISPS IMPLEMENTATION [...] REFTELS REQUEST THAT POST INFORM THE GOV REGARDING USG ENFORCEMENT OF THE NEW INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION INTERNATIONAL SHIP AND PORT FACILITY SECURITY CODE (ISPS). 2. ON APRIL 29, THIS INFORMATION WAS FORMALLY CONVEYED TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, DIRECTORATE GENERAL O [...]	2004-05-05 15:42:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	EWWT ENRG ETRD ECON PHSA PREL VE
04CARACAS1507	VENEZUELA: POTENTIAL FRAUD IN THE APPEALS PROCESS [...] (C) Although the opposition has agreed to participate in the National Electoral Council's (CNE) signature appeals process ("reparos") on May 27-31, which if successful will prompt a recall vote against President Hugo Chavez, most in the opposition do not expect a fair and transparent process. [...]	2004-05-05 18:00:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS1508	SUPREME COURT LAW PASSED [...] (C) The National Assembly completed the second reading of the Organic Law of the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ) April 30. The bill, which now goes to committee before further consideration by the plenary, would: -- raise the number of Supreme Court judges from 20 to 32; -- allow the judges [...]	2004-05-05 18:04:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS1510	PRO-CHAVEZ GROUP PLANS LEGAL ACTION AGAINST [...] (C) The pro-Chavez human rights group ASOVIC delivered a letter to the Director General of the Office of the Foreign Minister Demir Porras declaring its intention to begin legal action against the Ambassador for alleged involvement in the April 11, 2002 events. The group cites alleged traini [...]	2004-05-05 18:54:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PHUM VE
04CARACAS1534	SECOND SOLDIER DIES OF BURNS FROM FORT FIRE [...] (C) The Attorney General's Office announced May 5 that a civilian court will take over the case of an army fort fire in Zulia State that resulted in six injuries and two deaths. On May 4, Angel Pedreanez became the second soldier to die after being severely burned in a Fort Mara confinement cel [...]	2004-05-10 23:13:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV VE
04CARACAS1539	VENEZUELA: TWO POLLS CONFIRM POLARIZATION [...] (U) President Chavez would lose a recall referendum, though his support remains strong amidst increasing polarization, according to two polls conducted in March. One poll suggests Chavez would be revoked 59-41 percent, while the other suggests he would be revoked 53-40 percent. Both polls sh [...]	2004-05-11 13:55:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS1540	THE ABCS OF THE VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT'S POLITICAL [...] (U) The Venezuelan government (GOV) has crafted a targeted and generously funded political propaganda strategy to convince Venezuelans and the international community that Chavez's Bolivarian Revolution is the true democratic road to prosperity and to divide, discredit, and demoralize opposi [...]	2004-05-11 14:28:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	KPAO PGOV PREL PINR VE
04CARACAS1542	VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION TESTS APPEALS MECHANISM [...] (U) The Coordinadora Democratica conducted on May 8 a nationwide simulation of the May 27-31 appeals process ("reparos") for the presidential referendum signatures. Press reports estimate that about 950,000 people attended the one-day event, which was carried out peacefully. Signers were invi [...]	2004-05-11 17:33:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS1543	CHAVEZ: COUP ATTEMPT AVERTED WITH ARREST OF [...] (C) Venezuelan authorities detained between 50 and 90 alleged Colombian irregulars in the dawn hours of May 9 in the southern outskirts of Caracas. Calling the men "paramilitaries" in his "Alo, Presidente" program, President Chavez claimed the opposition was training them for another coup att [...]	2004-05-11 18:37:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM PINS VE
04CARACAS1548	FOREIGN EXCHANGE AGENCY: DESPITE CORRUPTION AND A [...] (SBU) Amid considerable press attention on reports of corruption at CADIVI (the Commission for Administration of Foreign Exchange) which has led to the dismissal of 50 employees, a pamphlet bomb exploded at their main office in the early morning hours of April 29. CADIVI's President is more c [...]	2004-05-11 21:02:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON EFIN PGOV VE
04CARACAS1549	STEEL STRIKE RAISES ISSUES OF POWER AND [...] (SBU) A strike at the partially privatized SIDOR steel complex in Puerto Ordaz (Bolivar state) by a pro-government union has gone on for two weeks. Company sources express fear that the strike, allegedly over failure to share profits with workers, may be a prelude to an effort to undo the [...]	2004-05-11 21:14:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	ELAB ECON PGOV VE
04CARACAS1550	VENEZUELA'S FUEL DEAL WITH ARGENTINA [...] (SBU) Venezuela and Argentina are moving forward with a USD 200 million deal under which state oil corporation PDVSA sells fuel oil and diesel fuel to Argentine firms to ease its energy crisis, and Argentine companies sell a range of food products and manufactures to the GOV. In addition to [...]	2004-05-12 11:15:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ENRG ECON PREL VE AR
04CARACAS1551	LIEUTENANTS DETAINED IN SOLDIER'S DEATH [...] (U) FOUR MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY WERE DETAINED APRIL 28 IN CONNECTION WITH THE MARCH 5 DEATH OF THE SOLDIER ROBERT AGUILAR AT SOCUAVO MILITARY BASE IN ZULIA STATE. AGUILAR'S FAMILY CLAIMS HE DROWNED AFTER SUPERIOR OFFICERS PUT HIM IN A TANK OF SEWAGE AS PUNISHMENT. DEFENSE MINISTER GEN. JORG [...]	2004-05-12 15:03:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV VE
04CARACAS1552	VENEZUELA'S POWER SECTOR: HEADING FOR ANOTHER [...] (C) After dodging the drought bullet in 2003, Venezuela's power sector is once again (still?) in a fragile state. This time, however, other weaknesses in the electric power system caused by lack of investment, government inattention, and political meddling are taking center stage. The problem [...]	2004-05-12 15:03:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ENRG VE
04CARACAS1553	LIEUTENANTS DETAINED IN SOLDIER'S DEATH [...] (U) FOUR MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY WERE DETAINED APRIL 28 IN CONNECTION WITH THE MARCH 5 DEATH OF THE SOLDIER ROBERT AGUILAR AT SOCUAVO MILITARY BASE IN ZULIA STATE. AGUILAR'S FAMILY CLAIMS HE DROWNED AFTER SUPERIOR OFFICERS PUT HIM IN A TANK OF SEWAGE AS PUNISHMENT. DEFENSE MINISTER GEN. JORG [...]	2004-05-12 15:03:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV VE
04CARACAS1554	MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE [...] (U) THE GOV UNILATERALLY DECREED A 30 INCREASE IN THE MINIMUM WAGE, ATTEMPTING TO KEEP UP WITH INFLATION FOR THE LOWEST-EARNING WORKERS. HOWEVER, THOUGH OVERALL INFLATION IS RELATIVELY DOWN, FOOD PRICES ARE INCREASING FASTER THAN ANY OTHER CATEGORY, AND THIS NEW ACTION IS ONLY GOING TO EXACE [...]	2004-05-12 15:03:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	ECON EFIN PGOV VE
04CARACAS1561	VENEZUELAN VP RANGEL ON BILATERAL RELATIONS [...] (C) The Ambassador met May 12 with VP Rangel and the FonMin Perez to complain about GOV hostility towards the US, including recent statements, the search of the Embassy warehouse, and the removal of the MILGP from Ven bases. He reiterated our total rejection of extraconstitutional actions ag [...]	2004-05-12 21:50:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PHUM PTER MASS VE
04CARACAS162	GOV FLOATS USD 1 BILLION BOND ISSUE [...] (C) Venezuela issued its fifth tranche of bonds in the past six months on January 7. The new bonds raised USD 1 billion for the GOV and were in heavy demand due to their high offered yield. With a high rate of financing needed for the FY 2004 budget deficit and debt service, more bond operat [...]	2004-01-16 13:47:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN	ECON PGOV VE FIN
04CARACAS163	EXXONMOBIL PETROCHEMICAL PROJECT LOOKS LIKELY [...] (U) The following message is Sensitive but Unclassified because it contains corporate information. Please handle accordingly. ------- SUMMARY ------- 2. (SBU) The Ambassador met January 13 with Dan Sanders, President of the ExxonMobil Chemical Company, to discuss the status of a possi [...]	2004-01-16 16:43:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY	EPET VE
04CARACAS1646	COLOMBIAN "PARAMILITARIES" IN VENEZUELA [...] (C) The Chavez administration is beside itself that the Venezuelan public in general, the international community, and the media are reacting very skeptically to the allegations of a Colombian "paramilitary" threat to his government. On May 9, Chavez went on a national TV and radio hookup to [...]	2004-05-13 15:54:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL VE
04CARACAS1656	CNE SHOWDOWN WITH OAS AND CARTER CENTER [...] (C) National Electoral Council (CNE) President Francisco Carrasquero issued an ultimatum to the OAS and The Carter Center (TCC) to either retract their statement of May 12 or the CNE would reconsider the OAS/TCC observation mission of the recall referendum against President Hugo Chavez. The Ma [...]	2004-05-13 22:09:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS1658	GOV NABS BARUTA MUNICIPALITY MAYOR HENRIQUE [...] (U) BARUTA MUNICIPALITY MAYOR HENRIQUE CAPRILES RADONSKY (PRIMERO JUSTICIA) PRESENTED HIMSELF BEFORE A CARACAS COURT MAY 11 TO FACE CHARGES REGARDING HIS ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT IN A VIOLENT PROTEST OUTSIDE THE CUBAN EMBASSY ON APRIL 12, 2002 (REF). DURING THE HEARING, PROSECUTOR DANILO ANDERSON [...]	2004-05-14 12:12:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV VE
04CARACAS1692	UPDATE: ALLEGED COLOMBIAN PARAMILITARY COUP PLOT [...] (U) Colombian Foreign Minister Carolina Barco, after meeting with President Chavez May 14, told reporters that her government is cooperating fully with Venezuelan authorities in the investigation of alleged Colombian paramilitaries detained in the southern outskirts of Caracas May 9 (ref). Bar [...]	2004-05-17 18:56:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM PREL PINS VE
04CARACAS1723	CHAVEZ CALLS FOR CITIZEN SOLDIERS [...] (C) President Hugo Chavez addressed a pro-GOV mass march on May 16 against the alleged Colombian paramilitaries detained near Caracas May 9. Outlining a new strategy for the "integral, popular defense" of the country, Chavez pledged to increase the size and budget of the armed forces, root ou [...]	2004-05-18 20:39:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV MARR PINS KDEM VE
04CARACAS1724	SCENARIOS FOR VENEZUELA'S SIGNATURE APPEALS [...] (C) The May 27-31 signature appeals process ("reparos") is a critical juncture in the opposition's attempt to remove President Hugo Chavez via a recall referendum. The National Electoral Council's rigid appeals system will likely result in a slim margin of victory or defeat, which could increa [...]	2004-05-18 21:18:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS1727	HUGO CHAVEZ' MAY 9 ALO PRESIDENTE SPEECH [...] The following is a summary of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez' May 9 Alo Presidente program. Chavez' marathon speeches, of three to five hours, increasingly contain accusations of U.S. interference in domestic affairs and conspiracy to overthrow his government. This 191st Alo Presidente wa [...]	2004-05-19 11:42:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	PREL KPAO OPRC KIRC VE
04CARACAS1728	HUGO CHAVEZ' MAY 16 SPEECH [...] The following is a summary of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez' May 9 speech during the Venezuelan government's (GOV) "Rally for Peace and against Paramilitaries, and in Defense of Sovereignty and the Dignity of the Nation" in Caracas, which substituted for Chavez' usual Sunday Alo Presidente [...]	2004-05-19 11:42:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	PREL KPAO OPRC KIRC VE
04CARACAS173	OPPOSITION FRAYS OVER ELECTORAL QUESTIONS [...] (C) The National Electoral Council (CNE) officially began the verification process for the three signature drives to recall President Hugo Chavez and numerous National Assembly deputies January 13. The CNE's announcement that gubernatorial and mayoral elections will take place as scheduled in [...]	2004-01-16 17:47:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM PREL VE
04CARACAS1730	VENEZUELA: SIGNATURE APPEALS UPDATE [...] (C) Opponents of President Hugo Chavez and the National Electoral Council (CNE) continue to prepare for the signature appeals process ("reparos") scheduled for May 27-31. Relations between the international observers (OAS and the Carter Center) and the CNE improved slightly, but sensitivities [...]	2004-05-19 18:04:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM VE OAS
04CARACAS1740	VENEZUELA'S DETENTIONS RECORD: POLITICALLY [...] (C) More than 400 persons detained during the February 27-March 5 political disturbances have been released, but many still face pending charges. Since December 2002, the detention, or threatened detention, of individuals aligned with the opposition has increased. Some of the persons detaine [...]	2004-05-20 19:44:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV VE
04CARACAS1748	VENEZUELA: CNE VERSUS OAS-CARTER CENTER OBSERVERS [...] (C) CONTRARY TO HIS COMMENTS TO THE PRESS MAY 20, OAS CHIEF OF STAFF FERNANDO JARAMILLO TOLD ME AND OTHER AMBASSADORS FROM THE GROUP OF FRIENDS THAT HIS AND FRANCISCO DIEZ,S MEETING WITH CNE DIRECTORS MAY 20 HAD BEEN TENSE AND DIFFICULT. CNE DIRECTOR JORGE RODRIGUEZ, HE SAID, ACCUSED THE OAS [...]	2004-05-21 16:42:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS1749	DEPUTIES SIGNATURE APPEALS PROCESS BEGINS [...] (C) The signature appeals process for the recall of 14 National Assembly deputies (13 from the opposition and one from the GOV coalition) takes place May 20-24, with appeals centers operating May 21-23. The CNE decided May 19 to drop two opposition and one pro-GOV deputy from the appeals proc [...]	2004-05-21 19:04:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS176	CHAVEZ HURLS INSULTS AND REACTS TO USG STATEMENTS [...] (C) Seeking to shift attention from the CNE and the recall referendum processes, President Hugo Chavez reacted to recent comments on Venezuela by USG officials, repeatedly calling National Security Advisor Rice "an illiterate." Chavez believes that the USG is meddling in Venezuelan internal af [...]	2004-01-16 21:06:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS1781	ANTI-SEMITIC TRACTS IN INTERIOR MINISTRY OFFICES [...] (U) VISITING AN OFFICE IN THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR AND JUSTICE (MIJ) ON APRIL 29, POLOFF FOUND A LARGE STACK OF PRO-CHAVEZ RELIGIOUS TRACTS IN THE WAITING AREA. THE COLOR-PRINTED LEAFLETS, CONTAINED APOCALYPTIC ANTI-SEMITIC AND ANTI-AMERICAN LANGUAGE AND THREATS. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAPER, [...]	2004-05-26 17:37:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV SOCI VE
04CARACAS1799	VENEZUELA: PRESIDENTIAL SIGNATURE APPEALS UPDATE [...] (C) The signature appeals process for the recall referendum against President Hugo Chavez will begin May 27, with 2,659 centers opening to the public May 28-30. The pro-Chavez campaign committee Comando Ayacucho formally requested the National Electoral Council (CNE) remove OAS Chief Observer [...]	2004-05-26 21:54:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE OAS
04CARACAS1800	CORRECTED COPY: ANTI-SEMITIC TRACTS IN INTERIOR [...] (U) VISITING AN OFFICE IN THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR AND JUSTICE (MIJ) ON APRIL 29, POLOFF FOUND A LARGE STACK OF PRO-CHAVEZ RELIGIOUS TRACTS IN THE WAITING AREA. THE COLOR-PRINTED LEAFLETS, CONTAINED APOCALYPTIC ANTI-SEMITIC AND ANTI-AMERICAN LANGUAGE AND THREATS. AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAPER, [...]	2004-05-27 12:20:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV SOCI VE
04CARACAS1817	TSJ LAW TAKES EFFECT [...] (U) The Organic Law of the Supreme Court of Justice came into effect May 20 after the National Assembly (NA) passed it on May 18. The Internal Policy committee of the NA made several substantial changes in the law between its second reading and the final vote, which the opposition claims vio [...]	2004-05-27 19:39:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS1837	SIGNATURE APPEALS UPDATE: MAY 27 [...] (C) The signature appeals process formally began on May 27, with armed forces and National Electoral Council (CNE) workers mounting the 2,607 appeals centers throughout Venezuela (centers will be open to the public May 28-30). Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel on May 27 characterized an edito [...]	2004-05-28 21:18:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS1839	VENEZUELA: SIGNATURE APPEALS UPDATE: MAY 28 [...] (U) The appeals centers opened May 28 in an atmosphere of calm. Turnout appeared to be good (anecdotally, between 25 and 30 percent by the afternoon),especially in urban areas, with reports that very few of the participants sought to withdraw their signatures. There were reports across the [...]	2004-05-28 21:29:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS1860	SIGNATURE APPEALS UPDATE: MAY 29 [...] (U) The second day of the signature appeals in the presidential referendum process began slowly with low turnout, picking up by mid-morning. There were multiple reports of violence at appeals centers, including two assaults against journalists. National identity cards continued to be controv [...]	2004-06-01 17:15:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS1861	SIGNATURES APPEALS UPDATE: MAY 30 [...] (C) Venezuelans turned out in lesser numbers on the last day of presidential signature (May 30) appeals. Partial results indicate the opposition collected enough appeals to activate the referendum. There were violent confrontations between Chavez sympathizers and opposition groups near appea [...]	2004-06-01 17:17:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS1878	VENEZUELA: SIGNATURE APPEALS UPDATE, JUNE 1 [...] (C) The Coordinadora Democratica (CD) claimed on June 1 they had collected 131,000 more signature appeal than needed to activate the referendum against President Hugo Chavez. National Electoral Council (CNE) Vice President Ezequiel Zamora (pro-opposition) denounced on May 31 that the CNE had i [...]	2004-06-02 19:54:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE OAS
04CARACAS1879	MYSTERIOUS GASOLINE SHORTAGE AFFECTS EASTERN [...] (C) A gasoline shortage affected the eastern, primarily opposition, portion of the city of Caracas over the weekend of May 29-30. The shortage mysteriously coincided closely with the days of the appeal process for the presidential referendum. While Minister of Energy and Mines Rafael Ramirez [...]	2004-06-02 20:06:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	EPET PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS1880	STATUS OF CAPRILES AND SUMATE CASES [...] (U) Maria Corina Machado, of the electoral NGO Sumate told reporters June 1 that the hearing to charge her with treason and conspiracy had been rescheduled for the second time until June 10. Another Sumate leader, Alejandro Plaz, is scheduled to have his hearing June 2. On May 31, a Caracas c [...]	2004-06-02 20:19:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS1889	WHAT'S NEXT FOR CHAVEZ [...] (C) Pending announcement of the official results of the appeals for the presidential recall referendum signatures, there are rumors and indications that President Hugo Chavez may be willing to accept a National Electoral Council (CNE) decision that results in a recall referendum. If so, the [...]	2004-06-03 16:11:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS1904	GDP GROWTH OR REBOUND? DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK [...] (SBU) THE CENTRAL BANK (BCV) HAS REPORTED 1ST QUARTER GDP GROWTH OF 29.8% COMPARED TO THE SAME PERIOD OF 2003, WHEN IT FELL 27.8%. MINISTER OF PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT JORGE GIORDANI SAYS THAT THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF A PERIOD OF SUSTAINED GROWTH. HIS IS A LONE VOICE, AS INDEPENDENT ECONOMIS [...]	2004-06-04 17:46:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON EFIN PGOV VE
04CARACAS1908	CHAVEZ AGREES TO RECALL REFERENDUM [...] (C) The National Electoral Council (CNE) announced June 3 that its preliminary calculations indicated that the opposition had collected enough signatures to activate the recall referendum against President Hugo Chavez. In a national radio and television broadcast (cadena) from Miraflores Pala [...]	2004-06-04 20:36:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE

04CARACAS1910	RETIRED GENERAL ARRESTED FOR DEFAMING MILITARY [...] (U) ON MAY 22 THE NATIONAL GUARD AND DIRECTORATE FOR MILITARY INTELLIGENCE ARRESTED FORMER FINANCE MINISTER, BRIGADIER GENERAL FRANCISCO USON RAMIREZ_ FOR "DEFAMING" THE MILITARY. GENERAL USON HAS BEEN AN OPEN SUPPORTER OF THE POLITICAL OPPOSITION TO PRESIDENT CHAVEZ AND RECENTLY CRITICIZED [...]	2004-06-04 21:29:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS1940	AMBASSADOR'S TRIP TO MARACAIBO [...] (C) On June 5, the Ambassador traveled to Maracaibo, Zulia State, where Esteban Pineda, editor of the Maracaibo daily Panorama, told him that the pro-Chavez gubernatorial candidate suffers from incredibly low support ratings and has few prospects in Zulia's upcoming elections. At a lunch hos [...]	2004-06-08 21:58:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS1942	VENEZUELA REFERENDUM: RECALL OR RATIFICATION [...] (C) Before a multitude of supporters June 6, President Hugo Chavez morphed the recall referendum sought by his opponents into a referendum to ratify his mandate. He called on his supporters to help him once again defeat the enemies of the Bolivarian revolution who would deprive them of the s [...]	2004-06-09 12:47:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS1943	PDVSA MONEY GOES STRAIGHT TO GOV SPENDING [...] (C) SUMMARY: Central Bank (BCV reserves) peaked on May 14, and have since been dropping sharply. The chairman of the National Assembly Finance Committee and the President of state-owned oil company PDVSA have publicly confirmed that the reason for the decline is that PDVSA has ceased turning [...]	2004-06-09 12:50:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON EFIN EPET PGOV VE
04CARACAS1950	CNE SETS AUGUST 15 FOR CHAVEZ RECALL [...] (U) FRANCISCO CARRASQUERO, PRESIDENT OF VENEZUELA'S NATIONAL ELECTORAL COUNCIL, OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED JUNE 8 THAT OPPONENTS OF PRESIDENT CHAVEZ HAD OBTAINED SUFFICIENT SIGNATURES TO PETITION FOR A REFERENDUM TO RECALL THE PRESIDENT. ACCORDING TO THE CNE TALLIES, THE OPPOSITION OBTAINED 2,541, [...]	2004-06-09 20:34:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS1957	JOURNALIST PATRICIA POLEO QUESTIONED BY MILITARY [...] (U) A MILITARY JUDGE REFUSED THE PROSECUTOR'S REQUEST JUNE 8 TO JAIL JOURNALIST PATRICIA POLEO. A MILITARY PROSECUTOR CHARGED POLEO MARCH 22 WITH FOMENTING REBELLION AND DEFAMATION OF THE ARMED FORCES BASED ON A VIDEO POLEO MADE PUBLIC SHOWING CUBANS IN A NATIONAL GUARD BARRACKS. MILITARY PRO [...]	2004-06-10 20:20:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS198	DENGUE AND THE POLITICS OF HEALTH CARE IN VENEZUELA [...] (SBU) A significant increase in the number of dengue cases in Caracas in December sparked concern about an epidemic among city residents (including the Embassy community). The upsurge in dengue, following shortly after an October 2003 outbreak of yellow fever, triggered questions about the G [...]	2004-01-20 21:50:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY	SOCI ECON PGOV VE
04CARACAS1993	AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH SUMATE LEADERS [...] (C) SUMATE leaders Maria Corina Machado and Alejandro Plaz were charged on June 10 and 11 respectively with conspiracy to "destroy the republican form of government" for accepting funds from the National Endowment for Democracy, but have not been detained. Plaz and Machado told the Ambassador [...]	2004-06-16 15:57:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS1994	UPDATE ON CONDITION OF POLITICAL PRISONERS [...] (U) VENEZUELA'S SUPREME COURT (TSJ) COURT RULED JUNE 10 THAT THE NINE PERSONS DETAINED IN TACHIRA FOR THE PAST YEAR ON CHARGES OF REBELLION SHOULD NOT BE FREED FROM PRISON PENDING TRIAL, AND ORDERED THE TRIAL JUDGE TO BEGIN THE TRIAL WITHIN EIGHT DAYS. DISIP (POLITICAL POLICE) AGENTS TRANSPOR [...]	2004-06-16 15:58:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV VE
04CARACAS1995	CHOOSING THE OPPOSITION'S UNIFIED CANDIDATE [...] (C) The opposition is focusing all efforts toward a united front for the August 15 recall referendum. Opposition leaders told the Ambassador in early June that they will wait to announce a candidate until after the referendum because the referendum is a Chavez/anti-Chavez vote. The opposition [...]	2004-06-16 16:03:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS1998	AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH VICE PRESIDENT RANGEL [...] (C) On June 16, the Ambassador met with GOV Executive Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel. Rangel stated that Chavez and his supporters would accept the results of any referendum and would act as a democratic opposition if they lost. He said that the integrity of Venezuela's electoral insti [...]	2004-06-16 21:33:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV VE
04CARACAS2003	NO PROGRESS ON POVERTY UNDER CHAVEZ - UNDP [...] (SBU) The Chavez government appears to have made little progress on its alleged "flagship" issue - that of alleviating poverty, according to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) office in Caracas. There is no mechanism in place to track the results of its various ad hoc social welf [...]	2004-06-17 11:30:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON PGOV SOCI VE
04CARACAS2009	PARAMILITARIES UPDATE [...] The May 9 discovery of alleged Colombian paramilitaries, replaced in national headlines by the appeals process and the announcement of the recall referendum, remains a salient issue. The National Assembly has convened special investigative commission, which has already interviewed the Minist [...]	2004-06-17 16:47:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS2027	NATIONAL GUARD SOLDIERS HELD IN PRISON KILLINGS [...] (U) The Bolivar state appeals court June 7 ordered four National Guardsmen be detained pending trial for murder. The four are suspected of executing seven prisoners and wounding 200 in the Vista Hermosa prison November 10, 2003. A lower court had set the four free March 9, 2004. The case is be [...]	2004-06-18 20:15:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV VE
04CARACAS2033	THE NEXT ROUND OF ARRESTS? [...] No summary [...]	2004-06-18 20:37:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV VE
04CARACAS2036	REFERENDUM DEVELOPMENTS: QUESTIONS UPON QUESTIONS [...] (C) A Supreme Court (TSJ) decision on June 8 determined that a recalled Chavez may run for president in 2006, but left unclear whether he may participate in presidential election 30 days after the recall vote. The National Electoral Council (CNE) on June 15 approved the question for the recal [...]	2004-06-18 21:01:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS2037	OPPOSITION DEVELOPING A "GOVERNANCE PACT" [...] (C) A "brain trust" of informal consultants is working with the Coordinadora Democratica (CD) to develop a post-Chavez governance plan to help convince Venezuelans to vote against President Hugo Chavez in the August 15 recall referendum. Fernando Martinez Mottola, a consultant for the CD, sa [...]	2004-06-18 21:08:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS2038	PDVSA: AND YET MORE RESHUFFLING? [...] (C) RUMORS OF UPCOMING SENIOR LEVEL DEPARTURES/REASSIGNMENTS WITHIN VENEZUELA'S ENERGY SECTOR ARE ONCE AGAIN REACHING FEVER PITCH IN CARACAS WITH PETROLEOS DE VENEZUELA (PDVSA) PRESIDENT ALI RODRIGUEZ, CITGO PRESIDENT LUIS MARIN, AND VICE MINISTER FOR HYDROCARBONS LUIS VIERMA THE MOST POPULAR [...]	2004-06-18 21:14:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	EPET VE
04CARACAS2045	PDVSA: AND YET MORE RESHUFFLING? [...] (C) RUMORS OF UPCOMING SENIOR LEVEL DEPARTURES/REASSIGNMENTS WITHIN VENEZUELA'S ENERGY SECTOR ARE ONCE AGAIN REACHING FEVER PITCH IN CARACAS WITH PETROLEOS DE VENEZUELA (PDVSA) PRESIDENT ALI RODRIGUEZ, CITGO PRESIDENT LUIS MARIN, AND VICE MINISTER FOR HYDROCARBONS LUIS VIERMA THE MOST POPULAR [...]	2004-06-21 19:50:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	EPET VE
04CARACAS2059	TIP REPORT: GOV REACTS INDIGNANTLY [...] (U) NUMEROUS GOV OFFICIALS RESPONDED WITH INDIGNATION AND CONDEMNATION TOWARD THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S 2004 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS (TIP) REPORT, WHICH LISTED VENEZUELA AS A TIER 3 COUNTRY. THE FOREIGN MINISTRY ACCUSED THE U.S. OF SERIOUS TRAFFICKING AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS OF ITS OWN. GOV A [...]	2004-06-22 20:24:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS2060	REVOLUTION FIRST AT GOV DEPOSIT GUARANTEE FUND [...] (U) FOGADE (Banking Protection Guarantee Fund, FDIC-equivalent) President Jesus Caldera Infante proposed raising the assessment (paid by banks) on all bank account deposits from 0.5% to 2.0%. Industry experts say that this will force up interest rates, though Caldera disagrees. With the extr [...]	2004-06-22 20:29:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON EFIN PGOV VE
04CARACAS2063	FELIPE MUJICA ON HOW TO BEAT CHAVEZ [...] (C) On June 17, Political officers met with Felipe Mujica, President of Movimiento a Socialismo (MAS) and one of the leading Coordinadora Democratica (CD) negotiators with the National Electoral Council (CNE). Mujica outlined what he thought should be the CD's campaign strategy for the presid [...]	2004-06-22 21:09:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV VE
04CARACAS2064	GOV REACTS HARSHLY TO HRW REPORT ON JUSTICE SYSTEM [...] (C) Jose Miguel Vivanco, Executive Director of Human Rights Watch, released a report in Caracas June 17 strongly criticizing Venezuela's new Supreme Court law, and calling for implementation of the OAS Democratic Charter if the Venezuelan authorities did not act to preserve the balance of pow [...]	2004-06-22 21:42:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PREL PGOV VE
04CARACAS2078	CHAVISTA LEGISLATORS FIRE OPPOSITION SUPREME COURT [...] (U) The National Assembly (NA) removed Supreme Court (TSJ) Vice President Franklin Arriechi Gutierrez June 16. The Chavista-controlled NA used the power given them by the new TSJ law to remove judges with a simple majority vote in some SIPDIS situations. Arriechi, known to oppose Chavez, wil [...]	2004-06-23 21:32:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS2081	CHAVEZ V. CHAVEZ: WHAT'S HIS PLAN? [...] (C) President Hugo Chavez is in full campaign mode for the August 15 referendum on whether he should finish his term. Smarting from the moral defeat of having to accept the referendum, Chavez has recast the referendum as an inevitable victory for his revolution. His strategy rests on mobilizin [...]	2004-06-25 15:05:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS2087	NEW REFERENDUM POLLING FIGURES [...] (C) GREENBERG, ROSNER AND QUINLAN (GRQ) SHOWED THE OPPOSITION THE PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF ITS LATEST POLL REGARDING THE AUGUST 15 REFERENDUM. THE FIGURES SHOW THAT VOTERS ARE SPLIT 48-TO-48 ON WHETHER TO RECALL PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ. GRQ REP MARK FEIERSTIEN CONTENDED THAT WITH THE ECONOMY D [...]	2004-06-25 19:51:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS2088	THE CHAVEZ, CARTER, CISNEROS RUMOR MILL [...] (C) On June 18, President Hugo Chavez, former President Jimmy Carter and media magnate Gustavo Cisneros met behind closed doors for two hours at Fuerte Tiuna in Caracas. While Chavez, Cisneros and the Carter Center have all stated the meeting was simply a first step toward improved dialogue, [...]	2004-06-25 20:53:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS2089	REVOLUTIONARY SOAP OPERA BUBBLES OVER FOR GOV [...] (C) "Amores de Barrio Adentro (Love Inside the Neighborhood)," a state-sponsored soap opera, premiered on national television on June 22 after a two-hour national premiere party. "Amores" is filled with pro-Chavez rhetoric, GoV propaganda, and attacks on the opposition, while providing the cl [...]	2004-06-25 22:02:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS2108	VENEZUELA'S AUTOMATED VOTING SYSTEM: UNDER FIRE [...] (C) Venezuela's new automated voting system will make its premiere in the August 15 recall referendum against President Hugo Chavez. The consortium behind the untested system, led by the U.S. company Smartmatic, has yet to finalize its contracts with the National Electoral Council (CNE). The [...]	2004-06-28 21:49:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS2118	PDVSA - OIL COMPANY OR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY? [...] (C) Through budgetary and non-budgetary spending, Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) is now the primary agent for implementation of Chavez Administration social programs. Over $1.7 billion has been designated to social development programs in PDVSA's 2004 budget while up to an additional $2 billi [...]	2004-06-29 20:16:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	EPET EFIN PGOV VE ECON
04CARACAS2123	OPPOSITION FINALLY LAUNCHES PRESIDENTIAL RECALL [...] (C) After three weeks of wrangling, the Coordinadora Democratica (CD) on June 25 launched its presidential recall campaign committee and swore in members of its 'yes commands.' Enrique Mendoza, Governor of Miranda and likely presidential candidate in a possible follow-on election, said in a [...]	2004-06-29 21:20:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS2130	MAYOR CAPRILES FORMALLY CHARGED IN CUBAN EMBASSY [...] (C) ON JUNE 25, PRO-GOV PROSECUTOR DANILO ANDERSON FILED FORMAL CHARGES AGAINST FORMER MAYOR OF BARUTA MUNICIPALITY HENRIQUE RODONSKI CAPRILES FOR HIS ALLEGED ROLE IN THE APRIL 12, 2002 SIEGE OF THE CUBAN EMBASSY IN CARACAS. CAPRILES CONTINUES TO BE DETAINED WITHOUT BAIL. THIS CASE IS AN E [...]	2004-06-30 11:50:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS2145	MORE POLLING DATA ON RECALL REFERENDUM [...] (C) ON JUNE 23, GREENBERG, QUINLAN, ROSNER RESEARCH INC. (GQR) RELEASED THE RESULTS OF ITS NATIONAL PUBLIC OPINION STUDY (REF). COLLECTED AFTER THE REPAROS PROCESS, THE FIGURES SHOW THAT NATIONAL OPINION IS SPLIT 48-TO-48 ON WHETHER TO RECALL PRESIDENT CHAVEZ. NATIONAL OPINION WAS FAVORABL [...]	2004-07-01 21:52:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS2146	ARRIECHI ACCUSES TSJ JUDGES OF CORRUPTION [...] (C) SUPREME COURT (TSJ) JUDGE FRANKLIN ARRIECHI SPOKE WITH PAO AND POLOFF JUNE 23, AFTER BEING REMOVED FROM THE TSJ (SEE REFTEL.) ARRIECHI REJECTED THE VALIDITY OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY (NA) VOTE TO REMOVE HIM. HE STATED HIS INTENTION TO IGNORE THE RULING, AND CONTINUE TO REPORT TO WORK IN ORD [...]	2004-07-01 21:52:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV VE
04CARACAS2147	TITLE III LIBERTAD ACT WAIVER: VENEZUELA [...] (C) VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ IS PERHAPS THE CLOSEST INTERNATIONAL ALLY OF FIDEL CASTRO. THE TWO NATIONS' TRADE RELATIONSHIP IS BASED ON VENEZUELA'S CONCESSIONARY PETROLEUM EXPORTS TO CUBA. THE GOV HAS NOT TAKEN ANY STEPS OF WHICH POST IS AWARE IN THE LAST SIX MONTHS TO ADVANCE DEMOCR [...]	2004-07-01 21:56:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV ETTC KDEM VE
04CARACAS2153	CHAVEZ PADS VOTES WITH NATURALIZATION AND IDENTITY [...] (C) THE GOV'S "MISION IDENTIDAD" (MISSION IDENTITY) IS PROVIDING CEDULAS (IDENTITY CARDS) TO MASSIVE NUMBERS OF UNDOCUMENTED VENEZUELANS AND FOREIGNERS. THE GOV IS WORKING BUSILY VIA THE MISSION TO ISSUE IDENTITY CARDS TO POTENTIAL VOTERS BEFORE THE JULY 10 ELECTORAL REGISTRY DEADLINE FOR THE [...]	2004-07-02 17:21:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE CONS
04CARACAS2158	OPPOSITION RANK-AND-FILE ATTACK CHAVISTAS [...] (C) A GROUP OF OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS ATTACKED A PRO-CHAVEZ COMANDO MAISANTA CAMPAIGN TEAM IN THE WEALTHY ALTO PRADO AREA OF CARACAS ON JUNE 27. A STATE TELEVISION REPORTER WAS THROWN TO THE GROUND, AND A CHAVEZ CAMPAIGN WORKER WAS HIT IN THE HEAD AND LEFT BLEEDING. THE INCIDENT IS BEING USED [...]	2004-07-06 11:53:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS2172	BOLIVAR: POLITICS AND ECONOMICS IN THE LAND OF [...] SUMMARY: (SBU) THE STATE OF BOLIVAR, BY FAR THE LARGEST IN VENEZUELA IN AREA, IS A REGION WITH ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE MUCH HIGHER THAN ITS RELATIVELY LOW POPULATION WOULD INDICATE. (BOLIVAR PRODUCES 100% OF VENEZUELAN ALUMINUM AND GOLD, 90% OF ITS STEEL, AND ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF ITS ELECTRICITY.) [...]	2004-07-07 14:59:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON PGOV VE
04CARACAS2183	CONCERNS ABOUT PRESIDENTIAL RECALL TIMELINE [...] (C) AS VENEZUELA APPROACHES THE AUGUST 15 PRESIDENTIAL RECALL VOTE, UNCERTAINTY REMAINS OVER POSSIBLE DELAYS IN THE RECALL PROCESS AND EXACTLY WHICH EVENT--THE RECALL VOTE OR THE RELEASE OF THE OFFICIAL RESULTS--MUST OCCUR BEFORE AUGUST 19 TO PREVENT TRIGGERING ARTICLE 233 OF THE CONSTITUTION. [...]	2004-07-07 19:46:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV VE
04CARACAS2197	MAVERICK DEPUTY MAKES CORRUPTION ALLEGATIONS [...] (C) NATIONAL ASSEMBLY DEPUTY ROGER RONDON (PODEMOS) ATTACKED THE RULING FIFTH REPUBLIC MOVEMENT (MVR) AND HAD HIS HANDS SLAPPED AS A CONSEQUENCE AFTER A WEEK-LONG MID-JUNE CAMPAIGN TO BRING A VOTE OF CENSURE AGAINST MINISTER OF ENERGY AND MINES RAFAEL RAMIREZ_. RONDON FAILED TO BRING THE VOTE [...]	2004-07-09 14:54:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV ENRG VE
04CARACAS2199	PRESIDENT OF TSJ ELECTORAL CHAMBER RETIRES [...] (U) THE PRESIDENT OF THE ELECTORAL CHAMBER OF THE SUPREME COURT (TSJ) ALBERTO MARTINI RETIRED FROM THE TSJ ON JULY 7, ALONG WITH JUSTICES RAFAEL HERNANDEZ AND RAFAEL PEREZ PERDOMO. MARTINI AND HERNANDEZ, BOTH MEMBERS OF THE ELECTORAL CHAMBER, WILL BE REPLACED BY PRO-CHAVEZ ALTERNATES. THE TSJ [...]	2004-07-09 15:11:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KJUS VE
04CARACAS2200	CHAVEZ'S FORMER PARTNER DISCUSSES THE DEVELOPMENT [...] (C) HERMA MARKSMAN, CHAVEZ'S FORMER COMMON-LAW WIFE FROM 1984-1993, SPOKE TO POLOFFS ON JULY 1 ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT OF CHAVEZ'S POLITICAL IDEOLOGY. SHE CLAIMS THAT CHAVEZ WAS INFLUENCED BY 1960'S GUERRILLAS. MARKSMAN DISAGREED WITH THE OPPOSITION'S PORTRAYAL OF CHAVEZ AS AN IDIOT AND WARNED THAT H [...]	2004-07-09 15:14:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV VE
04CARACAS2201	GOV GAG RULE ON INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS [...] (C) VENEZUELA'S NATIONAL ELECTORAL COUNCIL (CNE) APPROVED ON JUNE 23 THE REGULATIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS DURING THE AUGUST 15 PRESIDENTIAL RECALL REFERENDUM. THE RULES STIPULATE THAT OBSERVERS WILL HAVE FULL ACCESS TO VOTING SITES AND CNE OFFICES, BUT MAY NOT MAKE PRESS STATEMENTS OR [...]	2004-07-09 15:16:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS2202	TRIAL BEGINS IN TACHIRA 9 CASE [...] (U) JUDGE GERSON NINO OPENED THE TRIAL AGAINST NINE OPPOSITION LEADERS WHO HAVE BEEN IN PRISON FOR THE LAST YEAR IN TACHIRA STATE ON JULY 6. THE NINE ARE CHARGED WITH CIVIL REBELLION FOR THE EVENTS OF APRIL 11, 2002 IN SAN CRISTOBAL, TACHIRA. AT THE OPENING OF THE TRIAL, PROSECUTOR JAIRO ESC [...]	2004-07-09 15:19:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV VE
04CARACAS2203	"SI" RECALL CAMPAIGN MOBILIZES [...] (C) VENEZUELA'S COORDINADORA DEMOCRATICA IS GEARING UP ITS CAMPAIGN FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL RECALL REFERENDUM, ORGANIZING ITS GET-OUT-THE-VOTE PROGRAMS THROUGH POLITICAL PARTIES AND CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS. KEY OPPOSITION FIGURES HAVE EMBARKED ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL THROUGHOUT VENEZUELA, THOUGH STAYI [...]	2004-07-09 16:49:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS2207	CARTER CENTER BALKS AT OBSERVER RULES [...] (C) Carter Center (TCC) representative Edgardo Mimica told poloffs July 8 TCC will not accept an invitation from the National Electoral Council (CNE) to observe the August 15 presidential recall referendum without agreement to minimum conditions that guarantee the freedom and autonomy of the o [...]	2004-07-09 20:23:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS2224	UPDATE ON THE USAID/OTI VENEZUELA PROGRAM [...] (U) USAID's Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) began its Venezuela program in August 2002 to support a democratic solution to Venezuela's political crisis as part of an overall USG strategy. USAID's overall goal in Venezuela is to support a political process that is democratic, constitut [...]	2004-07-13 17:40:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	PREL EAID KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS2239	DIVISIONS BETWEEN PROYECTO VENEZUELA AND CD [...] (C) The Coordinadora Democratica in Carabobo is divided over the actions of Proyecto Venezuela, according to local party leaders who talked to PolOffs on July 8 and 9. Leaders of several parties complained that Proyecto Venezuela was not participating enthusiastically in the recall referendum [...]	2004-07-14 20:50:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS2248	OPPOSITION LAUNCHES "NATIONAL CONSENSUS PLAN" [...] (C) On June 9, the Coordinadora Democratica (CD) launched "Plan Consenso Pais" (National Consensus Plan),a set of proposals that address the key social problems in Venezuela. The four major points of the plan are employment, security, health, and education. The plan serves as a guide for rec [...]	2004-07-15 18:22:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS2251	VENEZUELA'S ELECTORAL COUNCIL WOBBLING TOWARD THE [...] (C) The National Electoral Council (CNE) continued preparations for the August 15 recall referendum against President Hugo Chavez. Citing logistical difficulties, the CNE decided July 13 not to expand the number of voting centers, primarily in poor neighborhoods, as contemplated previously. [...]	2004-07-15 18:50:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS2252	CHAVEZ AND THE EVANGELICALS [...] (C) The GOV is catering to evangelical Christians, who make up nine percent of Venezuela's population, to build the support base of President Hugo Chavez and to win the August recall referendum. Some Evangelicals have plugged into Chavez's coffers and his social message, at times reflecting a [...]	2004-07-15 18:51:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM PHUM KIRF VE
04CARACAS2254	SENIOR OFFICIAL PUTS POSITIVE SPIN ON NEW PROJECT [...] (C) Energy Vice Minister Luis Vierma told Emboffs July 12 that Venezuela is currently producing 3 million b/d of oil. He also provided a glowing overview of upcoming projects, both for Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) and the private sector. Most industry analysts, however, continue to put Vene [...]	2004-07-15 19:17:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ENRG EPET VE
04CARACAS2255	PETROAMERICA: CHAVEZ'S OIL DREAM FOR THE AMERICAS [...] (C) Energy Vice Minister Luis Vierma told Emboffs July 12 that discussions with Caribbean nations on the formation of a "PetroCaribe" joint venture are at a preliminary stage. According to Vierma, the GOV's plans for the Hemisphere envision a holding company "PetroAmerica" that would have thre [...]	2004-07-15 19:19:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ENRG EPET PREL VE
04CARACAS2266	BISHOPS URGE VOTER PARTICIPATION AND CLEAN ELECTION [...] (U) The Episcopal Conference of Venezuela (CEV),comprised of Venezuela's Catholic bishops, July 12 exhorted all actors participating in the August 15 presidential recall referendum to act ethically. The bishops also urged them to ensure that the process remains free of corruption and fraud so [...]	2004-07-16 17:25:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS2309	LACK OF FUNDING WORRIES VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION [...] (C) Coordinadora Democratica (CD) leaders worry they have insufficient funding and time before the recall referendum against President Hugo Chavez scheduled for August 15 to counter Chavez's campaign. CD advisor Jorge Casado told A/DCM July 18 that Chavez appears to be succeeding in projecti [...]	2004-07-21 11:49:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS2312	VOTING SIMULATION: YANKEES NO, RED SOX SI [...] (C) The National Electoral Council (CNE) successfully conducted a voting simulation on July 18 to prepare for the August 15 presidential recall referendum. SBC, the consortium operating the new voting system, reported a 99.2 percent success rate with the 5,200 machines distributed throughout [...]	2004-07-21 15:23:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS2367	THE CART BEFORE THE HORSE: OPPOSITION PLANS [...] (C) If the August 15 presidential recall referendum passes, opposition leaders propose a primary election, to select a unified opposition candidate for the follow-on presidential election. Beyond the apparent front-runner, Miranda State governor Enrique Mendoza, other opposition leaders insid [...]	2004-07-26 20:40:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS2387	COMANDO MAISANTA: A MID-CAMPAIGN UPDATE [...] (U) Since its formation, President Hugo Chavez's anti-recall referendum campaign committee, Comando Maisanta, has balanced its activities between concentrated lobbying and widespread propaganda dissemination. Comando Maisanta has pushed for redistributing voting centers and purifying the el [...]	2004-07-27 20:23:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS2389	CITIZENS ASSEMBLIES: CIVIL SOCIETY GETS ORGANIZED [...] (C) Venezuela's Asambleas de Ciudadanos (Citizen Assemblies),as outlined in Article 70 of the 1999 Constitution, are a means through which civil society can organize itself to address political concerns and attempt to establish government accountability. The opposition's answer to Presiden [...]	2004-07-28 13:31:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS2431	VENEZUELA'S RECALL REFERENDUM: OBSTRUCTIONS AND [...] (C) With little more than two weeks to go before the scheduled Presidential recall referendum, Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) refused July 29 to consider requests to changes in voting locations which the opposition claims were done fraudulently. The more than one million chang [...]	2004-07-30 13:21:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE OAS
04CARACAS2432	OPPOSITION UNITES BEHIND GOVERNANCE ACCORD [...] (C) The Coordinadora Democratica is calling on Venezuelans to sign its National Accord for Social Justice and Democratic Peace August 1. Coordinadora leaders publicly signed the document, which establishes a broad framework for an opposition-led transition government, should President Chavez [...]	2004-07-30 13:23:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS2441	VENEZUELAN TRIAL PROCEDURES AND POLITICAL JUSTICE [...] (U) Court cases against various opponents of President Hugo Chavez are at different stages in the judicial process. The case of Baruta Mayor Henrique Capriles, though he has been in custody for more than two months, is in its initial stages, while the case of National Guard Gen. Carlos Alfonzo [...]	2004-08-02 15:07:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV KJUS VE
04CARACAS2455	VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT AND NGOS UNLIKELY TO SUPPORT [...] (C) President Hugo Chavez's support for Fidel Castro and antagonism towards the United States is well documentd and makes GOV support for a democratic transition in Cuba unfeasible. The cooperation that exists between Castro and Chavez is extensive, as evidenced by the over 10,000 Cuban doctor [...]	2004-08-03 12:04:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PHUM CU VE
04CARACAS2466	VENEZUELAN REFERENDUM UPDATE-AUGUST 3, 2004 [...] (C) Supporters of President Hugo Chavez and the National Electoral Council (CNE) conducted separate voting simulations August 1, while the opposition Coordinadora Democratica rallied supporters to sign its Governance Accord and verify electoral registry entries. Each side of the referendum qu [...]	2004-08-03 18:40:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS2480	VENEZUELA: VIEWS FROM ANDEAN REGIONAL CAPITAL [...] (C) While the Coordinadora Democratica in Merida is divided about local politics and how to run the campaign for the August 15 Referendum, the leaders of several parties agree that President Chavez will be recalled. A barely visible &Si8 campaign for the recall contrasts starkly with overwhelm [...]	2004-08-04 13:20:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS2487	ECONOMY ON UPSWING AS REFERENDUM DRAWS NEAR [...] (SBU) In accordance with a decree issued by President Chavez in May, the minimum wage rose 10% on August 1, after having increased 20% on May 1. Meanwhile, the parallel dollar rate remains steady at lower levels than before, much more foreign currency is available than at any time since excha [...]	2004-08-04 18:26:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON EFIN PGOV VE
04CARACAS2509	VENEZUELA'S VP DISCUSSES REFERENDUM AND HR CASES, [...] (C) DCM (charge at the time) met July 30 with Venezuelan VP Rangel. Rangel was upbeat and dispassionate on broad range of issues: the referendum, which the GOV will win; international observers, whom he welcomed; campaign violence and intimidation, which he agreed that the GOV and opposition [...]	2004-08-05 17:51:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PHUM PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS251	CHANGES IN GOV FOREIGN MINISTRY [...] (C) FOREIGN MINISTER ROY CHADERTON CONFIRMED REPORTS ON JANUARY 20 THAT ADAN CHAVEZ, PRESIDENT CHAVEZ'S OLDER BROTHER, WILL BE THE NEW GOV AMBASSADOR TO CUBA. SOURCES AT THE MFA CONFIRM THAT CHADERTON WILL BE REPLACED BY JESUS ARNALDO PEREZ, CURRENT GOV AMBASSADOR TO FRANCE, AND RUMORED TO BE [...]	2004-01-26 13:42:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM PREL VE
04CARACAS2515	VENEZUELA'S VP DISCUSSES REFERENDUM AND HR CASES, [...] (C) DCM (charge at the time) met July 30 with Venezuelan VP Rangel. Rangel was upbeat and dispassionate on broad range of issues: the referendum, which the GOV will win; international observers, whom he welcomed; campaign violence and intimidation, which he agreed that the GOV and opposition [...]	2004-08-05 20:34:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PHUM PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS2516	CODEL BALLENGER: MEETING WITH OAS REPRESENTATIVE [...] (C) Representatives Cass Ballenger, Gregory Meeks, Bill Delahunt and Butch Otter, accompanied by the Ambassador, met with Organization of American States (OAS) representative Patricio Carbacho at the Ambassador's residence August 3. Carbacho said he believed the OAS observer mission could do i [...]	2004-08-05 20:53:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PHUM KDEM VE OAS
04CARACAS2518	BOSTON GROUP AT VENEZUELA'S NATIONAL ASSEMBLY [...] (U) The U.S.-Venezuela Interparliamentary Forum (informally known as the "Boston Group") met at the Venezuelan National Assembly August 4. At the meeting, which was open to the press, U.S. Representatives Cass Ballenger, Bill Delahunt and Gregory Meeks noted the Boston Group's role in stren [...]	2004-08-06 12:27:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	PREL KDEM VE
04CARACAS2539	VENEZUELA MAYOR RELEASE AGAIN DENIED [...] (U) Caracas Control Judge Leon Villanueva rejected a defense motion to release jailed Baruta Mayor Henrique Capriles on August 4. Villanueva was assigned the case when an Appeals Court ruled the case be reassigned and defense motions considered again. Villanueva scheduled a hearing for August [...]	2004-08-09 11:48:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV KJUS VE
04CARACAS2540	VENEZUELAN REFERENDUM UPDATE: AUGUST 6 [...] (C) The National Electoral Council (CNE) unanimously agreed to go to a manual vote if the electronic voting machines fail August 15. The CNE also finalized plans to audit the electronic voting machines on August 8. Unidentified persons attacked a pro-Chavez campaign office in Maracaibo August [...]	2004-08-09 11:55:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS2541	LEGISLATORS REHASH RECALL AT BOSTON GROUP MEETING [...] (C) Both pro-GOV and pro-opposition National Assembly Deputies meeting with Codel Ballenger August 3 predicted victory in the August 15 referendum to unseat President Hugo Chavez. According to various deputies, participation of uncommitted voters, particularly in poor and rural areas, will ma [...]	2004-08-09 13:55:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM VE
04CARACAS2543	REFERENDUM DAY GASOLINE SHORTAGES LIKELY IN [...] (C) ChevronTexaco (CTX) downstream managers confirm they believe the GOV will seek to cut off gasoline supplies in the eastern (opposition) part of Caracas before the August 15 referendum. Such an action could cost the opposition a (very) few votes, but would raise tensions immediately before [...]	2004-08-09 19:46:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV ENRG KDEM VE
04CARACAS2547	VENEZUELAN REFERENDUM UPDATE: AUGUST 9 [...] (U) National Electoral Council (CNE) director Jorge Rodriguez and Valter Pecly Moreira, head of the Organization of American States (OAS) observation mission in Venezuela, told reporters the audit of 150 electronic voting machines on August 8 was a success. Also on August 8, Chavez supporters [...]	2004-08-09 20:57:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS2563	VENEZUELAN REFERENDUM UPDATE: AUGUST 10 [...] (C) National Electoral Council (CNE) President Francisco Carrasquero August 9 warned the opposition and the media not to violate rules prohibiting the announcement of referendum results before the votes are officially counted August 15. Chavez supporters attacked opposition campaign workers in [...]	2004-08-10 21:07:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM VE OAS
04CARACAS2564	CHAVEZ CHARMING THE OIL SECTOR [...] (C) An August 6 ceremony to mark the opening of drilling by ChevronTexaco in the off-shore Deltana Platform natural gas project provided President Chavez with an opportunity to posture for the nation and to send a message to the United States. Chavez publicly tasked Ali Moshiri, ChevronTexaco [...]	2004-08-11 14:29:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ENRG PGOV VE
04CARACAS2570	EXXONMOBIL TO SIGN PROJECT DOCUMENT [...] (C) ExxonMobil de Venezuela President Mark Ward told the Ambassador August 9 that the company is likely to sign the Preliminary Development Agreement (PDA) for a multi-billion dollar petrochemical project with the GOV on August 12. Ward reported that the signing will take place in PDVSA Presid [...]	2004-08-11 15:00:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ENRG PGOV VE
04CARACAS2575	TERRORIST FINANCE LIST 53 [...] No summary [...]	2004-08-11 17:19:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	EFIN KTFN PTER VE
04CARACAS2577	VENEZUELAN REFERENDUM UPDATE: AUGUST 11 [...] (C) The National Electoral Council (CNE) approved the Venezuelan NGO "Electoral Eye" as the only national observation group for the August 15 referendum. Beginning from six different points throughout Caracas and culminating on the highway, opposition supporters will begin a march to conclude [...]	2004-08-11 21:07:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM ELAB VE
04CARACAS2580	VENEZUELAN PRISONER NEWS [...] (U) Judge Carmen Amelia Chacin found Gen. Carlos Alfonzo Martinez guilty of violating security zones and sentenced him to five years probation August 9. The judge also prohibited Alfonzo Martinez from making statements to the media as one of the conditions of his probation. Judge Chacin found [...]	2004-08-12 13:32:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	PHUM KJUS PGOV VE
04CARACAS2581	VENEZUELA: CARTER CENTER BRIEFS AMBASSADORS [...] (C) Carter Center delegation representatives, including former Argentine President Raul Alfonsin and former Costa Rican President Rodrigo Carazo, met with resident ambassadors August 10 to discuss the Carter Center's role as international observers of the referendum. They outlined observation [...]	2004-08-12 14:06:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	KDEM PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS2582	MAKING SENSE OF VENEZUELA'S POLLS [...] (C) The August 4 release of a poll reportedly by the Venezuelan Institute of Data Analysis (IVAD in Spanish) showing a majority favoring the recall of President Hugo Chavez, prompted a fierce response from Minister of Communication and Information Jesse Chacon, who said he had seen other poll [...]	2004-08-12 14:27:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS2591	COVERING VENEZUELA'S RECALL REFERENDUM [...] (C) Embassy Caracas will field informal observers to cover the presidential recall referendum August 15 in and around the capital, Maracaibo and Puerto LaCruz as well as Carabobo and Aragua States. Lacking National Electoral Council credentials for access to voting centers, our observers wil [...]	2004-08-12 19:13:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS2592	ECONOMIC ASPECT OF OPPOSITION CONSENSUS PLAN [...] (SBU) The Plan Consenso Pais ("National Consensus Plan"),launched June 9 by the Coordinadora Democratica, has a very strong economic focus. However, while long on optimism, it is short on details. For example, while it emphasizes job creation, it provides no specific method to create jobs; i [...]	2004-08-12 20:28:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON EFIN PGOV VE
04CARACAS2594	CHEVRONTEXACO: SEIZING THE DAY [...] (C) ChevronTexaco is pushing to expand its business opportunities in Venezuela. The company received the formal license for Block 3 of the off-shore Deltana Platform project at an August 6 ceremony marking the opening of exploratory drilling in Block 2 (see reftel). At that time, ChevronTexa [...]	2004-08-12 20:44:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	EPET VE
04CARACAS2595	SECRETARY POWELL'S STATEMENT ON THE VENEZUELAN [...] On August 12, the last day of campaigning for the presidential recall referendum, the printed and electronic press are full stories on the various aspects of the referendum. While "El Universal" led with the story on the Pope's remarks and prayers to Venezuela, it also picked up Secretary [...]	2004-08-12 20:44:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	KPAO PGOV OPRC KIRC VE
04CARACAS2596	RICE LETTER ON SUMATE GETS ATTENTION [...] On July 31, one of Caracas' most important opposition dailies, "El Nacional" carried an article entitled "Condoleezza Rice Criticizes the Political Persecution of Sumate Directors." That same week the Venezuela press has included coverage of a letter from members of the House Committee on I [...]	2004-08-12 20:45:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	PGOV PHUM KDEM OPRC KIRC VE
04CARACAS2597	VENEZUELA REFERENDUM UPDATE, AUGUST 12 [...] (C) National Electoral Council (CNE) director Jorge Rodriguez made clear that the referendum campaign officially closes at midnight August 12, as was initially decided by the CNE, despite Chavez's Comando Maisanta's request to extend the deadline so its campaign closing event could be held Aug [...]	2004-08-12 20:45:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM VE OAS
04CARACAS2598	LOOKING TOWARD REFERENDUM DAY [...] (C) On August 15, Venezuelans will take a decisive step in finding a peaceful, democratic electoral solution to the country's political crisis. Nearly 15 months since the signing of the OAS agreement, Venezuelans will say whether President Hugo Chavez stays or goes. The CNE appears ready fo [...]	2004-08-12 20:45:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE OAS
04CARACAS2599	VENEZUELA: GOV CONTINUES TO ACCUSE CANTV [...] (C) The GOV continues to accuse CANTV, the telecommunications company handling the automated voting August 15, of attempting to manipulate the referendum results. Vice President Jose Vincente Rangel warned CANTV and its "North American associates" that the GOV would act if the company and its [...]	2004-08-12 20:55:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV ECON KDEM VE
04CARACAS2600	AMBASSADOR'S VIEWS ON VENEZUELA'S REFERENDUM [...] (C) By law, the Venezuelan recall referendum campaign ends August 12 at midnight. Eighteen months ago the idea that Venezuelans could determine their own future through the ballot box seemed a dream, if not a mirage. On August 15 record numbers of Venezuelans will go to the polls and make t [...]	2004-08-12 21:59:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	KDEM PGOV PREL VE
04CARACAS2605	VENEZUELA'S REFERENDUM: THE DAY AFTER [...] (C) Venezuelans will vote August 15 on whether to recall President Hugo Chavez. If the opposition wins, it plans to hold primaries to pick a candidate and then battle Chavez again in presidential elections. Though removed from office, Chavez will still lead the country's largest political mo [...]	2004-08-13 17:05:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS2607	VENEZUELAN REFERENDUM UPDATE: AUGUST 13 [...] (C) As the campaigns for the Presidential recall referendum closed August 12, supporters and opponents of President Hugo Chavez celebrated, each claiming future victory. Chavez said he would extend dialog invitations to opposition leaders who accepted his victory and said he would step down i [...]	2004-08-13 21:10:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM VE OAS
04CARACAS2611	BUSH, CIA, AND THOMAS JEFFERSON "ENEMIES OF [...] With the referendum just a couple of days away, on August 12, President Chavez held a marathon (four- hour-long) press conference for foreign and international press. Chavez took every opportunity to criticize the U.S., its plots against him/Venezuela, and, more importantly, to tell his [...]	2004-08-13 21:27:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	KPAO PGOV OPRC KIRC VE
04CARACAS2615	VENEZUELA: REFERENDUM DAY, NOON, AUGUST 15 [...] (U) Despite reported delays in the opening of voting locations, long lines of people (between 400-1,000 people) waited patiently to vote in the August 15 presidential recall referendum. As of 10:30 am local, 99% of the voting centers had opened, according to CNE director Jorge Rodriguez. CNE [...]	2004-08-15 15:57:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM VE OAS
04CARACAS2616	VENEZUELA: REFERENDUM UPDATE, 6:00 P.M., AUGUST 15 [...] (C) National Electoral Council (CNE) director Jorge Rodriguez announced at 1:30 p.m. that polling hours have officially been extended until 8 p.m.; persons still in line at the time would be allowed to vote. CNE directors Francisco Carrasquero and Rodriguez told reporters they obtained a CD [...]	2004-08-15 21:52:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS2624	CHAVEZ DECLARES REFERENDUM VICTORY - SO DOES [...] (C) Venezuelan National Electoral Council President Francisco Carrasquero announced August 16 that preliminary results showed 58% of voters chose not to revoke President Chavez. Opposition leaders rejected the result, claiming their exit polls showed that 59% voted in favor of revocation. In [...]	2004-08-16 17:12:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV VE
04CARACAS2629	VENEZUELA: NO CLOSER TO ACCEPTANCE OF GOV VICTORY [...] (U) In a press conference August 16, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Organization of American States (OAS) Secretary General Cesar Gaviria announced that the results of SIPDIS their quick count coincide with the results announced by the National Electoral Council (CNE) giving Presiden [...]	2004-08-16 20:48:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM VE OAS

04CARACAS2643	VENEZUELA REFERENDUM UPDATE: AUGUST 17 [...] (C) Violence in Altamira Plaza in Caracas left one dead and 10 injured when a group of opposition demonstrator?T?Qi"QQ\s August 16, President Hugo Chavez said the attack was orchestrated by the opposition to destabilize the country. Chavez once again invited the opposition to a dialogue and [...]	2004-08-17 22:09:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS2644	CHAVEZ CAMPAIGNS ON THE PUBLIC'S DIME IN REFERENDUM [...] (C) Using state finances and manipulation of the structure established in the media accords, President Hugo Chavez mounted a much more impressive campaign in the referendum than the opposition. Pro-government advertising and propaganda filled Venezuelan newspapers, overshadowing the little op [...]	2004-08-18 14:01:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KIRC PHUM KDEM EPET VE
04CARACAS2655	VENEZUELAN REFERENDUM UPDATE: AUGUST 18 [...] No summary [...]	2004-08-18 20:45:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS2668	VENEZUELAN BUSINESS ADJUSTS TO CHAVEZ'S VICTORY [...] (C) Venezuela's business community has absorbed the unpleasant news of Chavez's referendum victory. Albis Munoz, President of umbrella business confederation FEDECAMARAS, made a relatively conciliatory public statement (even as the opposition Democratic Coordinating Committee, with which it [...]	2004-08-19 19:47:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON PGOV VE
04CARACAS2669	OPPOSITION ALLEGES ELECTRONIC FRAUD IN REFERENDUM [...] (U) Miranda state Gov. Enrique Mendoza told reporters August 18 the opposition would not participate in the audit of election results agreed to by the National Electoral Council (CNE) at the suggestion of the OAS and Carter Center. The Coordinadora instead wants an audit that would look at th [...]	2004-08-19 19:50:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS2671	VENEZUELA: WHY CHAVEZ "WON" [...] (C) The Organization of American States (OAS) and Carter Center are auditing ballots now, but assuming that charges of electoral fraud are not substantiated, one must ask what happened and how Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez won the August 15 recall referendum by such a large margin. Chavez [...]	2004-08-19 21:05:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV ECON KDEM VE
04CARACAS2687	GOV. ROJAS BRIEFS AMBASSADOR ON FRAUD CHARGES [...] (C) Bolivar State Gov. Antonio Rojas Suarez and Bolivar state legal advisor Juan Jose Rendon briefed the Ambassador August 19 on the allegations of fraud uncovered by Rendon in the August 15 presidential recall referendum. Rojas said the opposition has found 1920 voting machines with what they [...]	2004-08-20 19:36:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS2688	MENDOZA TO TAKE FRAUD ARGUMENT BEFORE [...] (C) Miranda State Gov. Enrique Mendoza told the Ambassador August 20 that the opposition had formed a commission to compile the "evidence" supporting the allegations that the GoV committed fraud in the August 15 referendum. Personally convinced that the GoV committed fraud, he said the Coor [...]	2004-08-20 19:41:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS2689	REFERENDUM UPDATE: AUGUST 19-20 [...] (C) On August 17 political police service DISIP and local police authorities arrested the three men suspected of shooting on demonstrators in Altamira on August 16. On August 18 and 19, the government heavily criticized the opposition's latest claims of fraud and calls for public protests an [...]	2004-08-20 20:42:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS2692	CORRECTED COPY: REFERENDUM UPDATE: AUGUST 19-20 [...] (C) On August 17 political police service DISIP and local police authorities arrested the three men suspected of shooting on demonstrators in Altamira on August 16. On August 18 and 19, the government heavily criticized the opposition's latest claims of fraud and calls for public protests an [...]	2004-08-23 13:59:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS2695	LABOR LEADERS WRESTLE TO MOVE PAST REFERENDUM [...] (C) Organized labor is willing to test the GOV's call for dialogue in post-referendum Venezuela, but doubts President Hugo Chavez's sincerity. Venezuelan Workers Confederation (CTV) Secretary General Manuel Cova believes his organization needs to re-focus on issues affecting the daily lives of [...]	2004-08-23 20:13:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ELAB KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS2702	VENEZUELAN MAYOR CARPRILES (STILL) HELD FOR TRIAL [...] (U) A Caracas judge ruled August 18 that Baruta Mayor Henrique Capriles should stand trial for the events at the Cuban Embassy on April 12, 2002. The judge also ruled that Capriles should remain in jail. PolOff attempted to attend the Capriles trial August 17, but was denied entry as was the [...]	2004-08-24 20:19:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV KJUS VE
04CARACAS2705	ELECTORAL COUNCIL'S SECOND AUDIT BACKS AUGUST 15 [...] (C) Carter Center and OAS representatives found no merit in the arguments made by the opposition that the GoV committed fraud in the August 15 presidential recall referendum. OAS/TCC reps are convinced the audit of 150 voting tables completed on August 21 was sufficient to conclude that the a [...]	2004-08-25 14:41:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS2725	MVR DEPUTIES ESPOUSE RECONCILIATION [...] (C) Fifth Republic Movement (MVR) Deputies William Lara (Miranda) and Jose Khan (Caracas),told poloffs August 23 that they hoped to devise a plan for reconciliation in the National Assembly. Lara and Khan had avoided EMbassy contact for almost a year. They also expressed objections to post [...]	2004-08-27 12:06:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS2726	CHAVEZ INCREASING HIS INFLUENCE [...] (U) President Hugo Chavez announced his intentions to deepen the "revolution" and disqualified the Coordinadora Democratica as a legitimate political opposition during his 5-hour television show "Alo, Presidente" on August 22. During the program, Chavez also designated Andres Izarra, the Press [...]	2004-08-27 12:22:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS2728	VENEZUELA MACROECONOMIC UPDATE [...] (U) Venezuela's most recently published economic indicators illustrate an economic rebound based on increasing government expenditures. Levels of new foreign direct investment remain low. A strong international reserves position and high average oil prices have contributed to reduce the cou [...]	2004-08-27 13:38:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	ECON EFIN PGOV VE
04CARACAS2730	OPPOSITION REFERENDUM FRAUD THEORIES [...] (C) The Venezuelan opposition has developed theories -- though no solid evidence -- of alleged fraud and irregularities in the August 15 presidential recall referendum. Among the theories, mathematicians have proposed that the election results were manipulated using a pre-determined percentag [...]	2004-08-27 16:39:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS2734	ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE REQUIRES DIP NOTE FOR [...] (C) Alis Boscan, Director of the Office for the Protection of Fundamental Rights at the Attorney General's office, told PolOff August 26 that the Embassy would have to make a formal request to the Attorney General to get information for the Human Rights Report. Boscan promised to begin compil [...]	2004-08-27 18:03:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PREL VE
04CARACAS2739	VENEZUELA: EXTRA HEAVY CRUDE-BEST CHANCE FOR [...] (C) The prospects for additional Venezuelan oil production in the short term come from the four projects that produce synthetic crude from Venezuela's abundant resources of extra heavy crude. We calculate that Venezuela's syncrude production could increase to as much as 634,000 b/d by the en [...]	2004-08-30 14:42:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	EPET VE
04CARACAS2740	EXXONMOBIL: STAYING THE COURSE IN VENEZUELA [...] (C) With the August 12 signing of the Preliminary Development Agreement (PDA) for a giant petrochemical project, ExxonMobil finally looks to have overcome the disappointment of being shut out of the Mariscal Sucre natural gas project in 2002. Econoff met July 22 with ExxonMobil de Venezuela P [...]	2004-08-30 14:43:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	EPET ENRG VE
04CARACAS2754	CHAVEZ REVIVES NEW MEDIA LAW - VENEZUELAN PRESS [...] (C) President Hugo Chavez, exulting in the officially announced overwhelming victory for the NO vote in the presidential recall referendum revived the idea of the media law on August 22 during his regular &Alo Presidente8 television program. The law was proposed in January 2003. Despite [...]	2004-08-30 17:58:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	KDEM KPAO PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS2758	REGIONAL AND MAYORAL ELECTIONS [...] (U) Venezuela's gubernatorial and mayoral elections are scheduled for September 26, but National Electoral Council (CNE) director Jorge Rodriguez told reporters on August 23 that the CNE is discussing changing the date of the regional elections for logistical reasons. President Hugo Chavez's [...]	2004-08-30 21:01:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS2759	OPPOSITION DIGS IN FOR THE LONG FIGHT [...] (C) The Coordinadora Democratica plans to contest the National Electoral Council's (CNE) certified results announced August 26 that President Hugo Chavez won the August 15 recall referendum. The Coordinadora is working toward documenting its case. A Coordinadora commission headed by constitu [...]	2004-08-30 21:05:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS2807	ROCKY START TO BUSINESS-GOVERNMENT DIALOGUE [...] (C) The GOV rejected talks with umbrella private sector organization FEDECAMARAS after the latter issued a "Business Manifesto" which cast doubts on the results of the recent referendum on President Chavez's tenure in office and sharply criticized other GOV policies. Interior Minister Chacon [...]	2004-09-08 12:04:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON PGOV VE
04CARACAS2808	VENEZUELAN MAYOR RELEASED FROM PRISON [...] (C) Judge Dayva Soto Vallenilla released Baruta Mayor Henrique Capriles from pre-trial detention September 6, following a defense motion on September 2. Capriles must appear before the court every 15 days, remain in Venezuela, and is not allowed to make public comments on the case against him [...]	2004-09-08 13:08:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM KJUS PGOV VE
04CARACAS2811	GOV DENIES LABOR CLAIMS OF EX-OIL WORKERS [...] (C) Venezuela's Minister of Labor rejected on August 31 a petition to reinstate 14,000 ex-workers of Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) fired in the wake of the December 2002 - January 2003 national strike. Minister of Labor Maria Cristina Iglesias ruled the dismissals do not meet the legal defin [...]	2004-09-08 13:27:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ELAB PGOV PHUM ENRG VE
04CARACAS2812	CHAVEZ CALLS FOR LAND REFORM ON "ALO PRESIDENTE" [...] Agriculture was the main topic of President Chavez's 202nd "Alo, Presidente" which aired August 29. Indeed his choice of a rural town, El Socorro, in the state of Guarico helped to set the stage. During this event, as in recent speeches before the National Assembly and other venues, he calle [...]	2004-09-08 13:34:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	KPAO PGOV OPRC KIRC VE
04CARACAS2814	GOV TAKES FULL CREDIT FOR GDP GROWTH, BUT STILL [...] (SBU) First half GDP statistics show a 23.1% increase over last year, which also represents the first improvement over 2002 figures. Second quarter growth was 13.6%, led by non-petroleum growth of 15.0%. Considering these factors, the GOV has revised its 2004 growth estimate from 6 to 12%. M [...]	2004-09-08 16:28:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON EFIN PGOV VE
04CARACAS2817	VENEZUELA'S COORDINADORA DEMOCRATICA AT A [...] (C) Venezuela's Coordinadora Democratica is hobbling after its defeat in the presidential recall referendum August 15. Some Chavez opponents blame the Coordinadora's leadership for either losing the referendum via an inept campaign or for not preventing the alleged fraud. The dozens of opposit [...]	2004-09-08 20:41:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS2840	VENEZUELA: OPPOSITION FIGHTS BACK ON FRAUD [...] (C) Opponents of President Hugo Chavez put forward their preliminary findings of the investigation of alleged fraud during the August 15 presidential recall referendum September 8. Lawyer Tulio Alvarez, presenting a 70-page preliminary report, noted irregularities in all stages of the referen [...]	2004-09-09 20:06:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS2885	VENEZUELAN REGIONAL ELECTIONS: WHAT SHOULD BE AND [...] (C) Venezuela's gubernatorial, mayoral, and regional deputy elections, scheduled for October 31, are cloaked in uncertainty with little more than six weeks before the date. Procedurally, there are questions regarding who the members of the regional and municipal electoral boards will be, if th [...]	2004-09-16 11:24:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS2902	VENEZUELA ASKS FOR U.S. SUPPORT TO WIN ECOSOC SEAT [...] No summary [...]	2004-09-17 13:04:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	PHUM PINR PREL VZ
04CARACAS2903	OAS REFERENDUM WRAP-UP GETS SPUN BY BOTH SIDES [...] (C) The report issued by OAS Secretary General (SYG) Cesar Gaviria on September 13 gave ammunition to both the GOV and the opposition regarding the question of fraud in the August 15 presidential recall referendum. The GOV played up Gaviria's admonitions to the opposition to begin to accept t [...]	2004-09-17 13:17:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM PHUM VE OAS
04CARACAS2907	THE FOREIGN EXCHANGE MARKET - THERE OUGHTTA BE A LAW [...] No summary [...]	2004-09-17 16:17:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON EFIN PGOV VE
04CARACAS291	DAS DESHAZO'S MEETING WITH CNE PRESIDENT [...] (C) WHA DAS Peter DeShazo and the Ambassador discussed the verification process for the recall referendum with National Electoral Council (CNE) President Francisco Carrasquero and CNE Secretary General William Pacheco January 22. Carrasquero assured DeShazo that the process is on track to be c [...]	2004-01-27 18:49:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL VE
04CARACAS292	DAS DESHAZO'S MEETING CHIEF JUSTICE RINCON [...] (C) DURING A JANUARY 22, 2004 MEETING WITH SUPREME COURT (TSJ) CHIEF JUSTICE IVAN RINCON, WHA DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY PETER DESHAZO NOTED THAT THE USG REMAINS VITALLY SIPDIS INTERESTED IN A DEMOCRATIC AND ELECTORAL PROCESS, SUPPORTS THE EFFORTS OF THE CARTER CENTER AND THE ORGANIZATION O [...]	2004-01-27 19:33:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV VE OAS
04CARACAS293	WHA/DAS PETER DESHAZO,S 1/22/04 MEETING WITH [...] (C) During a January 22, 2004 meeting with Supreme Court (TSJ) Chief Justice Ivan Rincon, WHA Deputy Assistant Secretary Peter DeShazo noted that the USG remains vitally SIPDIS interested in a democratic and electoral process, supports the efforts of the Carter Center and the Organizatio [...]	2004-01-27 19:34:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV VE
04CARACAS294	DAS DESHAZO MEETING WITH FOREIGN MINISTER CHADERTON [...] (C) On January 22, WHA DAS Peter DeShazo and Ambassador met with Foreign Minister Roy Chaderton. In addition to the Venezuelan recall referendum process, they discussed: DeShazo's speech to the Venezuelan American Chamber of Commerce, recent comments by USG officials regarding Venezuela, GOV- [...]	2004-01-27 19:50:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS295	DAS DESHAZO'S MEETING WITH G-5 OPPOSTION LEADERS [...] (C) On January 22, WHA DAS Peter DeShazo gave opposition leaders (4 of 5 of the members of the so-called G-5) a positive assessment of his meetings earlier in the day with officials from the OAS, Carter Center, and UNDP, and of their ability to monitor the signature verification process in the [...]	2004-01-27 20:25:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV VE OAS
04CARACAS3013	COORDINADORA LOSES SOME LESSER LIGHTS [...] (C) Five groups nominally associated with the Venezuelan opposition -- including political parties Alianza Bravo Pueblo and Causa R -- announced their separation from the Coordinadora Democratica on September 21. The groups criticized the Coordinadora's handling of the referendum campaign an [...]	2004-09-24 12:54:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS3015	TAX COLLECTION PLAN: A SERIOUS EFFORT OR [...] (SBU) The head of the Venezuelan tax authority (SENIAT) announced on September 7 that the GOV's goal for 2005 tax collections (including taxes on oil revenues) would be 56% higher than the 2004 goal. This comes at a time when tax collection methods, particularly a program called "Plan Zero Ev [...]	2004-09-24 15:15:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON EFIN PGOV VE
04CARACAS3025	MFA RESPONDS TO TIP DEMARCHE [...] (C) Responding to reftel demarche regarding trafficking in persons, September 21, Venezuelan MFA officials insisted that the TIP report had not accurately assessed Venezuela's anti-trafficking initiatives under its treaty obligations with the United Nations. PolOff reiterated USG reasoning be [...]	2004-09-24 18:50:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PHUM KWMN VE
04CARACAS3031	AIRCRAFT CONTRACT RUMORS RESURFACE (U) [...] (C) A 10 September newswire reporting Venezuela's alleged interest in procuring Russian jet fighters has renewed media speculation that the two countries may be close to an arms deal. Chavez has already purchased Russian helicopters, according to DAO and press reports. Although he is seeki [...]	2004-09-27 11:40:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV VE
04CARACAS3032	GOV MAKES BORDER AMBUSH LATEST CRISIS [...] (C) Five Venezuelan soldiers and an oil worker died on September 17 near the Colombian border in an apparent ambush by unidentified irregular forces. Speculation about the identity of the attackers includes the range of armed groups operating in the area. President Hugo Chavez deployed add [...]	2004-09-27 11:42:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV MOPS PTER VE
04CARACAS3050	VENEZUELAN NATIONAL ASSEMBLY EYES AGENDA [...] (C) Venezuela's National Assembly (AN) reportedly plans to tackle four controversial bills in its new session that started September 17. The Assembly's pro-Chavez majority will push to pass controversial laws on the media, a national police force, reform of the penal code, and the organization [...]	2004-09-28 20:15:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS3070	VENEZUELA: CNE DISCARDS FRAUD CHALLENGES [...] (U) Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) found the Coordinadora Democratica's challenge of the results of the August 15 recall referendum against President Hugo Chavez inadmissible on September 23 and said the matter should be taken to the Supreme Court instead. CNE Director Jorge Rod [...]	2004-09-30 12:22:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS3077	PRIMERO JUSTICIA JUMPS FROM THE SINKING OPPOSITION [...] (C) Venezuelan opposition party Primero Justicia withdrew from the Coordinadora Democratica September 24. Lines of cooperation among groups opposed to President Hugo Chavez have been reduced to documenting fraud claims related to the referendum, negotiating with the National Electoral Council [...]	2004-10-01 11:55:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS310	SIGNATURE CHECK TURNS INTO SAUSAGE FACTORY [...] (C) The verification process of the signatures in support of recall votes against President Hugo Chavez and various National Assembly deputies proceeds at a snail's pace at the National Electoral Council (CNE). The CNE board initially proposed restricting the access of international observers [...]	2004-01-28 18:38:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM PREL VE
04CARACAS3110	PRESSURE ON CENTRAL BANK INCREASES ON THREE FRONTS [...] (C) The GOV has renewed pressure on the Venezuelan Central Bank (BCV),by again demanding a large sum of money. It asserts the BCV owes more than USD 2 billion from improperly accounting for foreign exchange profits. While the BCV has resisted this demand, it may be caving in another area. I [...]	2004-10-05 11:17:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON EFIN PGOV VE
04CARACAS3116	AMBASSADOR'S PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS TO FM [...] (U) Ambassador, accompanied by DCM, presented copies of his credentials to Foreign Minister Perez late afternoon Oct. Â [...]	2004-10-05 12:08:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV VE
04CARACAS312	CARTER VISITS VENEZUELA TO OBSERVE REFERENDUM [...] (C) From January 25-27, former President Jimmy Carter visited Venezuela to observe the referendum process and meet with the National Election Commission (CNE),Organization of American States, the National Assembly (AN),the Supreme Court, the Group of Friend's ambassadors, business leaders, p [...]	2004-01-28 20:58:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS3124	GOV EFFORTS TO COMBAT TIPS [...] (C) Venezuela's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) chairs a 22-person interdepartmental working group that meets approximately once a month to coordinate efforts to combat trafficking in persons. Representatives from the MFA and the Ministry of Interior and Justice (MIJ) told Poloff on Septemb [...]	2004-10-05 18:44:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PHUM KWMN VE
04CARACAS3125	TOBACCO FIRMS COMPLAIN OF CIGARETTE SMUGGLING FROM [...] (SBU) SUMMARY On October 1, Economic and Commercial Counselors met with representatives of Philip Morris and British-American Tobacco, the two largest cigarette companies in Venezuela, who raised the impact of contraband cigarettes in the domestic Venezuelan market. The particular focus was on [...]	2004-10-05 19:57:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	ECON ETRD KIPR PGOV VE
04CARACAS3156	ARDENT PRO-CHAVEZ DAILY GIVES GUARDED WELCOME AND [...] The regular "Stumbling Block" column published under the pseudonym "Marciano" in the very pro-Chavez daily DIARIO VEA, offered both a guarded welcome and a warning to Ambassador Brownfield. "Martian" noted that Ambassador Brownfield seemed to be bringing a new approach based on mutual respect [...]	2004-10-13 14:37:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	KPAO PGOV OPRC PREL VE
04CARACAS3164	LABOR STRUGGLES AMID THE BOLIVARIAN REVOLUTION [...] (C) The assimilation of organized labor into the Bolivarian Revolution continues to elude supporters of President Hugo Chavez. Two rival labor confederations -- the anti-Chavez Venezuela Workers Confederation (CTV) and the pro-Chavez National Workers Union (UNT) -- plan to hold elections in e [...]	2004-10-13 19:39:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV ELAB PHUM VE KEDEM
04CARACAS3173	RUMORS STILL SPINNING ON APURE AMBUSH [...] (C) Summary: The media has continued to report on the killing of a PDVSA engineer and five soldiers in Apure State. The opposition and the Colombian Government continue to fault the government for complicity in border violence. The GOV and its supporters have blamed the United States and [...]	2004-10-14 16:01:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV MOPS VE
04CARACAS3203	AMBASSADOR'S PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS [...] (C) I presented my credentials to President Hugo Chavez October 15. We were a package of four ambassadors (Barbados, US, Norway, South Korea) handled in assembly line fashion. The President devoted roughly 15 minutes per country separately. Each ambassador took DCM plus four. In my case, t [...]	2004-10-18 20:14:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL VE
04CARACAS3213	COLUMNIST IN PRO-CHAVEZ DAILY CALLS RESIGNATION OF [...] The regular "Stumbling Block" column published under the pseudonym "Marciano" in the very pro-Chavez daily DIARIO VEA, bitterly attacked the resignation of Costa Rican Secretary General Miguel Angel Rodriguez. It described this SIPDIS as a U.S. coup to maintain control of the OAS. The Sal [...]	2004-10-18 21:15:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	KPAO PGOV OPRC PREL VE
04CARACAS3215	FRANCISCO ARIAS CARDENAS' OUTLOOK ON CHAVEZ AND [...] (C) Former Zulia State Governor, Francisco Arias Cardenas, told the Ambassador on October 14 that President Hugo Chavez's antagonism had served Chavez well in the past, but he was now looking to improve relations with the U.S. Arias asserted that the President would not let the differences es [...]	2004-10-19 19:49:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL KDEM VE
04CARACAS3216	VENEZUELA: REVOLUTIONARY CONTRADICTIONS IN LABOR [...] (C) Supporters of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez are stuck on how to roll back market-oriented reforms of worker benefits from the 1990s. The 1999 Constitution reversed changes to the severance, health care, pensions, and housing regimes, replacing them with impractical and, so far, impossi [...]	2004-10-19 21:31:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ELAB PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS3219	VENEZUELAN PROSECUTOR INVESTIGATES 400 FOR [...] (U) Venezuelan prosecutor Danilo Anderson took testimony from three media executives at the beginning of October as part of his investigation into the events of April 12-13, 2002. Anderson announced on September 17 that he was reopening the investigation of persons who had supported the inte [...]	2004-10-19 21:53:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV KJUS VE
04CARACAS3220	COPEI PRESIDENT FAVORS US/GOV RAPPROCHEMENT [...] (C) Summary: Christian Democratic Party (COPEI) president Eduardo Fernandez offered the Ambassador on October 14 his views on US policy in Venezuela and on best strategies to implement it. Fernandez supported current efforts to improve the bilateral relationship and urged respect for Venez [...]	2004-10-20 11:27:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PINR VE
04CARACAS3230	VENEZUELAN-RUSSIAN COOPERATION [...] (C) Venezuelan Vice-President Jose Vicente Rangel led a delegation to Moscow from October 2-6 for the first meeting of the High-Level Russo-Venezuelan Intergovernmental Commission (CIAN). Rangel discussed joint efforts to combat international terrorism and military-technological cooperation w [...]	2004-10-20 20:16:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL ETRD VE
04CARACAS3251	BLAZE DESTROYS GOVERNMENT OFFICES IN TALLEST SOUTH [...] (U) A fire ripped through 20 floors of the East Tower of Caracas' Parque Central complex the night of October 16. No one was killed, but the top third of the building was completely burned and the tower is unusable. Finger pointing to place the blame for the fire began immediately between the [...]	2004-10-21 18:26:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	ECON EAIR EAGR PGOV VE
04CARACAS3270	CONVICTIONS IN USON AND TACHIRA CASES [...] (U) On October 13 a court in Tachira State convicted eight persons on charges of rebellion in relation to the events of April 2002. The court found on of the original nine defendants not guilty, and five of them are free one probation. On October 11 a military court convicted retired Army Gen [...]	2004-10-22 20:33:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV KJUS VE
04CARACAS3271	VENEZUELAN AMBASSADOR DISCUSSES BILATERAL AGENDA [...] (C) Venezuela's Ambassador to the U.S. Bernardo Alvarez_ told us October 18 he is amenable to meeting with National Endowment for Democracy (NED) President Carl Gershman to discuss GoV perspectives regarding NED support to NGOs such as Sumate. In a breakfast meeting with Ambassador and PolC [...]	2004-10-22 20:33:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS3273	LEAD EDITORIAL IN PRO-CHAVEZ DAILY ATTACKS `FRAUD' [...] The lead editorial in the 10/22 edition of very pro- Chavez daily DIARIO VEA, signed by editor Guillermo Garcia Ponce, accused the followers of President Bush of having committed massive voter fraud in Florida in 2000. It says that the close 2004 race is raising fears that the Bush campaign w [...]	2004-10-22 21:13:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	KPAO PGOV OPRC PROP VE
04CARACAS329	DAS DESHAZO'S MEETING WITH CHIEF JUSTICE RINCON [...] (C) During a January 22, 2004 meeting with Supreme Court (TSJ) Chief Justice Ivan Rincon, WHA Deputy Assistant Secretary Peter DeShazo noted that the USG remains vitally SIPDIS interested in a democratic and electoral process, supports the efforts of the Carter Center and the Organization o [...]	2004-01-29 20:45:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV VE OAS
04CARACAS3291	OPPOSITION FRAUD UPDATE HITS DATA TRANSMISSION, [...] (C) The Coordinadora Democratica issued on October 12 its second report on alleged electoral fraud in the August 15 recall referendum on President Hugo Chavez. Using statistical analyses, the report alleges that some 2.5 million votes were manipulated during the referendum to reverse what sho [...]	2004-10-25 20:38:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS3292	VENEZUELA'S REGIONAL ELECTIONS: COMING TO AN END [...] (C) National Electoral Council (CNE) President Francisco Carrasquero declared October 19 that only 2.1% of Venezuelan voters registered did not have addresses. Opposition leaders, who had alleged that more than a million persons did not meet the legal requirement of having an address, challen [...]	2004-10-25 20:59:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS3340	CHALK ONE FOR CHAVEZ IN ANZOATEGUI [...] (C) Candidates are battling against voter apathy for gubernatorial, mayoral, and state legislative positions in the oil-rich Anzoategui State, currently controlled by the opposition. The administration's candidate, National Assembly deputy Tarek William Saab, is close to President Hugo Chav [...]	2004-10-28 19:39:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS3341	EFFICIENCY TRUMPS POLITICS IN VENEZUELA'S BOLIVAR [...] (C) Both sides in the race for governor of Bolivar State are confident their candidate will be elected in the regional elections on October 31. Efficiency, rather than politics, is the main theme in the campaign, and both campaigns hope to draw supporters away from their opponent. The GoV wa [...]	2004-10-28 19:42:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS3342	VENEZUELA REGIONAL ELECTIONS: VIEWS FROM CARABOBO [...] (C) Political party representatives in Carabobo State each told Poloff October 21 that polls showed its candidate in the lead in the gubernatorial race, and in a majority of mayoral races. Chavez's Fifth Republic Movement (MVR) representative asserted that Chavista candidates would sweep all t [...]	2004-10-28 19:47:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS3361	VENEZUELA'S REGIONAL VOTE: PROCESS BODES [...] (C) The voting process for Venezuela's October 31 regional elections is complicated. In a process akin to the recall referendum, voters will elect governors, mayors, and state legislators. Screens will have dozens of options, which are organized by political parties rather than by races. [...]	2004-10-29 19:14:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS3365	CONTENT LAW FRIGHTENS MEDIA AND FREE SPEECH [...] (U) Pushing to advance the "revolution" following the favorable outcome of the recall referendum, the GoV has made good on its promise to seek enactment of the "Law of Social Responsibility in Radio and Television." The private media insist it's a significant step toward the muzzling of free e [...]	2004-10-29 21:30:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM KDEM PGOV VE
04CARACAS3368	CODEL BALLENGER RAISES SUMATE CASE [...] (C) Congressman Cass Ballenger and three House staffers visited Caracas October 28-29 with the principal objective of raising the case of the four representatives of the NGO Sumate, who have been charged with treason for supporting the recall referendum against President Hugo Chavez. To this [...]	2004-10-29 22:01:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS3369	SUPREME COURT PRESIDENT URGES WORLD BANK LOANS [...] (C) Ivan Rincon Urdaneta, President of Venezuela's Supreme Court (TSJ),touted past judicial cooperation with the U.S. and World Bank in a meeting with the Ambassador October 25. Rincon suggested it would be in Venezuelan and U.S. interest for the World Bank to approve the $45 million loan for [...]	2004-10-29 22:44:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM KJUS VE
04CARACAS337	PRIVATE SECTOR OIL PRODUCTION [...] Sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ------ SUMMARY ------- 2. (SBU) A document prepared following a December luncheon in which private sector company representatives shared average monthly production numbers for both oil and gas production from their fields has g [...]	2004-01-29 22:31:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY	EPET ECON VE
04CARACAS3373	AMBASSADOR'S TRAVEL TO MARACAIBO [...] (C) The Ambassador visited Maracaibo, Zulia State, October 26-27, to meet with U.S. organizations, local leaders, and the press. He called on Governor Manuel Rosales, Maracaibo Mayor Giancarlo DiMartino, and San Francisco Mayor Saady Bijani. The Ambassador attended a lunch with business lead [...]	2004-11-01 12:55:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL ECON PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS3374	HENRIQUE SALAS ROEMER SHRUGS OFF STRATEGY [...] (C) Proyecto Venezuela leader Henrique Salas Roemer said that the government would win by fraud in the regional elections during a short courtesy call on the Ambassador at the Residence October 22. Salas Roemer criticized the Carter Center for legitimizing what he described as a fraudulent [...]	2004-11-01 12:58:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV VE
04CARACAS338	CHAVEZ CARRIES BOLIVIA'S WATER IN CHILE SEA SCUFFLE [...] (C) Three months ago President Hugo Chavez began a rhetorical offensive in support of Bolivia's claim to its historic Pacific coastline, seized by Chile in 1879. Chavez's campaign has made international headlines, and resulted in Venezuela and Chile recalling their ambassadors for consultation [...]	2004-01-30 12:43:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM PREL VE
04CARACAS3382	CHAVISTAS WIN BIG IN REGIONAL ELECTIONS [...] (U) Pro-Chavez candidates won 20 of 22 governorships and the mayoralty of metropolitan Caracas in the October 31 regional elections. Governors Enrique Mendoza (Miranda State) and Henrique Salas Feo (Carabobo) trailed their Chavista opponents and challenged the accuracy of the preliminary resu [...]	2004-11-01 16:25:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS3395	VENEZUELAN SUPREME COURT INTERVENES IN SUMATE CASE [...] (C) The Penal Chamber of the Venezuelan Supreme Court November 2 suspended the case against four members of the NGO SUMATE facing charges of conspiracy to overthrow the government. The Penal Chamber agreed to investigate whether the crime the prosecutor alleges that the Sumate representative [...]	2004-11-02 20:06:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM KJUS VE
04CARACAS3426	BOSTON GROUP PLANS DECEMBER MEETING [...] (U) During a meeting at the Ambassador's residence on October 28, Rep. Cass Ballenger (R-NC) accepted an invitation from Venezuelan National Assembly deputies to return to Venezuela for a plenary Boston Group meeting in early December. The legislators also discussed a potential National Ass [...]	2004-11-05 17:42:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS3431	VENEZUELA JUDICIAL UPDATE: CASES DISMISSED, NEW [...] (C) A Caracas Appeals Court overturned the conviction of National Guard Gen. Carlos Alfonzo Martinez on November 1 on grounds that the actions alleged by the prosecutor did not constitute a crime under Venezuela's Penal Code. The same court, citing similar grounds, dismissed the charges agai [...]	2004-11-05 20:08:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM KJUS VE
04CARACAS3432	RED MAP IN VENEZUELA: WHAT CHAVEZ WON IN THE [...] (C) Pro-Chavez mayors won 270 of 337 municipalities in the October 31 regional elections, up from the previously held 115. The National Electoral Council settled the one remaining dispute in the governors' races November 4, giving the victory to the pro-Chavez challenger in Carabobo State. I [...]	2004-11-05 20:24:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS3434	A VIEW OF VENEZUELAN ARMS PURCHASES FROM RUSSIA [...] (C) According to Jose Rafael Gomez, a former Presidential staffer who participated in Vice President Rangel's recent trip to Moscow, the Venezuelan-Russian deal for MI-17 helicopters is not yet final because of financial issues, and might go forward initially at least with a limited number. [...]	2004-11-05 21:36:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PARM PREL ETRD VE RU
04CARACAS3501	AMBASSADOR'S TOUR D'HORIZON WITH FINANCE MINISTER [...] (C) At a November 10 luncheon with the Ambassador, Finance Minister Nobrega touched on a range of issues including: Eximbank lending (he'd like it to return, but downplays the impact of its absence); the GOV's surprise increase in petroleum royalties (he admits it was badly handled); Minist [...]	2004-11-15 17:13:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON EFIN PGOV PREL VE
04CARACAS3506	CHAVISTAS AT THE HELM IN A SEA OF RED [...] (C) October and August electoral successes have renewed President Hugo Chavez's mandate, placed his loyalists in most of the governorships and key mayoralties, and positioned the Chavista movement to capture an overwhelming majority in next year's National Assembly elections. Chavez supporters [...]	2004-11-16 14:49:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS3536	LEVIATHAN'S RETURN: CHAVEZ'S NEW ECONOMIC [...] (C) With his pockets full of petro-dollars, Chavez has created new Ministries of Food, Housing, Popular Economy, and Development Finance. He is also moving forward with the creation of a new state airline and a telecommunications enterprise. The establishment of the Ministries of Food and [...]	2004-11-16 20:07:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON PGOV VE
04CARACAS3542	SHATTERED OPPOSITION SHORT ON STRATEGY [...] (C) Venezuela's Coordinadora Democratica, the amalgamation of opponents to President Hugo Chavez that had begun to disintegrate before the regional elections on October 31, has been deemed dead by opposition parties and Chavez supporters alike. Many opposition members, who tend to blame th [...]	2004-11-17 13:49:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS3575	CAUTION: THE ROAD IS WET - TREASURY REP GETS VIEWS [...] (C) U.S. Treasury representative for South America Mathew Haarsager visited Caracas from November 2-5, and in a series of meetings with the Venezuelan private and public sectors was treated to a variety of perspectives. GOV officials asserted that, with the strike, presidential referendum, and [...]	2004-11-19 18:10:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON EFIN PGOV VE
04CARACAS3577	KILLING OF POLITICAL PROSECUTOR [...] (C) Venezuelan prosecutor Danilo Anderson was killed the night of November 18, according to press reports and the GoV, as he traveled home in his personal vehicle. More than a dozen GoV officials and government supporters, among them Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel, went to the site of th [...]	2004-11-19 18:39:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS3583	NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PRESSES FORWARD ON MEDIA LAW [...] (C) Veneuela's National Assembly approved 17 more articles in sessions on November 9, 11, 15, and 18. A top priority of President Hugo Chavez, the GoV seeks to complete the legislation by December 15. Beginning November 8, opposition parties withdrew from negotiations begun on September 23 with [...]	2004-11-19 20:21:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM KDEM PGOV VE
04CARACAS3584	"HEGEMONY IS A CHALLENGE:" CHAVISTA LEADER VIEWS [...] (C) Summary: Chavez supporter and Patria Para Todos (PPT) secgen Jose Albornoz talked with DCM November 18 about impending cabinet changes, policy challenges for Chavez and the MVR party, and potential to improve bilateral relations. PPT accepts that party stalwart Ali Rodriguez will leave [...]	2004-11-19 20:45:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL EPET PGOV PHUM ENRG VE
04CARACAS3588	VENEZUELAN POSITION ON 3RD COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS [...] No summary [...]	2004-11-22 11:40:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	PHUM PREL VE
04CARACAS3617	TRANSPARENCY OF BUDGETS/MILITARY SPENDING [...] This message responds to action request (REFTEL). 2. Q: How (or are) military expenditures audited? A: Each branch of the Venezuelan Armed Forces (army, navy, air force, and national guard) has its own budget and planning office. The services submit proposed expenses and acquisit [...]	2004-11-23 18:26:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	EFIN EAID MARR VE
04CARACAS3618	SUMATE CASE TO GO FORWARD, BUT SLOWLY [...] (C) A ruling by the Penal Chamber of Venezuela's Supreme Court November 16 is likely to result in a long delay in the case against the NGO Sumate. The Chamber's ruling requires the lower court to admit several pieces of evidence into the case prior to a preliminary hearing, including testimo [...]	2004-11-23 18:34:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM KJUS VE
04CARACAS3622	CHAVEZ LOOKING INSIDE AND OUT [...] (C) Fresh from electoral victories in August and October, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is deepening his Bolivarian Revolution with a new ten-point strategy. Chavez now plans to create a "new political infrastructure" that integrates social action groups and forces political parties to elec [...]	2004-11-23 19:21:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS3624	AMBASSADOR'S VISIT TO MARACAY [...] (U) The Ambassador visited Maracay, Aragua State, November 16, 2004 and met with the president of the Aragua State judges, the mayor, business leaders and the press. He also stopped by an agricultural laboratory that receives U.S. funding (despite the Ministry of Science and Technology declin [...]	2004-11-23 20:35:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL VE

04CARACAS363	CHAVEZ CONTINUES FIGHT WITH CENTRAL BANK AT A [...] (C) President Chavez has continued his campaign against the Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV),on January 18 characterizing the Bank's international reserve holdings as "excessive." In a speech January 28, BCV Director Domingo Maza Zavala held firm, saying the reserves were necessary to maintai [...]	2004-02-02 16:54:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON EFIN PGOV VE
04CARACAS3638	Ramirez_ TAKES OVER PDVSA WHILE KEEPING ENERGY [...] (C) Minister of Energy and Mines Rafael Ramirez_ has been sworn in as President of state oil corporation PDVSA, while maintaining his ministerial position. Energy experts who have opposed Chavez publicly assert that his appointment marks the definitive end to PDVSA as a commercial (vice poli [...]	2004-11-24 19:48:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ENRG PGOV VE
04CARACAS3639	"RE-DISCOVERING" THE OPPOSITION [...] (C) Movement to Socialism President Felipe Mujica believes a first step for the Venezuelan opposition is to wage a "campaign of rights," perhaps beginning with a referendum to overturn the soon-to-pass media content law. Additionally, the opposition must regain institutionality in the National [...]	2004-11-24 20:10:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS366	PDVSA POWER STRUGGLES: THE REVOLUTION DEVOURS ITS [...] (C) With street battles between opposing labor groups, mass protests to force the removal of managers, new allegations of corruption in internal product sales, and rumors of yet another new Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) board, January has demonstrated yet again the disarray in the Venezuelan [...]	2004-02-02 18:46:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	EPET ECON PGOV VE
04CARACAS3677	RESULTS OF JUDICIAL REFORM IN VENEZUELA: MOVING [...] (C) The administration of justice in Venezuela faces criticism on two principal grounds. The first is the claim, voiced by the political opposition, NGOs, judges, and the World Bank, that the justice system is not politically neutral, and that prosecutors and judges are acting according to [...]	2004-11-29 12:20:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KJUS VE
04CARACAS3679	RECENT HISTORY OF JUDICIAL REFORM IN VENEZUELA [...] (C) Venezuela's judicial system, according to a variety of experts, suffers a number of structural flaws, including politicization of the courts and the shock waves of the switch to an adversarial court system. Judges, academics, and journalists concur that judicial reform has had mixed res [...]	2004-11-29 12:43:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KJUS VE
04CARACAS3686	MICRO-LENDING BOOM - QUANTITY VS. QUALITY [...] (C) Micro-lending has long been a neglected area in Venezuela, though it is currently getting more attention than ever. Banks have been required since November 2002 to commit at least three percent of their credit portfolio to micro-lending, but the GOV is now taking more direct role through [...]	2004-11-29 21:03:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON EFIN PGOV VE
04CARACAS369	VENEZUELAN GOVERNORS: ELECTIONS, POLLS, AND HEALTH [...] (C) President Chavez, though buoyed by the spread of benefits and end of year spending, will likely suffer a hard drop in popularity when the National Electoral Council (CNE) announces a referendum, a group of Venezuelan Governors told the Ambassador January 14. The four Governors (including [...]	2004-02-02 20:12:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS3704	VENEZUELAN POLICE RAID HEBREW CULTURAL CENTER [...] (U) Venezuelan police investigating the killing of prosecutor Danilo Anderson searched the Hebrew Club in Caracas November 29 for three hours. The search, which began at 6:30 a.m. and disrupted the arrival of 1,500 students to the school on the premises, turned up no evidence or weapons. L [...]	2004-12-01 12:41:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM KJUS KIRF VE
04CARACAS3711	VENEZUELA'S NEW FOREIGN MINISTER: ALI RODRIGUEZ [...] (U) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez swore in Ali Rodriguez Araque as Foreign Minister on November 21, replacing outgoing Minister Jesus Perez. Rodriguez was most recently president of the state-run oil company PDVSA. Rodriguez, who served one year as the Secretary General of OPEC, was a cong [...]	2004-12-01 16:43:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PINR VE
04CARACAS3715	CHAVEZ-URIBE SUMMIT: ECONOMICS FOCUS WITH SECURITY [...] (C) Most Venezuelan press reports on the Chavez-Uribe summit in Colombia November 9 focused on security issues, especially Chavez's declaration that the GOV does not support the FARC. The joint declaration, on the other hand, avoided such topics, focusing almost completely on economic issues [...]	2004-12-01 19:03:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL ECON PINS ENRG ETRD VE
04CARACAS3728	GOV REQUESTS SUPPORT FOR CANDIDATE TO UN HUMAN [...] (U) In a Diplomatic Note dated November 11 and received in the Embassy December 2, Venezuela's Ministry of Foreign Affairs requests USG support for Venezuela's candidate to fill a seat on the UN Human Rights Committee. The note refers to the candidacy that Venezuela put forward in May 2004 [...]	2004-12-03 15:29:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	PREL VE USUN
04CARACAS3745	UPDATE ON ANDERSON INVESTIGATION [...] (U) Police investigating the assassination of Venezuelan prosecutor Danilo Anderson have killed two suspects, while a judge has ordered three former police officers (two brothers and their cousin),detained on charges of murder. Lawyers and family members allege that the three were tortured [...]	2004-12-06 15:18:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PTER KJUS VE
04CARACAS3747	GROWTH IS NOT ENOUGH - HAND OVER THE CASH! [...] (C) Amidst good news on the economic front, the GOV's thirst for cash remains unslaked. Third quarter GDP grew 15.8% versus the same period in 2003, and the official unemployment figure for October was 13.7%, the lowest since 2001. However, the GOV's row with the Venezuelan Central Bank con [...]	2004-12-06 18:53:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON EFIN PGOV VE
04CARACAS3748	AFTERSHOCKS OF VENEZUELAN PROSECUTOR'S KILLING [...] (U) At President Hugo Chavez's order, following the killing of prosecutor Danilo Anderson, Venezuela's National Defense Council November 23, began to define a GOV anti-terrorism strategy. Measures will include tighter border and communications security, and bodyguards for GOV officials. Th [...]	2004-12-06 18:56:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PTER PHUM PGOV KJUS VE
04CARACAS3779	VENEZUELA: RESPONSE ON TITLE III OF CUBA LIBERTAD [...] (C) In response to tasking in ref a, Post sees no evidence that the GOV has undertaken policies or actions to advance democracy, human rights, or fundamental freedoms in Cuba over the last six months. President Hugo Chavez is a close ally of Fidel Castro and often praises Cuba as a "bastion of [...]	2004-12-07 20:39:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL ETTC VE CU
04CARACAS3781	VENEZUELA: POLICE OFFICIALS IN CUSTODY AFTER [...] (U) Venezuelan authorities took former Metropolitan Police commissioners Henry Vivas and Lazaro Forero into police custody on December 3, after the government of El Salvador refused their request for political asylum. The former police leaders sought asylum at the Salvadoran Embassy in Caraca [...]	2004-12-08 14:40:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PHUM VE OAS
04CARACAS3788	VENEVUELAN VICE PRESIDENT RANGEL ON BILATERAL [...] (C) Summary: The Ambassador met December 8 with Vice President Rangel to get a read on bilateral access. Stressing he would meet with GOV officials at whatever level the GOV determined, the Amb noted the relatively restricted current access to the GOV made it more difficult to address issue [...]	2004-12-08 20:44:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL VE US
04CARACAS3805	VENEZUELA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL CHALLENGES APRIL 2002 [...] (U) Attorney General Isaias Rodriguez asked Venezuela's Supreme Court (TSJ) December 2 to overturn its decision which freed four alleged military leaders of the April 2002 events and rejected his request to try the officers for military rebellion. The case is important because it established [...]	2004-12-09 19:09:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KJUS VE
04CARACAS3806	NEW MINISTER OF FINANCE - SAME AS THE OLD MINISTER [...] (C) On December 5 President Chavez announced that Finance Minister Tobias Nobrega would be replaced by Nelson Merentes, a former Minister of Finance and current Minister of Development Finance and President of the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BANDES). While Chavez gave n [...]	2004-12-09 19:47:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON EFIN PGOV VE
04CARACAS3817	VISIT TO MASS MARKET AND BOLIVARIAN SCHOOL [...] (C) Caracas' El Coche food market is a blend of formal, informal, public and private economies. Accompanied by members of the NGO Asociacion Nina Madre (Child Mother Association, ANM),poloff visited the market December 7 to observe child labor conditions there. More than a dozen children ag [...]	2004-12-10 19:38:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ELAB PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS3826	CHAVEZ'S ANTI-IMPERIALIST MISSIONARY JOURNEY [...] (C) President Hugo Chavez visited Spain, Libya, Russia, Iran, and Qatar during November 23-30 as part of what GOV officials called an "international offensive" to promote the new phase of the Bolivarian Revolution. In Spain, Chavez capitalized on Foreign Minister Moratino's assertion that the [...]	2004-12-10 21:13:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PHUM ECON VE SP RS IR QA
04CARACAS3834	A PIOUS CHAVEZ CALLS FOR ANTI-U.S. UNITY ON [...] (C) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez told an Al-Jazeera interviewer December 3 that the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were "more horrendous terrorism" than the terrorist acts they were intended to combat. Speaking in a televised interview from Doha, Qatar, Chavez called for world solidari [...]	2004-12-14 11:21:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PTER VE ZP XD
04CARACAS3846	VENEZUELAN ASSEMBLY APPOINTS NEW SUPREME COURT [...] (U) Venezuela's National Assembly appointed 17 new Supreme Court justices and 32 alternates December 13. The appointments expanded the Court by 12 justices, and replaced 5 retired or removed justices. Opposition Deputies boycotted the vote. Among those appointed are two Deputies from Pres [...]	2004-12-15 13:44:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KJUS VE
04CARACAS3855	COPEI ON THE ROPES [...] (C) Venezuela's Christian Democratic party (Copei) agreed to restructure during party federal council and general assembly meetings December 8-9. Frustrated with Copei's refusal to cede leadership space at the national level and failure to share funds, the leadership of the Copei youth wing [...]	2004-12-15 20:19:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS3892	TACHIRA STATE: VISIT TO THE VENEZUELAN BORDER [...] (C) Representatives of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) working near Venezuela's border with Colombia described the refugee situation as a growing political problem, particularly in the face of increasing security concerns on the border, during Poloffs visit to Tachira [...]	2004-12-17 20:10:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREF PREL PHUM VE
04CARACAS3917	VENEZUELA MACROECONOMIC UPDATE [...] (U) Venezuela's economic recovery continues based on high government expenditures and strong consumption levels. Unemployment has continued its slow decline. Inflation, while slowing, remains somewhat high. The balance of payments has moved from strong surplus to a near even position. Fore [...]	2004-12-22 15:56:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	ECON EFIN PGOV VE
04CARACAS3918	VENEZUELA MACROECONOMIC UPDATE [...] (U) Venezuela's economic recovery continues based on high government expenditures and strong consumption levels. Unemployment has continued its slow decline. Inflation, while slowing, remains somewhat high. The balance of payments has moved from strong surp lus to a near even position. Fo [...]	2004-12-22 16:40:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	ECON EFIN PGOV VE
04CARACAS3926	CONTENT LAW NOW IN EFFECT, MEDIA STRUGGLE TO ADJUST [...] (U) Signed by President Hugo Chavez Frias on December 7, the "Law for Social Responsibility in Radio and Television" went into effect with its publication in the official gazette December 8. The final legislation reflects some last minute changes to a handful of articles, but remains much the s [...]	2004-12-23 11:05:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM KDEM KPAO PGOV VE
04CARACAS3927	THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE MESSY - VENEZUELAN [...] (C) Recent economic news in Venezuela is mixed. Third quarter GDP growth is an impressive 15.8%, and total 2004 growth estimates are being revised upward to as much as 18%, though the GOV predicts 15-16%. Venezuelan oil prices for December, on the other hand, are 28% below their October high [...]	2004-12-23 11:55:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON EFIN PGOV VE
04CARACAS3928	CHAVEZ GIVES MARCHING ORDERS FOR THE REVOLUTION [...] (C) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez laid out plans for his Bolivarian Revolution to a group of loyalist governors, mayors, and other officials November 12-13 in Caracas. According to an account of Chavez's presentation put together by veteran Marxist writer and Chavez adviser Martha Harnecker [...]	2004-12-23 12:30:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL ECON VE
04CARACAS3929	MEETING WITH TUPAMAROS WORKING IN CARACAS [...] (C) Alberto "Chino" Carias, a member of the urban guerrilla group Tupamaros (now a political party) and now a public security official for the Caracas metropolitan district, discussed with poloff December 21 the re-structuring the Metropolitan Police and the December 8 street vendor riot in do [...]	2004-12-23 14:42:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS3936	AMBASSADOR VISITS VALENCIA, CAPITAL OF CARABOBO [...] (C) Ambassador's visit to the central city of Valencia on December 9 - 10, 2004 included meetings with the Governor and Mayor, although for the third consecutive trip, the military declined to meet. Newspaper coverage was excellent, and there was an abundance of media reporters and questions a [...]	2004-12-27 14:17:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL ECON VE
04CARACAS3940	VENEZUELA 2005 NATIONAL TRADE ESTIMATE REPORT [...] (U) Summary: The Following is Embassy Caracas' submission for the 2005 National Trade Estimate Report. This document was also submitted as a MS Word document to G. Blue and B. Harmon at USTR by e-mail on December 23, 2004. End Summary ------------- TRADE SUMMARY ------------- 2. (U) The [...]	2004-12-27 18:47:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	ECON EFIN ETRD VE
04CARACAS3944	ARREST WARRANTS FOR STRIKE LEADERS, TRAVEL LIMITS [...] (C) Venezuelan judges issued arrest warrants on December 23 for eight former state oil company executives accused of civil rebellion and other crimes for their role in the December 2002 - February 2003 national strike. Included among those sought are Juan Fernandez, leader of the civil societ [...]	2004-12-27 21:01:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS3956	VENEZUELAN ELECTORAL COUNCIL EYES THE FUTURE [...] (C) National Electoral Council (CNE) Director Jorge Rodriguez is the odds-on favorite to replace outgoing CNE President Francisco Carrasquero, who will move to the recently-expanded Supreme Court (TSJ) in January. Carrasquero's departure will leave two vacancies on the CNE's five-person board [...]	2004-12-29 13:36:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS3977	VENEZUELA'S MAGNATE DISCUSSES CHAVEZ AND THE REGION [...] (C ) SUMMARY. Gustavo Cisneros, who has massive business interests in Venezuela and throughout the Western Hemisphere, believes we should prepare for a more confrontational, long-term approach to Hugo Chavez; we have a lot of work ahead of us to develop a coherent regional containment policy; [...]	2004-12-30 17:23:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL KDEM VE
04CARACAS3979	LAND "INTERVENTIONS" PRESAGE REDISTRIBUTION [...] (C) Venezuelan Governors in Cojedes and Monagas States have issued decrees ordering land "interventions" and charging committees of government and goverment-allied officials to review the ownership rights of over three dozen ranches and rural properties. The first decree, issued by Governor [...]	2004-12-30 18:31:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV ECON EAGR VE ENV
04CARACAS407	ONE STEP FORWARD, TWO STEPS BACK ON SIGNATURE COUNT [...] (C) Technical and organizational problems, suspected employee sabotage, and lethargic decision making continue to stymie progress of signature verifications collected to convoke recall referendums on President Hugo Chavez and 67 National Assembly deputies. National Electoral Council (CNE) Pre [...]	2004-02-05 12:45:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS425	HUMAN RIGHTS STRATEGY FOR VENEZUELA [...] Venezuela continued to be embroiled in a political crisis over the government of President Hugo Chavez, who was elected in July 2000 in generally free and fair elections. The democratic environment suffered from deteriorating rule of law and weakened institutions that were increasingly subord [...]	2004-02-09 14:56:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	PHUM PGOV PREL VE
04CARACAS430	READOUT ON CARTER VISIT: SHORING UP THE REFERENDUM [...] (C) Carter Center representative Francisco Diez believes the January 27-29 visit of former President Carter was pivotal in keeping the signature verification process at the National Electoral Commission (CNE) on track. In meetings with President Chavez, Carter emphasized the need for Chavez to [...]	2004-02-09 21:52:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS437	SIGNATURE COUNT FACES ROCKY WEEK [...] (C) The National Electoral Commission (CNE) faces a tough week, as the politically symbolic deadline of February 13 will come and go without a definitive decision on the recall referendum against President Chavez. Opposition groups plan a march on February 14 to "defend" their signatures and k [...]	2004-02-10 17:16:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS501	UPDATE ON THE USAID/OTI VENEZUELA PROGRAM [...] USAID'S OFFICE OF TRANSITION INITIATIVES (OTI) BEGAN ITS VENEZUELA PROGRAM IN NOVEMBER 2002 TO SUPPORT THE PRIMARY USG GOAL OF SUPPORTING DEMOCRACY AND DEMOCRATIC SOLUTIONS TO VENEZUELA'S POLITICAL CRISIS. USAID'S OVERALL GOAL IN VENEZUELA IS TO SUPPORT A POLITICAL PROCESS THAT IS DEMOCR [...]	2004-02-11 15:26:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	PREL EAID KDEM PHUM VE
04CARACAS503	VENEZUELA POLITICAL UPDATE: 2/11/2004 [...] CNE: -- (C) CARTER CENTER REPRESENTATIVE FRANCISCO DIEZ TOLD THE AMBASSADOR THAT THE NATIONAL ELECTORAL COUNCIL (CNE) NOW CLAIMS THAT THERE ARE ONLY 3,000 SIGNATURE FORMS (OR 30,000 SIGNATURES) THAT ARE BEING QUESTIONED, A SIGNIFICANT DOWN-GRADE FROM THE 65,000 FORMS (OR 650,000 SIGNATURES) [...]	2004-02-11 20:18:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PHUM VE
04CARACAS527	CNE DIRECTOR MEJIAS INVOLVED IN NATIONAL GUARD [...] (C) An alleged attack on a National Assembly (AN) Deputy Edgar (Democratic Action) Zambrano and National Electoral Council (CNE) Director Sobella Mejias (pro-opposition) by National Guard (GN) troops as the two dined on February 7 created a political firestorm. At issue is whether GN Gen. Mar [...]	2004-02-12 15:55:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS532	CARTER CENTER BRIEFING ALARMS WESTERN HEMISPHERE [...] (C) The Carter Center held a briefing on February 10 at the Ambassador's residence for Western Hemisphere ambassadors on the status of the signature verification process at the National Electoral Commission (CNE). Carter Center representatives described the numerous administrative problems (i [...]	2004-02-12 17:30:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS533	THE "TROPICAL UNITY" OF THE OPPOSITION [...] (C) The opposition remains convinced that the referendum is on track, according to a top aide for Enrique Mendoza. Organizers of the February 14 march to defend the signatures calling for a recall vote on President Hugo Chavez are planning on 100,000 (some hope for one million) to participate [...]	2004-02-12 17:51:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS535	VENEZUELA POLITICAL UPDATE: 2/12/2004 [...] CNE: -- (C) OAS observers told poloff on February 11 that the National Electoral Council (CNE) will re-submit the remainder of the signature forms for the presidential recall referendum to a verification using their stricter criteria. This move will certainly slow the verification process a [...]	2004-02-13 12:31:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PHUM VE
04CARACAS545	ARIAS CARDENAS: OPPOSITION FACES UPHILL BATTLE [...] (C) Francisco Arias Cardenas, former presidential candidate and ex-Governor of Zulia, told the Ambassador February 11 that President Hugo Chavez's increased control of the military and the state oil company (PDVSA) following the events of April 11, 2002, make it unlikely that he could be force [...]	2004-02-13 20:08:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV VE
04CARACAS546	GROWING PRESSURE FOR RENEGOTIATION OF OIL SERVICE [...] (C) There are signs that the GOV has started playing hardball in its efforts to force the oil companies that signed operating service agreements in the 1990's to convert these contracts into the majority GOV-owned joint ventures mandated under the 2001 Hydrocarbons Law. Public claims by the [...]	2004-02-13 20:21:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	EPET ECON VE
04CARACAS548	ANOTHER CUBAN DOCTOR ATTEMPTS TO FLEE [...] ON FEBRUARY 4, NATIONAL GUARDSMEN ARRESTED ULISES BERNAL PEREZ, A CUBAN DOCTOR ASSIGNED TO THE "BARRIO ADENTRO" (INTO THE SLUMS) PROGRAM, AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY TRIED TO DEFECT BY FORCING TWO JOURNALISTS TO DRIVE HIM TO THE COLOMBIAN BORDER, ACCORDING TO PRESS REPORTS. BERNAL PEREZ REPORTEDLY BELI [...]	2004-02-13 20:52:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	PGOV PHUM PREF VE
04CARACAS549	AFTERMATH OF DEVALUATION: INFLATION AND PRIVATE [...] (C) THE GOV FOLLOWED ITS FEBRUARY 9 DEVALUATION (REF A) WITH PRICE INCREASES ON SOME IMPORTANT PRICE-CONTROLLED STAPLES THE NEXT DAY. THE CHIEF ECONOMISTS OF VENEZUELA'S TWO LARGEST BANKS SAW THE DEVALUATION DIFFERENTLY IN CONVERSATIONS WITH ECONOFF. LUIS ZAMBRANO OF BANCO MERCANTIL SAID THE [...]	2004-02-13 20:59:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON EFIN PGOV VE
04CARACAS552	VENEZUELA POLITICAL UPDATE: 2/13/2004 [...] Carter Center: -- (U) In a February 13 statement the Carter Center called on the National Electoral Council (CNE) to publish a firm schedule to finish their verification of signature sheets by February 28. 2. OAS: -- (C) OAS observers told poloff that a February 28 deadline would most [...]	2004-02-13 21:28:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PHUM VE
04CARACAS559	BRAIN TRUST PREVIEWS PRIMARY PLANS [...] (C) On 07 February, the Ambassador met with a group of opposition "wise-men" who made a presentation on a plan for a unified candidate to run for president in elections following an eventual recall referendum. The group claimed that the plan had possible widespread support among leaders of the [...]	2004-02-17 19:32:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS560	DAS DESHAZO PRESSES SIGNATURE COUNT WITH VP RANGEL [...] (C) WHA DAS Peter DeShazo told Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel on February 16 that the world is watching the manner in which the National Electoral Council(CNE) carries out the signature count on the recall petition against President Hugo Chavez. DAS DeShazo expressed full support for the w [...]	2004-02-17 19:35:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS577	CARTER CENTER/OAS RAISE CONCERNS WITH DAS DESHAZO [...] (C) WHA DAS Peter DeShazo expressed USG support for the OAS and the Carter Center in a lunch on February 16 for representatives of both organizations hosted by the Ambassador. OAS Chief of Staff Fernando Jaramillo said it is clear the National Electoral Council (CNE) is attempting to invalida [...]	2004-02-18 12:21:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS578	VENEZUELA POLITICAL UPDATE: 2/14/2004 [...] OAS: -- (C) OAS chief of staff Francisco Jaramillo told the Ambassador February 13 that the National Electoral Council (CNE) board meeting with the Carter Center and OAS was "a disaster." Jaramillo said the CNE refused an OAS and Carter Center proposal to bring fingerprint experts from the [...]	2004-02-18 15:33:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PHUM VE
04CARACAS610	IMF REP SEES LITTLE TO CHEER ABOUT IN VENEZUELA'S [...] (C) In a February 19 meeting with Econcouns, IMF Resident Representative Humberto Arbulu expressed deep skepticism over Chavez administration economic policies and frustration over the lack of transparency in economic information made available to him. He gave the Finance Ministry high mark [...]	2004-02-20 13:50:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	ECON EFIN PGOV VE
04CARACAS612	CHAVEZ TAKES AIM AT HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS [...] (C) During his February 15 "Alo Presidente" broadcast, President Chavez accused several human rights organizations of receiving funding from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) through the Washington-based Center for Justice and International Law (CEJIL) to help overthrow the GOV. Seve [...]	2004-02-20 16:10:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV VE
04CARACAS620	ADVANCING THE REVLUTION: BRINGING THE ATTORNEY [...] (C ON FEBRUARY 18, CARMEN ALGUINDIGUE, DIRECTOR OF PROCEDURAL ACTION AND ONE OF THREE KEY CAREER EMPLOEES IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE, WAS FIRED. ACCORDING TO LEGATT, AT LEAST TWO MORE TOP EMPLYEES IN THE ORGANIZATION WILL BE FIRED AS PART O A STRATEGY TO FORCE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFI [...]	2004-02-20 20:22:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KJUS VE
04CARACAS627	EMBASSY CARACAS COMMENTS ON 2004 SPECIAL 301 REVIEW [...] (SBU) The GOV continues to show signs of slippage in its commitment to the protection of intellectual property rights. In 2003 the government persisted in its policy of approving domestic copies of internationally patented pharmaceutical products for sale in Venezuela. Venezuela's anti-trust [...]	2004-02-25 12:32:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	KIPR ECON VE
04CARACAS628	DAS DESHAZO'S MEETING WITH AMBASSADORS ON 2/16/2004 [...] (C) During a February 16 meeting in Caracas, DAS Peter DeShazo told ambassadors from interested countries that the international community needs to make clear its strong and unified support for the democratic process, the OAS and the Carter Center. The Spanish ambassador worried about a CNE [...]	2004-02-25 13:42:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PHUM VE
04CARACAS634	CHAVEZ ACCUSES USG OF FUNDING "COUPMONGERS" [...] (C) During his February 8 and 15 "Alo, Presidente" broadcasts, President Chavez accused the USG of supporting opposition efforts to oust him by funneling $60,000 to the NGO Sumate and millions more to assist other opposition groups. Chavez also claimed that the CIA's refusal to provide any in [...]	2004-02-26 14:08:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PROP VE
04CARACAS649	VENEZUELA REFERENDUM UPDATE: 2/25/2004 [...] (C) The National Electoral Council (CNE) announced February 24 that petition forms with more than one third of the signatures to petition the recall of President Chavez will be submitted to the CNE's Superior Technical Committee (CTS) for further review because they were filled in with the sam [...]	2004-02-26 22:21:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PHUM VE
04CARACAS651	CIVIL REBELLION CHARGES SPARK PROTESTS IN MERIDA [...] (C) Pro-GOV Merida State Governor Florencio Porras ordered an investigation against 24 opposition-aligned citizens in January, alleging civil rebellion stemming back to events in April 2002, when President Hugo Chavez was briefly removed from power. Students led violent protests January 29 and [...]	2004-02-26 22:32:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS699	REPORT ON STAFFDEL FEBRUARY 18-20 [...] (C) House Western Hemisphere Subcommittee staff members met with opposition and government leaders, members of the National Assembly, and the UNHCR representative in Caracas February 18-20. Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel emphasized the importance of maintaining a good Venezuelan-U.S. bil [...]	2004-03-01 20:37:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PREF VE
04CARACAS700	WEEKEND OF CONFLICT IN CARACAS; NO CNE DECISION YET [...] (C) Opposition groups staged two days of protests in the wake of the February 27 march that left one dead and dozens injured. The GOV staged its own march of hundreds of thousands on February 28 to protest U.S. intervention in Venezuelan affairs. Speaking to the crowd, President Chavez deliv [...]	2004-03-01 21:35:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS708	CHEVRONTEXACO GRANTED SECOND OFF-SHORE GAS BLOCK [...] (C) Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez_ announced February 19 the award of Block 3 of the off-shore Deltana Platform natural gas project to ChevronTexaco. Despite the fact that ChevronTexaco was the only bidder for the block in December 2003, ChevronTexaco de Venezuela President Ali Moshiri said [...]	2004-03-02 17:39:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	EPET ECON VE
04CARACAS714	ECONOMIC FALL-OUT FROM INCREASED POLITICAL TENSIONS [...] (SBU) The rise in political tensions over the revocatory referendum on Chavez's tenure in office and attendant violence is beginning to spill over into the economy. The parallel market bolivar/dollar rate has spiked as has the spread on Venezuelan bonds. It appears, however, that a planned [...]	2004-03-02 20:41:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	ECON PGOV EFIN ENRG VE
04CARACAS728	THE OPPOSITION'S NEGOTIATING DILEMMA [...] (C) The Democratic Coordinating Committee (DCC) is negotiating with National Electoral Council (CNE) Director Jorge Rodriguez to design a workable appeals process ("reparo") for regaining the signatures petitioning a presidential recall referendum not initially accepted by the CNE. The DCC wa [...]	2004-03-04 19:07:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS731	HOW REAL IS CHAVEZ'S OIL THREAT? [...] (C) On February 29, President Chavez threatened to cut off Venezuelan oil supplies to the U.S. or to nationalize U.S. company assets if the U.S. were to seek to "blockade" or impose sanctions against Venezuela. The U.S. majors in Venezuela dismiss his words as bluster but do not totally disco [...]	2004-03-04 22:57:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	EPET PGOV VE
04CARACAS740	WHERE THE OPPOSITION STANDS ON CNE TALKS [...] (C) OPPOSITION LEADERS BEGAN DISCUSSIONS WITH NATIONAL ELECTORAL COUNCIL (CNE) JORGE RODRIGUEZ ON MARCH 3 TO WORK OUT A FORMULA FOR THE REFERENDUM SIGNATURES APPEALS PROCESS. IN ADDITION TO NEGOTIATING WITH THE CNE, THE OPPOSITION LEADERS FACE FUNDAMENTAL INTERNAL DIVISIONS AS TO WHETHER TO PU [...]	2004-03-05 19:36:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS746	CHAVEZ RENEWS ALLEGATIONS OF U.S. PLOTTING [...] (C) President Hugo Chavez repudiated international criticisms against the GOV for human rights violations and undemocratic practices, speaking to the diplomatic corps March 5. DCM attending on behalf of the Ambassador, walked out after Chavez reasserted allegations, made most recently Februar [...]	2004-03-05 20:57:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS749	OAS AND CARTER CENTER PUT PRESSURE ON GOV [...] (C) CARTER CENTER REPRESENTATIVE MATTHEW HODES TOLD THE AMBASSADOR MARCH 4 THAT FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER AND OAS SYG CESAR GAVIRIA WOULD PULL THEIR MISSIONS OUT OF VENEZUELA IF THE GOV INSISTS ON UNWORKABLE RULES FOR THE PROPOSED APPEALS PROCESS (REPARO). CNE DIRECTOR JORGE RODRIGUEZ WANT [...]	2004-03-05 21:35:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PHUM VE
04CARACAS752	IS ANYONE KEEPING SCORE? HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS [...] (U) Growing violence since February 27 has produced a sharp rise in the number and types of human rights violations throughout Venezuela. Several local human rights organizations, Amnesty International, and the Inter-American Human Rights Commission issued statements condemning the violence [...]	2004-03-08 11:08:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM KDEM VE OAS
04CARACAS786	CNE EMPLOYEES: GOV TAKING OVER, RECALL UNLIKELY [...] (C) Diego Acevedo, aide to CNE Director Sobella Mejias, claimed even if the presidential referendum signature appeals process overcomes significant technical hurdles, it will nonetheless be vulnerable to pro-Chavez sabotage from the overseeing officials. He claimed all of the CNE's regional o [...]	2004-03-09 15:32:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM VE
04CARACAS801	THE NARROW ROAD TO THE SIGNATURE APPEALS PROCESS [...] (C) The GOV and the opposition continue to negotiate the appeals process ("reparos") that will determine the fate of the signatures presidential referendum against President Hugo Chavez. The National Electoral Council (CNE) March 7 delivered its computerized version of the results of the veri [...]	2004-03-09 21:52:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS851	IN GAS CEREMONY CHAVEZ SOUNDS A LESS AGGRESSIVE [...] (C) President Chavez pointedly lowered his anti-U.S. rhetoric in a March 9 ceremony hurriedly organized by the GOV to recognize the award to ChevronTexaco (CTX) of an exploration license for an off-shore natural gas block. While agreeing that Chavez had sought to send a message to the USG, sen [...]	2004-03-12 16:18:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	EPET PREL ECON VE
04CARACAS882	CHAVEZ'S LONG ARM CHOKES JUDGES AND PROSECUTORS [...] (C) Recently fired chief prosecutor Ramon Medina told poloff March 9 that the Attorney General's Office is increasingly focused on solidifying Chavez's hold on domestic institutions. Medina, a long-time contact of the Embassy's LegAtt and PAS offices, said he was dismissed because he resisted [...]	2004-03-12 21:12:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PHUM VE
04CARACAS883	SUMATE SCRUBS THE CNE'S PRELIMINARY RESULTS [...] (C) The NGO Sumate presented to the diplomatic corps on March 11 its initial impressions of the signature verification data given to the opposition by the National Electoral Council's (CNE). The CNE's work is full of errors that, in Sumate's opinion, imply an intentional effort to ruin the ch [...]	2004-03-12 21:12:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS884	INCREASED OIL SALES TO CUBA? [...] (C) Venezuela's crude and refined product exports to Cuba have been increased by an additional 25,000 b/d for an official total of 78,000 b/d, according to a maritime industry contact. Another Embassy source asserts that Cuba is now paying a larger portion of its debt to Venezuela with bonds [...]	2004-03-15 13:20:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	EPET ECON VE CU
04CARACAS890	DUELING CLAIMS OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS [...] (C) Nearly a dozen Venezuelans died, 1,758 were wounded or injured, and 410 were detained during disturbances in the country from February 27 to March 5, according to the opposition Democratic Coordinating Committee (DCC). Amid the claims of government human rights abuses, the GOV has mounted [...]	2004-03-15 16:08:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PHUM PGOV VE
04CARACAS898	TSJ ELECTORAL CHAMBER ORDERS CNE TO VERIFY [...] (U) The Electoral Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice (TSJ),issued a ruling March 15 ordering the National Electoral Council (CNE) to include more than 800,000 presidential referendum signatures among the valid signatures that will be subject to the appeals process (reparo). In theory, th [...]	2004-03-15 20:09:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS908	CHESS GAME IN THE SUPREME COURT OF JUSTICE [...] (C) Venezuela Supreme Court's (TSJ) Constitutional Chamber declared March 11 that it alone is the appropriate forum to hear cases regarding the National Electoral Council (CNE) and the proposed presidential recall referendum. Constitutional Chamber president Ivan Rincon told the Ambassador Mar [...]	2004-03-16 12:56:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS920	BIOGRAPHY OF VENEZUELA'S NEW FOREIGN MINISTER [...] (C/NF) Jesus Arnaldo Perez became Venezuela's Minister of Foreign Relations on February 13, 2004. Having served as Ambassador to France (2002-2004) and to Algeria (2001-2002),Perez replaced outgoing Minister Roy Chaderton, who will replace Perez as Ambassador to France once the GOV receives [...]	2004-03-17 20:27:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PINR VE
04CARACAS922	U.S.-LED CONSORTIUM TO PROVIDE ELECTORAL [...] (SBU) The U.S.-based company Smartmatic (Boca Raton, Florida) is the managing partner of the SBC Consortium that recently won the contract to provide automated electoral equipment and services for Venezuela's August 1 regional elections (and a presidential referendum if necessary). The consor [...]	2004-03-17 20:29:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV KDEM BEXP VE
04CARACAS945	VENEZUELA ON THE VERGE OF A PURGE [...] (C) The GOV appears to be engaged in a broad effort to ensure loyalty and punish opposition using the list of persons who signed the recall petition against President Hugo Chavez. Since the beginning of March, reports have emerged of GOV offices and state enterprises using signature data from [...]	2004-03-19 21:36:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV ELAB PHUM VE
04CARACAS946	SUPREME COURT DONNYBROOK STALLS RECALL [...] (U) The Supreme Court (TSJ) Constitutional Chamber ordered the Electoral Chamber to stop all activity related to the National Electoral Council (CNE) March 17. In a March 18 letter, the Electoral Chamber reaffirmed its jurisdiction in the matter and refused to give up its files. For its part, [...]	2004-03-19 21:39:00	Embassy Caracas	UNCLASSIFIED	PGOV PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS947	NUMBER THREE PROSECUTOR BECOMES CHAVEZ POLITICAL [...] (C) Carmen Alguindigue, the former number three prosecutor in the Attorney General's Office, said March 17 she was fired for refusing to support the Chavez political agenda. The increasing number of politically-motivated firings in government will further weaken the nation's institutions, she [...]	2004-03-19 21:41:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PGOV PREL PHUM KDEM VE
04CARACAS949	REGIONAL ELECTIONS WILL TEST OPPOSITION UNITY [...] (C) THE REGISTRATION OF CANDIDATES FOR VENEZUELA'S AUGUST 1 GUBERNATORIAL AND MAYORAL ELECTIONS BEGAN MARCH 16. OPPOSITION GROUPS FACE THE CHALLENGE OF MAINTAINING UNITY IN THEIR EFFORTS TO REVOKE THE MANDATE OF PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ WHILE COMPETING FOR THE REGIONAL ELECTIONS. OPPOSITION LEAD [...]	2004-03-19 21:46:00	Embassy Caracas	CONFIDENTIAL	PREL PGOV PHUM VE
04CARACAS950	WANTED: BARUTA MAYOR, FOR INCITING CROWD AT CUBAN [...] (C) Baruta Mayor He

Embassy Abidjan
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Accra
Consulate Adana
Embassy Addis Ababa
Consulate Alexandria
Embassy Algiers
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Amman
Consulate Amsterdam
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Antananarivo
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Athens
Consulate Auckland
Embassy Baghdad
Embassy Baku
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bangui
Embassy Banjul
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Beirut
Consulate Belfast
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Bern
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brazzaville
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Canberra
Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Caracas
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Chengdu
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Chiang Mai
Embassy Chisinau
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Cotonou
Consulate Curacao
Embassy Dakar
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Department of State
Consulate Dhahran
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dili
DIR FSINFATC
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Doha
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Dublin
Consulate Durban
Embassy Dushanbe
Consulate Dusseldorf
Embasy Bonn
Consulate Florence
Consulate Frankfurt
Embassy Freetown
Consulate Fukuoka
Embassy Gaborone
Embassy Georgetown
Embassy Grenada
Consulate Guadalajara
Consulate Guangzhou
Embassy Guatemala
Consulate Guayaquil
Consulate Halifax
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Hamilton
Embassy Hanoi
Embassy Harare
Embassy Helsinki
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hong Kong
American Consulate Hyderabad
Iran RPO Dubai
Embassy Islamabad
Consulate Istanbul
Consulate Izmir
Embassy Jakarta
Consulate Jeddah
Consulate Jerusalem
Consulate Johannesburg
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kaduna
Embassy Kampala
Consulate Karachi
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kinshasa
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Kolonia
Embassy Koror
Consulate Krakow
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lagos
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Leipzig
Embassy Libreville
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lome
Embassy London
Embassy Luanda
Embassy Lusaka
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Madrid
Embassy Majuro
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Managua
Embassy Manama
Embassy Manila
Embassy Maputo
Consulate Marseille
Embassy Maseru
Consulate Matamoros
Embassy Mbabane
Consulate Melbourne
Consulate Merida
Embassy Mexico
Consulate Milan
Embassy Minsk
Mission Geneva
Mission UNESCO
Mission USNATO
Mission USOSCE
Embassy Mogadishu
Embassy Monrovia
Consulate Monterrey
Embassy Montevideo
Consulate Montreal
Embassy Moscow
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Munich
Embassy Muscat
Consulate Nagoya
Consulate Naha
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Niamey
Embassy Nicosia
Consulate Nogales
Embassy Nouakchott
Consulate Nuevo Laredo
Consulate Osaka Kobe
Embassy Oslo
Embassy Ottawa
Embassy Ouagadougou
Embassy Panama
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Paris
Consulate Perth
Consulate Peshawar
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Podgorica
Consulate Ponta Delgada
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Moresby
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Prague
Embassy Praia
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Pristina
Consulate Quebec
Embassy Quito
Embassy Rabat
Embassy Rangoon
Consulate Recife
REO Basrah
REO Hillah
REO Kirkuk
REO Mosul
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Riga
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Rome
Embassy San Jose
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Santo Domingo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Consulate Sapporo
Embassy Sarajevo
Secretary of State
Embassy Seoul
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Shenyang
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Sofia
Consulate St Petersburg
Embassy Stockholm
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate Surabaya
Embassy Suva
Consulate Sydney
Embassy Tallinn
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy The Hague
Consulate Thessaloniki
Consulate Tijuana
Embassy Tirana
Embassy Tokyo
Consulate Toronto
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
UN Rome
UNVIE
US Delegation FEST TWO
US Delegation, Secretary
US Interests Section Havana
US Mission CD Geneva
US Mission Geneva
US Office Almaty
US OFFICE FSC CHARLESTON
USEU Brussels
USMISSION USTR GENEVA
USUN New York
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vancouver
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vientiane
Embassy Vilnius
Consulate Vladivostok
Embassy Warsaw
Embassy Wellington
Embassy Windhoek
Embassy Yaounde
Consulate Yekaterinburg
Embassy Yerevan
Embassy Zagreb

AA
AADP
AALC
ABDALLAH FETHI
ABDULHADI
ABDULRAHMEN
ABER
ABLD
ABLDG
ABLG
ABMC
ABT
ABUD
AC
ACABQ
ACAO
ACBAQ
ACCELERATED
ACCOUNT
ACDA
ACEC
ACKM
ACOA
ACOTA
ACS
ACTION
ADANA
ADB
ADCO
ADCP
ADEL
ADEP
ADIP
ADM
ADMIRAL
ADPM
ADRC
AE
AEC
AECL
AEGR
AEIR
AEM
AEMED
AEMR
AER
AESC
AF
AFAF AL HOURANI
AFARI
AFDB
AFDIN
AFFAIRS
AFGHAN
AFGHANISTAN
AFIN
AFL
AFLU
AFOR
AFR
AFSA
AFSI
AFSN
AFU
AFZAL
AG
AGAO
AGENDA
AGENGA
AGIT
AGMT
AGOA
AGR
AGRI
AGRIC
AGRICULTURE
AGS
AGUILAR
AGUIRRE
AHMED
AI
AIAG
AID
AIDAC
AIDS
AIEA
AIHRC
AIN
AINF
AINFCY
AINR
AINT
AISG
AIT
AJ
AK
AL
ALAB
ALAMI
ALANAZI
ALBE
ALEXANDER
ALI
ALIREZA
ALJAZEERA
ALL
ALNEA
ALOUNI
ALOW
ALOWAR
ALVAREZ
AM
AMAT
AMB
AMBASSADOR
AMCHAM
AMCHAMS
AMCT
AME
AMED
AMEDI
AMEMR
AMER
AMERICAS
AMEX
AMG
AMGE
AMGMT
AMGT
AMIA
AMLB
AMPR
AMT
AMTC
AMTG
AN
ANARCHISTS
ANC
AND
ANDREW LEE WATKINS
ANET
ANTITERRORISM
ANTOINE GHONDA
ANTONIO
ANTXON
AO
AOCR
AODE
AOIC
AOMS
AOPR
AORC
AORD
AOREC
AORG
AORL
AOWC
AP
APCS
APDC
APEC
APECO
APER
APR
APRC
APRM
AQ
AR
ARAB
ARABBL
ARABL
ARABLEAGUE
ARAS
ARC
ARCH
ARENA
AREP
ARF
ARG
ARM
ARMITAGE
ARMS
ARNOLD FREDERICK MORRIS
AROC
ARR
ARRMZY
ARSO
AS
ASA
ASAC
ASC
ASCC
ASCE
ASCEC
ASCH
ASE
ASEAN
ASEC
ASECARP
ASECE
ASECM
ASECSI
ASECVE
ASED
ASEDC
ASEG
ASEK
ASES
ASEX
ASFC
ASIC
ASIG
ASIR
ASJA
ASO
ASOC
ASPA
ASR
ASSEMBLY
ASSK
ASSSEMBLY
ASUP
AT
ATFN
ATPDEA
ATRA
ATRD
ATRN
AU
AU-1
AUC
AUNR
AUSGR
AUSTRALIAGROUP
AV
AVERY
AVIAN
AVIANFLU
AVIATION
AW
AX
AY
AZ
AZE
B.
BA
BAGHDAD
BAIO
BAKOYANNIS
BALKANS
BAPOL
BARACK
BASHAR
BATA
BAYS
BB
BBG
BBSR
BC
BCW
BCXP
BD
BE
BEAN
BELLVIEW
BEN
BERARDUCCI
BESP
BEXB
BEXP
BEXPC
BEXPPLM
BEXT
BF
BFIF
BFIN
BFIO
BG
BGD
BGMT
BH
BHUM
BI
BIC
BIDOON
BIH
BILAT
BIMSTEC
BINR
BIO
BIOS
BIOTECH
BIOTECHNOLOGY
BIT
BITO
BK
BL
BLR
BLUE
BLUNT
BM
BMENA
BMGT
BMOT
BN
BNUC
BO
BOIKO
BOL
BOND
BOQ
BORDER
BOSNIA
BOU
BOUCHAIB KAKA
BOUTERSE
BP
BPIS
BPTS
BR
BRIAN
BRITNEY
BRITNY
BRPA
BRUSSELS
BS
BSSR
BT
BTA
BTC
BTIO
BTIU
BTRA
BTT
BU
BUD
BULGARIA
BURMA
BURNS
BUSH
BUY AMERICA
BV
BW
BWC
BX
BXEP
BY
BZ
CA
CAC
CACM
CACS
CAFTA
CAIO
CAJC
CAMBODIA
CAN
CAPC
CARC
CARE
CARIB
CARICOM
CARSON
CAS
CASA
CASC
CASCC
CASCR
CASE
CASTILLO
CAVO
CB
CBC
CBD
CBE
CBG
CBIS
CBM
CBSA
CBTH
CBW
CCSR
CCY
CD
CDB
CDC
CDCC
CDCE
CDG
CDI
CE
CEA
CEC
CEDAW
CEN
CENSUS
CENTCOM
CENTRIC
CEUDA
CF
CFE
CFED
CFG
CFIS
CFSP
CG
CGEN
CGOPRC
CH
CHAD
CHALLENGE
CHAO
CHAVEZ
CHELIDZE
CHENEY
CHERTOFF
CHG
CHIEF
CHN
CHR
CHR-1
CHRISTIAN
CHRISTOF
CHRISTOPHER
CI
CIA
CIAT
CIC
CICTE
CIDA
CIO
CIP
CIS
CITEL
CITES
CITIBANK
CITT
CIVAIR
CIVS
CJ
CJAN
CJUS
CK
CKGR
CKOR
CL
CLEARANCE
CLINTON
CLMT
CLO
CLOK
CM
CMAE
CMFT
CMGT
CMP
CMT
CN
CNAR
CNARC
CNC
CNO
CO
CODEL
COE
COL
COLIN
COLLECTIVE
COLOMBO
COM
COMESA
COMMERCE
CON
CONAWAY
CONDOLEEZZA
CONDOLEEZZA RICE
CONEAZ
CONG
CONGO
CONGRINT
CONS
CONSULAR
CONTROL
CONTROLS
CORRUPTION
COSI
COUNTER
COUNTER TERRORISM
COUNTERTERRORISM
COUNTRY
COUNTRYCLEARANCE
CP
CPA
CPAS
CPC
CPCTC
CPPT
CPUOS
CQ
CR
CRIM
CRIME
CRIMES
CRISTINA
CRM
CROATIA
CROS
CRS
CRUZ
CS
CSCE
CSEP
CSIS
CSW
CT
CTBT
CTER
CTERR
CTM
CTR
CTRYCLR
CU
CUCO
CUIS
CUL
CUSTODIO
CV
CVIA
CVIC
CVIS
CVISU
CVPR
CVR
CW
CWC
CWCM
CWG
CX
CY
CYNTHIA
CYP
CYPRUSARMS
CZ
DA
DAC
DAFR
DAN
DANFUNG
DANIEL
DAO
DARFR
DARFUR
DAVID
DAVID LEE HOWES
DAVID WELCH
DAVID WILLIAM RAY
DB
DC
DCDG
DCG
DCHA
DCI
DCM
DCOM
DCRM
DE
DEA
DEAX
DEFENSE
DEFENSEREFORM
DELTAVIOLENCE
DEM
DEMARCHE
DEMARCHES
DEMETRIOS
DEMOCRATIC
DENNIS
DEOC
DEPORTATION
DEPT
DEPT FOR DS COMMAND CENTER
DESI
DHA
DHLAKAMA
DHLS
DHRF
DHS
DHSX
DIEZ
DIPLOMACY
DISENGAGEMENT
DJ
DK
DKEM
DMIN
DMINE
DO
DOC
DOD
DOE
DOJ
DOMC
DOMESTIC
DOMESTICPOLITICS
DONALD RUMSFELD
DOT
DPAO
DPKO
DPM
DPOL
DPRK
DR
DRC
DRIP
DRL
DS
DSR
DSS
DTFN
DTRA
DTRO
DU
DUNCAN CAMERON
DVC
DY
EAC
EAD
EADI
EADM
EAG
EAGER
EAGR
EAI
EAIC
EAID
EAIDB
EAIDCIN
EAIDEGZ
EAIDMG
EAIDNI
EAIF
EAIG
EAIO
EAIR
EAIS
EAIT
EAOD
EAP
EAPC
EAR
EARI
EASS
EATO
EAUD
EAVI
EB
EBEXP
EBRD
EBUD
EC
ECA
ECCP
ECCT
ECE
ECHEVARRIA
ECIN
ECIP
ECLAC
ECN
ECOIN
ECOM
ECON
ECONCS
ECONEGE
ECONOMIC
ECONOMICS
ECONOMY
ECONOMY AND FINANCE
ECOR
ECOS
ECOSOC
ECOWAS
ECPC
ECPN
ECPO
ECPS
ECPSN
ECRM
ECTRD
ECUN
ED
EDA
EDEV
EDRC
EDU
EDUARDO
EDUC
EE
EEB
EEC
EENG
EENV
EEOC
EET
EETC
EFI
EFIC
EFIM
EFIN
EFIS
EFLU
EFN
EFND
EFNI
EFQ
EFTA
EG
EGAD
EGAR
EGEN
EGHG
EGOV
EGOVSY
EH
EI
EIAD
EIAID
EIAR
EIB
EICN
EID
EIDE
EIDN
EIFN
EIN
EIND
EINDIR
EINF
EING
EINN
EINO
EINR
EINT
EINV
EINZ
EIPR
EIQ
EISL
EISNLN
EITC
EITI
EIVN
EK
EL
ELA
ELAB
ELAD
ELAINE
ELAM
ELAN
ELAP
ELB
ELBA
ELBR
ELEC
ELECTIONS
ELF
ELIN
ELN
ELND
ELNT
ELTD
ELTM
ELTN
ELTRN
EMAIL
EMED
EMI
EMIN
EMN
EMS
EMW
EN
END
ENDURING
ENEG
ENER
ENERG
ENERGY
ENFR
ENG
ENGR
ENGRD
ENGRG
ENGY
ENIV
ENLT
ENNP
ENR
ENRC
ENRG
ENRL
ENTG
ENV
ENVI
ENVIRONMENT
ENVR
ENVT
EON
EOXC
EP
EPA
EPAT
EPCS
EPE
EPEC
EPECO
EPET
EPIN
EPIT
EPPD
EPRT
EPSC
EPTE
EPTED
EPWR
EQ
EQRD
ER
ERA
ERD
EREL
ERGR
ERICKSON
ERIN
ERTD
ES
ESA
ESCAP
ESCI
ESDP
ESENV
ESF
ESLCO
ESOC
ESOCI
ESPS
ESS
ESSO
ESTH
ESTN
ESTRADA
ET
ETA
ETAD
ETC
ETCC
ETD
ETDR
ETEL
ETER
ETEX
ETFN
ETIC
ETIO
ETLN
ETMIN
ETR
ETRA
ETRAD
ETRB
ETRC
ETRD
ETRDECD
ETRG
ETRK
ETRN
ETRO
ETRP
ETT
ETTC
ETTD
ETTF
ETTN
ETTR
ETTRD
ETTW
ETZ
EU
EUC
EUCOM
EUE
EUEAID
EUFOR
EUM
EUMEM
EUN
EUR
EUREM
EURM
EURN
EV
EVENTS
EVN
EWRG
EWT
EWTR
EWWT
EX
EXBS
EXEC
EXIM
EXO
EXPORT
EXTERNAL
EZ
FA
FAA
FAC
FAGR
FAO
FARC
FARM
FAS
FATAH
FBI
FCC
FCS
FCSC
FCSCEG
FCUL
FDA
FDIC
FEDULOV
FEMA
FERNANDO
FGM
FI
FIGUEROA
FIN
FINANCE
FINE
FINR
FINREF
FINV
FIR
FISO
FJ
FK
FKFLO
FKLU
FLU
FM
FMC
FMGT
FMLN
FMS
FO
FOI
FOOKS
FOR
FORCE
FORCES
FOREIGN
FORWHA
FP
FPC
FR
FRA
FRANCIS
FRANCISCO RODENAS RUIZ
FRANCISCO VILLA URBALEJO
FRAZER
FRB
FREDOM
FREEDOM
FRELIMO
FRIED
FRN
FRU
FSC
FSI
FT
FTA
FTAA
FWS
GA
GAERC
GAMES
GANGS
GAO
GARCIA
GASPAR
GATES
GATT
GAZA
GAZPROM
GB
GBSLE
GC
GCC
GCCC
GE
GEF
GEORGE
GERARD
GESKE
GF
GG
GH
GI
GIPNC
GIWI
GJ
GKGIC
GL
GLOBAL
GM
GN
GO
GOG
GOI
GOMEZ
GON
GOVPOI
GPGOV
GPI
GPOI
GPOV
GR
GREGG RENE WALTER
GRQ
GS
GT
GTIP
GTMO
GTREFTEL
GU
GUAM
GUANTANAMO
GUIDANCE
GUILLERMO
GUTIERREZ
GV
GWI
GY
GZ
GZIS
HA
HAMID KARZAI
HARRIET
HARRY
HAWZ
HCOPIL
HDP
HE
HEAVEN
HEBRON
HECTOR
HELGERSON
HERCEGOVINA
HG
HHS
HI
HIGHLIGHTS
HIJAZI
HILARY
HILLARY
HILLEN
HIPC
HIV
HIZ
HK
HKSX
HL
HLSX
HN
HNCHR
HO
HOA
HOSTAGES
HPKO
HR
HRC
HRCS
HRICTY
HRIGHTS
HRKSTC
HSI
HSTC
HSWG
HT
HTCG
HTSC
HU
HUD
HUM
HUMAN
HUMANITARIAN
HUMANR
HUMANRIGHTS
HUMOR
HUMRIT
HUNRC
HURI
HURRICANE
HYDE
HYLAND
HYMPSK
HZ
IA
IACHR
IACI
IACO
IACW
IADB
IAEA
IAES
IAHRC
IAIE
IAII
IASA
IATTC
IAZ
IBB
IBD
IBET
IBPCA
IBRB
IBRD
IC
ICAC
ICAO
ICC
ICCAT
ICCROM
ICES
ICJ
ICRC
ICRS
ICSCA
ICTR
ICTY
ID
IDA
IDB
IDLI
IDLO
IDP
IDR
IE
IEA
IEAB
IEF
IF
IFAD
IFC
IFIN
IFM
IFO
IFR
IFRC
IG
IGAD
IGF
IHO
IICA
IINS
IIP
IK
IL
ILAB
ILC
ILEA
ILO
IMC
IMET
IMF
IMMIGRATION
IMO
IMSO
IMTS
IN
INAUGURATION
INCB
IND
INDO
INF
INFLUENZA
INL
INMARSAT
INNP
INPFC
INR
INRA
INRB
INRD
INRO
INRPAZ
INS
INSC
INT
INTEL
INTELLECTUAL
INTELSAT
INTERNAL
INTERPOL
INV
INVI
IO
IOC
IOM
IP
IPET
IPGRI
IPK
IPPC
IPR
IPROP
IQ
IQNV
IR
IRAN
IRAQ
IRAQI
IRAQI FREEDOM
IRC
IRCE
IRDB
IRE
IRL
IRLE
IRM
IRMO
IRNB
IRPE
IRQEGION
IRS
IS
ISA
ISAAC
ISAF
ISCA
ISCON
ISLAMISTS
ISLE
ISN
ISNV
ISO
ISPA
ISPL
ISRAEL
ISRAEL RELATIONS
ISRAELI
ISRAELI PALESTINIAN AFFAIRS
ISSUES
ISTC
IT
ITA
ITALIAN
ITALY
ITECIP
ITEIND
ITELTN
ITER
ITF
ITIA
ITRA
ITRD
ITU
IUCN
IV
IVIANNA
IWC
IWI
IX
IZ
IZAORC
JA
JABER
JAM
JAMES
JAPAN
JAT
JAWAD
JCIC
JE
JEAN-PIERRE BEMBA
JEFFERY
JEFFREY
JENDAYI
JHR
JI
JIMENEZ
JIMENEZ CHILDREN
JK
JKUS
JM
JN
JO
JOHANNS
JOHN
JOHN BOEHNER
JOHNNIE
JONATHAN CHAMAN
JOSE ANGEL ALZUGUREN PERURENA
JOSE NEY MILA ESPINOSA
JOSE RAMOS HORTA
JOSEPH BIDEN
JP
JS
JSRP
JUAN
JULIAN RENE KIRCHOFF
JUS
JY
KA
KACP
KACT
KACW
KADM
KAID
KALM
KALR
KANSOU
KAPO
KARIM WADE
KATRINA
KAUST
KAWC
KAWK
KAWL
KAWS
KAWX
KAYLA
KBCT
KBDS
KBEM
KBIO
KBNC
KBTC
KBTR
KBTS
KBWG
KCCP
KCEM
KCERS
KCFC
KCFE
KCGC
KCHG
KCIP
KCIS
KCM
KCMA
KCMR
KCOG
KCOM
KCOR
KCPS
KCRCM
KCRI
KCRIM
KCRM
KCRN
KCRO
KCROM
KCROR
KCRP
KCRS
KCRT
KCSA
KCSI
KCSY
KCUL
KCUM
KCVM
KCWI
KDCM
KDDEM
KDDG
KDE
KDEM
KDEN
KDET
KDEV
KDGOV
KDGR
KDHS
KDM
KDMR
KDP
KDRG
KDRL
KDTB
KDUM
KE
KEAI
KEANE
KEBG
KECF
KEDEM
KEDM
KEDU
KEIM
KEM
KEMPI
KEMR
KEMS
KEN
KENV
KERF
KERG
KESO
KESP
KESS
KEVIN
KFAM
KFCE
KFE
KFEM
KFGM
KFIN
KFIU
KFLD
KFLO
KFLU
KFOR
KFPC
KFRD
KFRP
KFSC
KFTFN
KFTN
KG
KGCC
KGCN
KGHA
KGHG
KGIC
KGICKS
KGIT
KGIV
KGKG
KGLB
KGOR
KGOV
KH
KHDP
KHGH
KHIB
KHIV
KHJUS
KHLS
KHMN
KHOURY
KHPD
KHSA
KHSL
KHUM
KI
KIBL
KICA
KICC
KICCPUR
KICR
KICT
KID
KIDE
KIF
KIFR
KIIC
KIIP
KIL
KILS
KIMMITT
KIMT
KIND
KINF
KINL
KINP
KINR
KINT
KIPR
KIPT
KIRC
KIRD
KIRF
KIRL
KIRP
KIS
KISC
KISK
KISL
KISM
KISR
KITA
KIVP
KIVR
KJAN
KJRE
KJU
KJUS
KJUST
KJWC
KK
KKIV
KKNP
KKOR
KKPO
KLAB
KLAP
KLBO
KLEG
KLFLO
KLFU
KLHS
KLIG
KLIP
KLPM
KLSO
KLTN
KM
KMAC
KMAR
KMCA
KMCC
KMCR
KMDR
KMEPI
KMFO
KMGT
KMIG
KMNP
KMOC
KMPF
KMPI
KMPIO
KMPL
KMPP
KMPT
KMRD
KMRS
KMSG
KMVP
KMWN
KN
KNAO
KNAP
KNAR
KNDP
KNEI
KNEP
KNET
KNMP
KNN
KNNA
KNNB
KNNC
KNNF
KNNO
KNNP
KNNR
KNOP
KNP
KNPP
KNPPIS
KNPR
KNPT
KNRG
KNRV
KNSD
KNUC
KNUP
KO
KOC
KOCI
KOCM
KOEM
KOGL
KOLY
KOM
KOMC
KOMCCO
KOMCSG
KOMH
KOMO
KOMS
KOR
KOSOVO
KOUYATE
KPA
KPAD
KPAI
KPAK
KPAL
KPALAOIS
KPAM
KPAO
KPAS
KPBT
KPDD
KPEM
KPEO
KPER
KPET
KPIN
KPIR
KPKO
KPKP
KPLS
KPMI
KPMO
KPO
KPOA
KPOKO
KPOL
KPOP
KPOV
KPOW
KPPAO
KPPD
KPRD
KPRM
KPRO
KPROG
KPRP
KPRV
KPSC
KPTD
KPTS
KPWG
KPWR
KQ
KQM
KQRDQ
KR
KRAD
KRAL
KRCIM
KRCM
KRCS
KRD
KRDP
KREC
KREF
KREISLER
KREL
KRF
KRFD
KRFR
KRG
KRGY
KRIC
KRIF
KRIM
KRKO
KRM
KRMS
KRV
KRVC
KS
KSA
KSAC
KSAF
KSCA
KSCI
KSCS
KSCT
KSEAO
KSEC
KSEI
KSEO
KSEP
KSI
KSIA
KSKN
KSLG
KSMT
KSOC
KSOCI
KSPA
KSPR
KSRE
KSTC
KSTCC
KSTCPL
KSTH
KSTS
KSTT
KSUM
KSUP
KT
KTAO
KTBD
KTBT
KTCRE
KTDB
KTDD
KTDM
KTER
KTEX
KTFIN
KTFM
KTFN
KTFR
KTFS
KTIA
KTIP
KTLA
KTNBT
KTNF
KTPN
KTRD
KTRF
KTSC
KTSD
KTTB
KTTC
KTTP
KU
KUAE
KUIR
KUM
KUNA
KUNC
KUNH
KUNP
KUNR
KUS
KUWAIT
KV
KVBL
KVIP
KVIR
KVIS
KVPR
KVRC
KVRP
KW
KWAC
KWAK
KWAWC
KWBC
KWBG
KWBW
KWCI
KWCR
KWGB
KWHG
KWIC
KWIM
KWIR
KWKN
KWM
KWMJN
KWMM
KWMN
KWN
KWNM
KWNN
KWOMN
KWPA
KWPB
KWPG
KWPR
KWRC
KWRF
KWRG
KWUN
KWWT
KWWW
KX
KY
KZ
LA
LAB
LABOR
LANSANA
LANTERN
LARREA
LARS
LAS
LAURA
LAVIN
LAW
LB
LBAR
LBY
LE
LEAGUE
LEB
LEBIK
LEGAT
LEGATT
LEIS
LEON
LEVINE
LEW
LG
LGAT
LH
LI
LIB
LICC
LIMA
LINE
LK
LMS
LN
LO
LOG
LOPEZ
LORAN
LOTT
LOVE
LR
LS
LT
LTG
LTTE
LU
LV
LVPR
LY
LZ
MA
MAAR
MACEDONIA
MACP
MANUEL
MANUEL SERGIO GONZALEZ
MAP
MAPP
MAPS
MAR
MARAD
MARANTIS
MARIA
MARIE
MARINO
MARITIME
MARK
MARQUEZ
MARR
MARS
MARTIN
MARV
MAS
MASC
MASS
MATT
MAYA
MB
MBM
MC
MCA
MCAP
MCAPARR
MCAPN
MCAPP
MCAPS
MCAT
MCC
MCCAIN
MCCONNELL
MCCP
MCGRAW
MCRM
MCTRE
MD
MDA
MDC
MDO
ME
MEA
MED
MEDIA
MEETINGS
MENDIETA
MEP
MEPI
MEPN
MEPP
MERCOSUR
MESUR
MEX
MF
MFA
MFO
MG
MGL
MGMT
MGOV
MGT
MGTA
MH
MHUC
MI
MIAH
MIC
MICHAEL
MICHEL
MIGUEL FELIPE CANAHUATI YACAMAN
MIGUEL VARGAS MALDONADO
MIK
MIKE
MIL
MILI
MILITANTS
MILITARY
MILLENNIUM
MINURSO
MINUSTAH
MITCHELL
MJ
MK
ML
MLS
MMAR
MMED
MN
MNLF
MNNC
MNNUC
MNU
MNUC
MNUCH
MNUCWA
MNUM
MNUN
MNUR
MNUS
MNVC
MO
MOHAMAD
MOHAMED HESHAM ELDIN YOUSSEF
MOHAMMAD
MOLINA
MONTENEGRO
MONUC
MONY
MOOPS
MOP
MOPP
MOPPS
MOPS
MORALES
MORG
MOROCCO
MORS
MOS
MOTO
MOTT
MP
MPOL
MPOS
MPP
MPS
MQADHAFI
MR
MRCRE
MRRR
MRS
MRSEC
MS
MSG
MSIG
MT
MTAA
MTAG
MTCAE
MTCR
MTCRA
MTCRE
MTRCE
MTRE
MTRRE
MTS
MU
MUC
MUCN
MUKASEY
MULLEN
MUNC
MURAD
MURRAY
MV
MW
MX
MY
MZ
NA
NAC
NACB
NADIA
NAFTA
NAM
NAMSA
NANCY
NAR
NARC
NARCOTICS
NARR
NAS
NASA
NAT
NATEU
NATGAS
NATIONAL
NATO
NATOAFGHAN
NATOBALKANS
NATOIRAQ
NATOOPS
NATOPOLICY
NATSIOS
NAVO
NB
NBTS
NBU
NC
NCCC
NCD
NCT
NCTC
NDI
NDP
NE
NEA
NEC
NEGROPONTE
NEI
NELSON
NEPAD
NERG
NET
NEW
NFATC
NFMS
NFSO
NG
NGO
NGUYEN
NH
NI
NICHOLAS
NICOLE
NIH
NIPP
NK
NKWG
NL
NLD
NLIAEA
NLO
NMFS
NMNUC
NMUC
NNPT
NO
NOAA
NOI
NOK
NON
NONE
NORAD
NOTAG
NOVO
NP
NPA
NPG
NPT
NR
NRC
NRG
NRR
NRRC
NS
NSC
NSF
NSFO
NSG
NSSP
NT
NTDB
NTSB
NTTC
NU
NUC
NUIN
NV
NW
NZ
NZUS
OA
OAO
OARC
OAS
OASC
OASCC
OASS
OAU
OBAMA
OBS
OBSP
OCBD
OCEA
OCED
OCHA
OCII
OCRA
OCS
OCSE
ODAG
ODC
ODIP
ODPC
OECD
OECS
OECV
OES
OESC
OEXC
OEXP
OF
OFDA
OFDC
OFDP
OFDPQIS
OFFICIALS
OFPD
OFSO
OGAC
OGIV
OHCHR
OHI
OHIP
OI
OIC
OICCO
OIE
OIF
OIG
OIIP
OIL
OIM
OLY
OLYAIR
OLYMPICS
OM
OMAR
OMB
OMIG
OMS
ON
ONA
OPAD
OPBAT
OPC
OPCD
OPCR
OPCW
OPDAT
OPDC
OPDP
OPEC
OPET
OPIC
OPID
OPOC
OPPC
OPRC
OPREC
OPREP
OPS
OPSC
OPVIP
ORA
ORC
ORCA
ORECD
ORED
OREG
OREP
ORGANIZED
ORP
ORTA
ORUE
OSAC
OSCE
OSCI
OSD
OSEC
OSHA
OSIC
OSTA
OSTRA
OTA
OTAR
OTHERSASNEEDED
OTP
OTR
OTRA
OTRABL
OTRAO
OTRAZ
OTRC
OTRD
OUALI
OVIP
OVP
OXEC
OXEM
OZ
PA
PAARM
PAC
PACE
PAGE
PAGR
PAHO
PAIGH
PAK
PAL
PALESTINIAN
PAMQ
PAN
PANAM
PAO
PAR
PARALYMPIC
PARCA
PAREL
PARK
PARLIAMENT
PARM
PARMS
PARN
PARP
PARR
PARTIES
PARTM
PARTY
PAS
PASS
PATRICK WARREN MAHURIN
PATTY
PAUL
PAUM
PB
PBGT
PBIO
PBK
PBOV
PBPTS
PBS
PBST
PBT
PBTS
PCI
PCON
PCOR
PCRM
PCUL
PD
PDA
PDD
PDEM
PDIP
PDOV
PDRG
PE
PEACE
PEACEKEEPINGFORCES
PEDRO
PEL
PELOSI
PEMEX
PENA
PENV
PEPFAR
PEPR
PER
PEREZ
PERL
PERM
PERSONS
PET
PETER
PETERS
PETR
PETRAEUS
PETROL
PF
PFIN
PFLP
PFOR
PFOV
PG
PGGOC
PGIC
PGIV
PGKV
PGO
PGOC
PGOF
PGOG
PGON
PGOR
PGOT
PGOV
PGOVE
PGOVQL
PGPV
PGREL
PGREV
PGV
PH
PHALANAGE
PHARM
PHAS
PHEM
PHIM
PHM
PHSA
PHU
PHUH
PHUM
PHUMHUPPS
PHUN
PHUS
PHYTRP
PI
PIA
PICES
PIF
PIN
PINB
PIND
PINER
PINF
PING
PINL
PINO
PINOCHET
PINR
PINS
PINT
PINV
PIR
PIRF
PIRN
PJUS
PK
PKAO
PKBL
PKFK
PKISL
PKK
PKMN
PKNP
PKO
PKPA
PKPAL
PKPO
PKPRP
PKST
PL
PLAB
PLAN
PLEC
PLN
PLO
PLUM
PM
PMAR
PMAT
PMDL
PMIG
PMIL
PMIN
PMR
PMUC
PN
PNAT
PNET
PNG
PNIR
PNNL
PNR
PNRG
PNS
PNUC
PNUK
PNUM
PO
PODC
POG
POGV
POINS
POL
POLG
POLI
POLICY
POLINT
POLITICAL
POLITICS
POLM
POLMIL
POLS
POLUN
POREL
PORG
POSTS
POTUS
POUS
POV
POWELL
PP
PPA
PPAO
PPD
PPEF
PPEL
PPKO
PPOL
PQL
PQM
PRC
PRE
PREC
PRED
PREF
PREG
PREJ
PREK
PREL
PRELEVU
PRELM
PRELPLS
PRELTBIOBA
PREM
PREO
PREP
PRER
PRES
PRESIDENT
PRESL
PREV
PREZ
PRF
PRFE
PRFL
PRGO
PRGOV
PRIL
PRIVATIZATION
PRL
PRLE
PRM
PRO
PROB
PROCESS
PROG
PROL
PROLIFERATION
PROP
PROPERTY
PROTECTION
PROTESTS
PROV
PROVE
PRT
PRTER
PRWL
PS
PSA
PSCE
PSEC
PSEPC
PSHA
PSI
PSNR
PSO
PSOC
PSOCI
PSOE
PT
PTBS
PTE
PTEL
PTEP
PTER
PTGOV
PTIA
PTR
PTRD
PU
PUAS
PUBLIC
PUNE
PUNR
PUOS
PV
PVIP
PVOV
PVPR
PVTS
PWBG
PWMN
PY
QA
QADRI
QEL
QI
QIZ
QM
QT
QU
QUAN
QUOC
RA
RAED
RAFAEL
RAID
RAMON
RAMONTEIJELO
RAS
RATIFICATION
RAY GUEVARA MILTON
RBI
RCA
RCMP
RE
REA
REACTION
REALTIONS
RECIN
REF
REFORM
REFPAN
REFUGEE
REFUGEES
REGION
REGIONAL
REID
REIN
REINEMEYER
REL
RELAM
RELATIONS
RELFREE
RELIGIOUS
REMON
RENAMO
RENE PREVAL
REO
REPORT
REUBEN
RF
RFE
RFIN
RFREEDOM
RGOV
RGY
RHUM
RI
RICE
RICHARD
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RIMC
RIVERA
RL
RLA
RM
RMA
RO
ROBERT
ROBERT JOSEPH
RODHAM
RODRIGUEZ
ROK
ROME
ROOD
ROSS
ROW
ROY
RP
RPEL
RPTS
RQ
RR
RRB
RREL
RS
RSO
RSOX
RSP
RSZ
RTT
RU
RUEHZO
RV
RW
RWANDA
SA
SAAD
SAARC
SABAH
SACU
SADC
SAFE
SAIR
SAIS
SALOPEK
SAMA
SAN
SANC
SANR
SAO
SARB
SARGSIAN
SARS
SASC
SASEC
SASIAIN
SB
SBA
SC
SCA
SCCC
SCE
SCENESETTER
SCHUL
SCI
SCIENCE
SCNV
SCOI
SCOL
SCOM
SCPR
SCRM
SCRS
SCRSERD
SCUL
SCVL
SD
SE
SEC
SECDEF
SECI
SECRET
SECRETARY
SECSTATE
SECTOR
SECURITY
SEMAAN GABY EID
SEN
SENC
SENG
SENS
SENU
SENV
SENVQGR
SENVSPL
SENVSXE
SEP
SERBIA
SERZH
SETTLEMENTS
SEVN
SEXP
SF
SFNV
SG
SGNV
SGWI
SH
SHANNON
SHI
SHUM
SI
SILVASANDE
SIMS
SIPDI
SIPDIS
SIPR
SIPRNET
SIPRS
SIUK
SK
SKCA
SKEP
SKI
SKSAF
SL
SLM
SLOVAK
SM
SMAR
SMI
SMIG
SMIL
SMIT
SMITH
SMRT
SN
SNA
SNAP
SNAR
SNUC
SO
SOC
SOCI
SOCIA
SOCIETY
SOCIO
SOCIS
SOCISZX
SOCR
SOCY
SOE
SOFA
SOI
SOIC
SOLI
SOLIC
SOM
SOMALIA
SOPN
SORT
SOSI
SOVIET
SOWGC
SP
SPAS
SPC
SPCE
SPCVIS
SPECI
SPECIALIST
SPILL
SPP
SPSTATE
SR
SREF
SRIT
SRS
SRYI
SSA
SSH
ST
STAG
START
STATE
STC
STEINBERG
STEPHEN HADLEY
STET
STP
STR
STUDENT
SU
SUCCESSION
SUFFRAGE
SULLIVAN
SUMMIT
SUR
SUSAN
SV
SW
SWHO
SWMN
SX
SXG
SY
SYAI
SYMBOL
SYR
SYRIA
SYSI
SYTH
SZ
TA
TAGS
TALAL
TAUSCHER
TAX
TB
TBI
TBID
TBIO
TBIOZK
TBKIO
TBO
TC
TCOR
TCSENV
TD
TDA
TE
TECH
TECHNOLOGY
TER
TERAA
TERFIN
TERR
TERROR
TERRORISM
TF
TFIN
TG
TGRY
TH
THANH
THE
THERESE
THIRDTERM
THKSJA
THOMAS
THOMAS THOMMA
THPY
TI
TIA
TIBO
TIFA
TINT
TIO
TIP
TITI
TIUZ
TJ
TK
TL
TM
TN
TNDG
TNGD
TO
TOPEC
TORRIJOS
TOURISM
TP
TPHY
TPKO
TPP
TPSA
TPSL
TR
TRAD
TRADE
TRAFFICKING
TRBIO
TRBY
TRD
TREAS
TREASURY
TREATY
TREL
TRG
TRGV
TRGY
TRIO
TRSY
TRT
TRV
TRY
TRYG
TRYS
TS
TSA
TSLP
TSPA
TSPL
TSRL
TSRY
TSY
TT
TTFN
TU
TURKEY
TV
TVBIO
TW
TWRO
TX
TY
TZ
TZBY
UA
UAE
UAID
UAM
UB
UDEM
UE
UEU
UG
UGA
UK
UKR
UKRAINE
UM
UMIK
UN
UNA
UNAF
UNAIDS
UNAMA
UNAMSIL
UNAORC
UNAUS
UNBRO
UNC
UNCC
UNCDF
UNCDN
UNCHC
UNCHR
UNCHS
UNCITRAL
UNCND
UNCOPUOS
UNCRED
UNCRIME
UNCSD
UNCSW
UNCTAD
UNDC
UNDEF
UNDOF
UNDP
UNECE
UNEF
UNEP
UNESCO
UNFA
UNFC
UNFCYP
UNFF
UNFICYP
UNFIYCP
UNFPA
UNGA
UNGAPL
UNGO
UNHCR
UNHRC
UNICEF
UNIDCP
UNIDO
UNIDROIT
UNIFEM
UNIFIL
UNION
UNKIK
UNM
UNMEE
UNMIC
UNMIK
UNMIKI
UNMIKV
UNMIL
UNMIN
UNMOVIC
UNO
UNODC
UNOMIG
UNOPS
UNP
UNPAR
UNPUOS
UNRCCA
UNRCR
UNREST
UNRWA
UNSC
UNSCAPU
UNSCD
UNSCE
UNSCER
UNSCR
UNSCS
UNSD
UNSE
UNTAC
UNTERR
UNTZ
UNUS
UNVIE
UNYI
UP
UPU
UPUO
UR
US
USAID
USAU
USCC
USCG
USDA
USDELFESTTWO
USEU
USG
USGS
USMS
USNC
USOAS
USOP
USPS
USPTO
USSC
USTA
USTDA
USTR
USTRD
USTRIT
USTRPS
USTRUWR
USUN
UUNR
UV
UX
UY
UZ
VA
VANESSA
VANG
VAT
VC
VE
VELS
VEN
VENZ
VETTING
VI
VINICIO
VIP
VIS
VISAS
VISIT
VM
VN
VO
VOA
VT
VTEG
VTFR
VTIS
VTPREL
VTTBIO
VTWCAR
VXY
VY
VZ
WA
WAEMU
WAKI
WAR
WARD
WB
WBEG
WBG
WCAR
WCI
WCL
WCO
WE
WEBG
WEBZ
WEET
WEF
WEOG
WET
WEU
WFA
WFP
WFPAORC
WFPO
WGC
WGG
WHA
WHITMER
WHO
WHTI
WI
WILCOX
WILLIAM
WIPO
WIR
WITH
WJRO
WM
WMD
WMDT
WMN
WMO
WOMEN
WPO
WRTO
WS
WSIS
WTO
WTRD
WTRO
WTRQ
WW
WWARD
WWBG
WWT
WZ
XA
XAAF
XB
XC
XD
XE
XF
XFNEA
XG
XH
XI
XJ
XK
XL
XLUM
XM
XO
XP
XQ
XR
XS
XT
XTAG
XU
XV
XW
XX
XXX
XY
XZ
YE
YEH
YI
YL
YM
YMCS
YS
YU
YURIY
ZA
ZANU
ZB
ZC
ZCTU
ZEALAND
ZF
ZFR
ZH
ZI
ZIM
ZJ
ZK
ZKGM
ZL
ZM
ZN
ZO
ZOELLICK
ZP
ZR
ZS
ZT
ZU
ZW
ZXA