Identifier | Subject | Date | Office | Classification | Tags |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
09CARACAS1591 |
GRBV UNDEREPORTS H1N1, DENGUE AND MALARIA ON THE RISE [...] (C) SUMMARY: As of December 17, the Venezuelan Ministry of Health has reported 2,697 laboratory-confirmed cases of H1N1 and 117 deaths associated with the virus. Many medical experts claim that the Venezuelan Government (GBRV) has underreported the prevalence of H1N1, based on the mortality r [...] |
2009-12-23 14:50:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON VE KFLU KHIV AMED |
09CARACAS1593 |
VENEZUELA: PDVSA'S CVP LEADERSHIP [...] (C) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: A senior Ministry of Energy and Petroleum (MENPET) official provided insight into the structure of PDVSA's Venezuelan Petroleum Corporation (or CVP by its Spanish acronym) board of directors, current production numbers, and noted current Russian and Chinese difficulties [...] |
2009-12-23 15:13:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON RS CH VE |
09CARACAS1595 |
Venezuela: Banco Bicentenario Opens, But is the Banking Episode Over? [...] (C) Summary: President Chavez officially inaugurated Banco Bicentenario on December 21, thus effectively re-opening three of the eight banks the Venezuelan government (GBRV) has taken over or shut down since November 20. The National Assembly also passed changes to the banking law to triple the amo [...] |
2009-12-23 19:44:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN VE |
09CARACAS1597 |
Dueling Expectations regarding Cedeno's Return [...] (U) During a December 22 press conference to discuss the results of Copenhagen-15, Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro said that all the documentation required under the U.S.-Venezuela Extradition Treaty to request fugitive banker Eligio Cedeno's return had been provided to the United States so that Ce [...] |
2009-12-23 20:17:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM PGOV VE |
09CARACAS1599 |
CHAVEZ PROMOTES TRANSITION TO SOCIALIST ECONOMY, THREATENS [...] (SBU) On December 22, President Chavez inaugurated a chain of government-run retail stores called the Corporation of Socialist Markets (COMERSO). "We're going to defeat speculation. Private individuals can still sell, but they'll have to compete with us and with a people that is now fully awa [...] |
2009-12-29 22:50:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON KIPR EINV ETRD EIND EINT ECIN CH VE |
09CARACAS160 |
STATE TV AIRS TELCON WITH POLOFF - ALLEGES PLOT [...] (U) Action message -- See Para 6. 2. (SBU) Venezolana de Television (VTV), the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's (GBRV's) free-to-air state TV station, aired on January 27 a January 9 telephone conversation between the secretary of opposition activist Enrique Mendoza and [...] |
2009-02-06 18:11:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL ASEC VE |
09CARACAS1605 |
NATIONAL ELECTORAL COUNCIL DELAYS DECISION ON VOTING [...] (C) On December 29, Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) announced that despite its earlier promise to release information about the revised boundaries of voting districts before the end of 2009 (reftel), it would instead do so by January 20, 2010. The information about the revis [...] |
2009-12-31 17:18:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV VE |
09CARACAS1607 |
CHAVEZ CLAIMS VENEZUELA HAS "GEOPOLITICAL IMPORTANCE" [...] (SBU) President Chavez and the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry made statements during the week of December 28 regarding the Spanish criticism of Venezuela's role at the Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen and U.S. policy toward Iran. Both statements are suggestive of President Chavez's [...] |
2009-12-31 19:08:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL VE SENV SP KGHG IR |
09CARACAS1609 |
VENEZUELA: Central Bank Underestimates Economic Contraction [...] (U) SUMMARY AND COMMENT: According to Central Bank President Nelson Merentes' end of year projection, the Venezuelan economy contracted 2.9% in 2009. The Central Bank (BCV) data indicated non oil exports fell to 2004 levels and petroleum income is also sharply down. Trying to divert attention [...] |
2009-12-31 19:18:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON EFIN VE |
09CARACAS174 |
REFERENDUM UPDATE - FIVE DAYS OUT [...] (C) Summary: With less than a week until President Chavez's February 15 constitutional referendum on removing official term limits, the Venezuelan President has shifted gears from warning of an impending "civil war" to calling for peace and demanding an end to political violence by his radi [...] |
2009-02-09 22:18:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS182 |
AUSTRIANS REQUEST INFORMATION ON VENEZUELA-FARC [...] (U) This is an Action Request - See Para. 4. 2. (C) During a February 5 courtesy call on the Charge, Austrian Ambassador to Venezuela Thomas Schuller-Gotzburg said the Venezuelan National Guard is seeking to purchase weapons from Austria. Schuller-Gotzburg inquired whether we had informa [...] |
2009-02-10 20:17:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER MCAP VE CO |
09CARACAS183 |
FEBRUARY 15 TERM LIMITS REFERENDUM: BY THE NUMBERS [...] No summary [...] |
2009-02-10 21:59:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS184 |
GBRV DETAINS 11 PERSONS FOR ATTACK ON SYNAGOGUE [...] (C) Summary: Venezuelan authorities arrested eleven persons over the February 7-8 weekend in response to the January 31 Caracas synagogue attack (Ref A). Five officers and a sub-inspector in the Caracas Metropolitan Police Force, as well as a detective from Venezuela's national criminal po [...] |
2009-02-10 22:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | KIRF PGOV PHUM PREL ASEC VE IS |
09CARACAS195 |
CHAVEZ REFUSES FORMER POLISH PRESIDENT WALESA'S [...] (C) Summary: With five days to go until the February 15 constitutional referendum on removing official term limits, Chavez is trying to marginalize and discredit any potential critics. He has again denied democracy activist and former Polish President Lech Walesa entrance into Venezuela -- [...] |
2009-02-11 22:04:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM KIRF VE PL |
09CARACAS200 |
REFERENDUM: CHAVEZ'S ELECTION TO WIN OR LOSE [...] (C) Summary. The February 15 referendum on eliminating term limits is accentuating political polarization and virtually splitting Venezuela's electorate in two. Both the "Yes" and "No" camps are focused on motivating and mobilizing their core supporters to overcome voter fatigue and abstenti [...] |
2009-02-12 20:51:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
09CARACAS204 |
REFERENDUM CAMPAIGNS WRAP-UP, WITH "YES" LEADING [...] (C) Summary: As the February 13 deadline for campaigning approaches, both the YES and the No camps are wrapping up their activities. The GBRV refused to approve student activists' request to hold a final march in central Caracas on February 12 while Chavez announced his own "Yes" march for [...] |
2009-02-13 14:02:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM ASEC VE |
09CARACAS206 |
MALL CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES DESPITE CHAVEZ'S [...] (C) Ricardo Cohen (strictly protect throughout), a director of Sambil Construction, confirmed to Econoffs February 11 that construction was continuing at Sambil's La Candelaria mall despite President Chavez's December 21 order that the building be expropriated (reftel). He said several days [...] |
2009-02-13 14:37:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV VE |
09CARACAS207 |
CENTRAL BANK STATISTICS COME UNDER ATTACK FROM [...] (C) Summary: In a recent speech, President Chavez claimed the Central Bank of Venezuela's (BCV) inflation statistics did not properly take into account products and services subsidized by the government. He called on his Minister of Finance and a member of the BCV's board to develop a measu [...] |
2009-02-13 14:39:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN VE |
09CARACAS212 |
VENEZUELA'S 2009 TIP REPORT SUBMISSION [...] (SBU) Per reftel, post submits the following information for inclusion in the 2009 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report for Venezuela. Political Officer Douglas Fisk is Embassy's point of contact. Telephone: 58-212-907-8052; fax 58-212-907-8033; Email: FiskDA@state.gov Forty hours were de [...] |
2009-02-13 21:33:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PHUM PREF SMIG ASEC ELAB KCRM KFRD KTIP KWMN |
09CARACAS213 |
RECYCLE AND REUSE: VENEZUELAN TOILET PAPER SHORTAGE [...] (U) The following message is sensitive but unclassified. Please handle accordingly. 2. (SBU) Summary. In the ramp up to the February 15 referendum, toilet paper is the latest consumer product shortage. The Government of the Bolivarian Republic (GBRV), through its consumer protection age [...] |
2009-02-17 11:26:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN EINV ELAB PGOV PREL VE |
09CARACAS214 |
PDVSA'S STRATEGY AGAINST EXXONMOBIL AND INCREASED [...] (C) SUMMARY: According to a PDVSA employee interviewed following his visa renewal, PDVSA is aggressively preparing its international arbitration case against ExxonMobil (XM), is reviewing and prioritizing balances due to service companies, and is optimistic that ConocoPhillips (CP) will retur [...] |
2009-02-17 11:31:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
09CARACAS216 |
VENEZUELANS APPROVE ELIMINATION OF TERM LIMITS, [...] (C) Summary. The National Electoral Council (CNE) announced February 15 that Venezuelan voters approved a proposed constitutional amendment to eliminate term limits, 54.85 percent to 45.15 percent. The result, coming on the heels of the "Yes" camp's state-funded and sometimes violent campaig [...] |
2009-02-17 13:25:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM VE |
09CARACAS218 |
VENEZUELA WILL NOT ATTEND MEETING ON BIOSAFETY [...] (C) As requested in reftel A, the Agriculture Attache approached university professor and biotech expert Dr. Claret Michelangeli de Clavio (strictly protect throughout) to determine Venezuelan participation at the Mexico City biosafety meeting. Michelangeli, who represented the Venezuelan gov [...] |
2009-02-17 18:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV EAGR VE |
09CARACAS222 |
GBRV EXPELS EUROPEAN PARLIAMENTARIAN OVER CRITICAL [...] (C) Summary. The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) forcibly expelled European Parliament member Luis Herrero February 13 after Herrero criticized both President Chavez and the Venezuelan electoral system. National Electoral Council (CNE) President Tibisay Lucena called [...] |
2009-02-17 21:49:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SP VE |
09CARACAS223 |
FEBRUARY 15 REFERENDUM - WINNERS AND LOSERS [...] (C) Summary: President Chavez and his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) party are the big winners of the February 15 referendum in which almost 55% of Venezuelans voted to remove term limits for all elected officials. Chavez now can run for a third six-year term and currently faces [...] |
2009-02-17 21:55:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS227 |
VENEZUELANS STAND TO LOSE BILLIONS AT STANFORD [...] (SBU) Summary: Venezuelans stand to lose up to several billion dollars if the SEC is correct in its allegations of a Ponzi scheme at Antigua-based Stanford International Bank (SIB). The Stanford Financial Group (SFG), which owns SIB, aggressively pursued offshore deposits by Venezuelans in S [...] |
2009-02-18 21:05:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN VE |
09CARACAS238 |
VENEZUELA: UPDATE OF WORST FORMS OF CHILD LABOR [...] (U) This cable responds to reftel request for current information on child labor as well as government efforts to address the problem. Venezuelan law protects children from exploitation in the workplace, but enforcement is often lacking. The Ministry of Labor and the National Institute for [...] |
2009-02-20 20:09:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | ELAB EIND ETRD PHUM SOCI VE |
09CARACAS239 |
PDVSA STRUGGLING WITH FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL [...] (C) SUMMARY: According to the CEO of a major domestic oil field services company, Chavez continues to spend as if world oil prices will quickly return to a minimum of $60/barrel, ignoring other budget scenarios developed by PDVSA planners. This contact avers that Venezuela is not only facin [...] |
2009-02-20 20:22:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
09CARACAS240 |
THE DENIAL DILEMMA: OPPOSITION CLAIMS "VICTORY" IN REFERENDUM LOSS [...] (C) Summary: The political opposition's reaction to President Chavez's successful February 15 constitutional referendum has largely been one of denial -- lamenting the government's electoral advantages while spinning the outcome as somewhat of a victory for the opposition. Opposition parties have a [...] |
2009-02-20 21:21:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS247 |
GBRV NOT TO NATIONALIZE BANCO DE VENEZUELA [...] (C) Milton Guzman (strictly protect throughout), chief economist and vice president of Banco de Venezuela (BdV), told Econoffs February 18 BdV would not be nationalized despite President Chavez's sensational prior announcement to that effect. (Note: President Chavez surprised Venezuela's ba [...] |
2009-02-25 18:56:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN VE |
09CARACAS252 |
VENEZUELAN DENIAL OF VISAS TO KEY MISSION PERSONNEL [...] (S) Venezuela's continued reluctance to issue visas to new personnel assigned to Caracas will, if not resolved, bring us to a mission critical situation. We are facing an almost complete turnover of the country team in summer 2009 with no certainty that their replacements will be granted vi [...] |
2009-02-26 16:30:00 | Embassy Caracas | SECRET | PREL AMGT APER VE |
09CARACAS257 |
THE BOLIVARIAN REVOLUTION ADVANCES: WHAT'S NEXT? [...] (C) Summary. After winning public approval for the elimination of term limits, President Chavez publicly declared his intention to accelerate his Bolivarian Revolution which will almost certainly concentrate even more power in his hands. Chavez has not yet revealed how he intends to do so, b [...] |
2009-02-27 18:39:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
09CARACAS258 |
CHAVEZ STRONGLY REJECTS HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT [...] (C) Summary: President Chavez, Foreign Minister Maduro, and other senior Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) leaders strongly criticized the Human Rights Report February 26-27. Chavez phoned a late night pro-government political talk show to denounce the report as hypo [...] |
2009-02-27 21:51:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL PGOV VE |
09CARACAS26 |
VENEZUELAN SCIENTISTS SAY NUCLEAR ENERGY PROGRAM [...] (C) Summary: In late 2008, Chavez once again made statements regarding his plans to develop a nuclear power program in Venezuela and went so far as to sign an agreement with Russia's Rosatom on nuclear energy cooperation. Several local nuclear physicists are skeptical arguing that nothing came [...] |
2009-01-08 20:24:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG TRGY BEXP BTIO PGOV PREL ETRD ECON PARM |
09CARACAS264 |
CHAVEZ TO PRESIDENT OBAMA: GO (EXPLETIVE) YOURSELF [...] (C) Summary: In two mandatory "en cadena" TV broadcasts February 28 and March 1, President Chavez verbally assailed President Obama in response to the recent public release of the U.S. Human Rights Report and the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR). More specifically, Ch [...] |
2009-03-02 19:22:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SNAR VE |
09CARACAS265 |
CHAVEZ TO PRESIDENT OBAMA: GO (EXPLETIVE) YOURSELF [...] (C) Summary: In two mandatory "en cadena" TV broadcasts February 28 and March 1, President Chavez verbally assailed President Obama in response to the recent public release of the U.S. Human Rights Report and the International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR). More specifically, Ch [...] |
2009-03-02 19:38:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SNAR VE |
09CARACAS269 |
VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT IGNORES USG OVERTURES ON AVIATION [...] (C) SUMMARY: A Venezuelan private sector organization advocated strongly for the Venezuelan civil aviation authority (INAC) to support the issuance of visas for F AA inspectors and to meet with the Embassy to discuss visa matters. The Venezuelan govemment (GBRV) has not acceded to either request. [...] |
2009-03-03 15:45:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV EAIR VE |
09CARACAS270 |
VENEZUELA'S RICE INDUSTRY THREATENED FOR POLITICAL GAIN [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Chavez announced on February 28, that the government would intervene in the domestic rice processing industry, ostensibly to stop millers from contravening its food price control policy. The Venezuelan National Guard occupied one of the plants on February 27 - the da [...] |
2009-03-03 16:47:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV ETRD EINV EAGR VE |
09CARACAS271 |
2009 SPECIAL 301 RECOMMENDATION: KEEP VENEZUELA [...] (SBU) Summary: The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) continues to chip away at protection of intellectual property rights. In 2008, the GBRV resurrected a 50 year old law disallowing the patenting of medicines and food. Enforcement remains a problem as the police agenc [...] |
2009-03-03 18:28:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON ETRD KIPR |
09CARACAS272 |
SUPREME COURT ELECTIONS HIGHLIGHT JUDICIAL [...] (C) Summary: The Venezuelan Supreme Court (TSJ) will hold internal elections March 4 to determine the president, vice-president, and a number of other posts. Current TSJ president Luisa Estella Morales is likely to be reelected to a third consecutive two-year term, arguing that the passage [...] |
2009-03-03 21:41:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PHUM VE |
09CARACAS279 |
VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT THREATENS TO "EXPROPRIATE" A [...] (C) On March 4, Chavez directed the Minister to "begin the process of expropriating Cargill." The President of Cargill Venezuela Roberto Moro (protect) told Post this morning that he was on his way to a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture Elias Jaua. Moro reported tha he believes thus f [...] |
2009-03-05 16:54:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV EAGR VE |
09CARACAS28 |
BRV REITERATES THERE'S NO FARC IN VENEZUELA [...] (SBU) According to press reports, FARC Supreme leader Alfonso Cano AKA Guillermo Leon Saenz inadvertently revealed the names of seven senior FARC operatives in Venezuela in a communique that vowed a new offensive against Colombian police and military units following setbacks during 2008. Cano [...] |
2009-01-08 21:27:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL PTER VE CO |
09CARACAS280 |
VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT THREATENS TO "EXPROPRIATE" A [...] (C) On March 4, Chavez directed the Minister to "begin the process of expropriating Cargill." The President of Cargill Venezuela Roberto Moro (protect) told Post this morning that he was on his way to a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture Elias Jaua. Moro reported that he believes thus [...] |
2009-03-05 18:30:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV EAGR VE |
09CARACAS281 |
ANTI-SEMITISM UPDATE - TENSIONS ABOUND ONE MONTH [...] (C) Summary: Anti-Semitism continues to be a problem in Venezuela despite the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's (GBRV's) pledge to address this issue in the wake of the January 31 attack on the Caracas synagogue. On February 26, unknown assailants threw a small explosive [...] |
2009-03-05 18:30:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KIRF PREL PGOV VE |
09CARACAS282 |
VENEZUELA: CONFLUENCE OF CHAVEZ AND OBAMA OIL [...] (C) SUMMARY: Press reports have picked up on DOE/EIA statistics indicating that Venezuelan exports to the U.S. decreased 12.3% in 2008 and have concluded that President Chavez's plans to reduce oil exports to the U.S. are succeeding. The stories ignore the broader impact of the last ten year [...] |
2009-03-05 18:30:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
09CARACAS283 |
DON'T CALL US, WE'LL CALL YOU: VENEZUELA'S ANIMAL [...] (C) SUMMARY: One of President Chavez' July 2008 decrees mandated the reorganization of Venezuela's animal and plant health authority, SASA, into a new organization called INSAI (the National Institute for Agricultural Health). This has now taken operational effect with the first action, for [...] |
2009-03-05 18:34:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EAGR ETRD PGOV VE |
09CARACAS287 |
VENEZUELA: LATEST CABINET RESHUFFLE [...] (C) Summary. On March 3, the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) announced a cabinet reshuffling, including the transformation of five existing ministries and the abolition of three ministries. The only new face in the cabinet is Eduardo Saman, a hard line Chavista and [...] |
2009-03-05 21:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PREL EINV PGOV VE |
09CARACAS288 |
VENEZUELA: PDVSA FALLS FURTHER DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Even though Energy Minister Ramirez announced March 2 that PDVSA would begin paying service companies and that it would not cancel any contracts, several major service companies have neither received payments nor notification from PDVSA of pending payments. International service [...] |
2009-03-06 13:42:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
09CARACAS290 |
VENEZULEAN NATIONAL GUARD STILL OCCUPYING CARGILL [...] (C) SUMMARY: US agribusiness giant Cargill has yet to receive an official expropriation order following President Chavez's March 4 threat to expropriate the company's rice plant (ref A). According to Cargill Venezuela, the company has three days to respond to a citation issued as a result of [...] |
2009-03-06 19:05:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV EAGR VE |
09CARACAS3 |
CADIVI CUTS MAXIMUM DOLLAR ALLOCATIONS TO [...] (U) CADIVI, the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) entity that administers foreign exchange, cut the maximum dollar allocations to Venezuelans traveling abroad by half for 2009. Each individual will be allowed to spend up to USD 2,500 abroad on his or her Venezuelan cre [...] |
2009-01-02 13:20:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PGOV VE |
09CARACAS304 |
TO DEVALUE OR NOT TO DEVALUE, IS THAT THE QUESTION? [...] (C) Summary: With the announcement of new economic policy measures expected by some over the next few weeks, speculation continues about whether the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) will choose to devalue Venezuela's currency. Those who expect a devaluation in 2009 [...] |
2009-03-10 20:35:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PGOV VE |
09CARACAS305 |
VENEZUELA: CARGILL EXPECTS PLANT TO BE NATIONALIZED [...] (C) Cargill Venezuela's Director of International Relations Ramon Sosa (protect) told the Agriculture Attache on March 9 that it is only a matter of time before the Venezuelan government nationalizes Cargill's rice processing plant. Sosa reported that in a March 8 meeting with Minister of Agr [...] |
2009-03-10 21:05:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV EAGR VE |
09CARACAS306 |
SUPREME COURT ASSESSMENT UNDERSCORES REFLEXIVE [...] (C) Summary: A legal study quantifying the level of partisanship in the Venezuelan Supreme Court (TSJ) was released the week of March 2 to a number of local Venezuelan dailies. The study, conducted by legal scholar Antonio Canova, finds that the court has been unwilling to rule in favor of [...] |
2009-03-10 21:07:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KJUS KDEM VE |
09CARACAS307 |
VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT "HITS THE ACCELERATOR" ON [...] (C) SUMMARY: The government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) has dramatically increased its intervention in the Venezuelan economy in the weeks following President Chavez's successful February 15 bid to abolish presidential term limits. As the price of oil remains low, the GBRV [...] |
2009-03-10 21:37:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV EAGR VE |
09CARACAS309 |
STUDENT LEADER NIXON MORENO FLEES HOLY SEE MISSION [...] (C) Summary. Early on March 9, former student leader Nixon Moreno fled the Holy See Mission in Caracas, where he had been sheltered for almost two years. The 35-year-old opposition activist was granted political asylum from the Holy See in June 2008, following his plea for political asylum a [...] |
2009-03-11 15:23:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM KIRF KDEM VE VT |
09CARACAS310 |
IT PAYS TO TRAVEL - HIGH VISA DEMAND IN VENEZUELA [...] No summary [...] |
2009-03-12 21:26:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | CVIS CASC ECON SOCI VE |
09CARACAS311 |
VISAS VIPER FEBRUARY 2009 ACTIVITY REPORT [...] The Acting DCM chaired the Caracas Visas Viper Committee meeting on February 25, 2009. Committee members submitted two names for the Visas Viper program. 2. Committee members agree that Lina Ron meets the Visas Viper criteria. Her information is as follows: Name: Ron Pereira, Lina Nine [...] |
2009-03-13 13:28:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | CVIS KVPR PTER ASEC PINR CMGT VE |
09CARACAS312 |
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY RECONVENES TO CONSOLIDATE [...] (C) Summary: After a two-month recess to campaign for President Chavez's successful February 15 referendum, the Chavista-dominated National Assembly (AN) reconvened and announced March 10 a slate of proposed legislation intended to consolidate the Venezuelan President's power even further. [...] |
2009-03-13 14:17:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS32 |
ANTI-ISRAELI ACTIONS IN CARACAS [...] (SBU) Approximately 1,000 PSUV activists and associated leftist supporters held a brief January 8 march in Caracas to protest Israel's invasion of the Gaza strip and the USG's supposed role. That same day, some 15 masked vandals spray painted pro-Palestinian graffiti on the perimeter wall of t [...] |
2009-01-09 21:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE IS |
09CARACAS322 |
CHAVEZ CONCENTRATES MORE POWER AT THE EXPENSE OF [...] (C) Summary: The Chavista-dominated National Assembly (AN) approved an amended Organic Law of Decentralization March 12 which enables President Chavez to take control over state infrastructure, goods, and services that are "in the general public's interest." Chavez ordered the military on [...] |
2009-03-16 22:10:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM SNAR VE |
09CARACAS323 |
CHAVEZ INVITES RUSSIAN BOMBERS TO VISIT, NOT STAY. [...] (SBU) During the March 15 broadcast of his regular Sunday television program "Alo, Presidente," Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) President Hugo Chavez denied offering La Orchila island as a permanent base to Russian strategic bombers. Interrupting his discussion on de [...] |
2009-03-16 22:17:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV MCAP RU VE |
09CARACAS330 |
VENEZUELAN NATIONAL GUARD OCCUPIES PORTS AND [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Venezuelan Government passed a "Decentralization Law" on March 12, that moves authority over state-run airports, roads and ports to the central government (Ref A). The morning of March 16, a senior Carabobo state official reported that the National Guard had arrived and fear [...] |
2009-03-17 19:31:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV EAGR VE |
09CARACAS338 |
SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS: CHARGE'S MEETING WITH [...] (C) Summary: Charge met Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) Ambassador to Venezuela Razi Ali March 17 to discuss the upcoming Summit of the Americas (SOA). Charge raised both the need to avoid any potential incidents with the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) given the volume [...] |
2009-03-18 21:09:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL KSUM MASS TD VE |
09CARACAS339 |
VENEZUELA: LABOR UNREST ACROSS ECONOMIC SECTORS [...] (C) Summary. Labor unrest is growing in Venezuela, particularly since the January 21 expiration of the collective bargaining agreement for oil workers. Oil workers, whose benefits have lost ground to other unions, are openly expressing their dissent. The Government of the Bolivarian Republi [...] |
2009-03-18 21:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN EINV ELAB ENGR PGOV VE |
09CARACAS340 |
AS CHAVEZ EXPANDS CONTROL, OPPOSITION IMPLODES [...] (C) Summary: Opposition party leaders are considering coordinating their messages and actions more, but are still a long way from doing so. Instead, fracture lines within opposition parties are even more pronounced in the wake of President Chavez's victory in the February 15 referendum to eliminate [...] |
2009-03-18 21:25:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS351 |
PARALLEL RATE CONTINUES TO RISE [...] (U) The parallel foreign exchange rate has jumped from 5.95 Bs/USD to 6.3 Bs/USD (as measured by the cost of buying a dollar) since the beginning of the week, representing a six percent devaluation of the bolivar on the parallel market in three days. One press report, quoting one currency tra [...] |
2009-03-20 19:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN VE |
09CARACAS352 |
VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT VERSUS U.S. COMPANY CARGILL [...] (C) SUMMARY: Cargill de Venezuela President Roberto Moro (strictly protect throughout) told the Charge on March 17 that although the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) has informed the company that its rice plant would be nationalized on the grounds of "public utility," [...] |
2009-03-20 19:33:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV EAGR VE |
09CARACAS353 |
PROSECUTOR CALLS FOR ARREST OF MARACAIBO MAYOR [...] (C) Summary: Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) prosecutor Katiuska Plaza issued an arrest order request March 19 for Maracaibo Mayor and former 2006 presidential candidate Manuel Rosales. The senior prosecutor accused the former Zulia State Governor (2000-2008) of " [...] |
2009-03-20 19:33:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV VE |
09CARACAS354 |
CHAVEZ PLAYS POLITICAL CRAPS WITH PROPOSALS TO [...] (C) SUMMARY. Facing the global economic crisis and a domestic fiscal crisis arising from low oil prices, Chavez has floated plans to rationalize the subsidized price of gasoline (a $5.5 billion subsidy according to PDVSA,s own calculations). Energy and Petroleum Minister Ramirez has opined t [...] |
2009-03-20 19:39:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
09CARACAS355 |
CODEL DELAHUNT MEETINGS WITH CHAVEZ AND FOREIGN [...] (C) Summary: After a briefing by the Charge', Congressman Delahunt discussed bilateral relations alone with Foreign Ministry (MFA) officials and ALBA Bank President and former Ambassador to the United States Bernie Alvarez on March 19. He also met alone with President Chavez and Minister o [...] |
2009-03-20 20:58:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SNAR OVIP AMGT VE |
09CARACAS356 |
FOREIGN MINISTRY PROMISES TO RESOLVE [...] (C) Summary: On the margins of the March 19 visit of Congressman William Delahunt, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Chief of Staff Temir Porras promised -- again -- to resolve persistent administrative issues impeding Embassy operations. Porras spoke directly with the Charge March 18 and [...] |
2009-03-20 21:07:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV AMGT VE |
09CARACAS361 |
VENEZUELA: NATIONALIZED CEMENT COMPANIES GIVE UP [...] (C) SUMMARY: Former Executive Director of Holcim Venezuela Louis Beauchemin (protect throughout) told EconOff March 19 that Holcim would seek international arbitration after giving up hope of payment for its cement operations, nationalized in August 2008. Holcim, the world's second largest cem [...] |
2009-03-23 12:54:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV VE |
09CARACAS362 |
VENEZUELA: OPIC-FINANCED COMPANY MAY FILE DEFAULT [...] (C) SUMMARY: U.S. concern Williams is poised to file one to three default notices against PDVSA on projects financed by OPIC. PDVSA's on-going financial crisis makes it unlikely it will be able to pay arrears to Williams. Given recent actions taken against other companies that have issued de [...] |
2009-03-23 16:52:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
09CARACAS367 |
CHAVEZ CALLS PRESIDENT OBAMA "IGNORANT", STILL [...] (C) Summary: President Chavez attacked the Obama administration again March 22, two days after Representative William Delahunt encouraged the Venezuelan president to push the "reset" button on bilateral relations (Reftel). Chavez also accused the United States of backing "separatist" plans [...] |
2009-03-23 20:44:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE |
09CARACAS368 |
CHAVEZ ANNOUNCES "ANTICRISIS" ECONOMIC MEASURES: [...] (C) Summary: President Chavez announced on March 21 a series of "anticrisis" economic measures. These measures do not represent any fundamental change in the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela's (GBRV) management of the Venezuelan economy. Instead, they are stop-gap policies [...] |
2009-03-23 21:05:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN VE |
09CARACAS369 |
VENEZUELA: PDVSA CHEATING ON OPEC CUTS AT EXPENSE [...] (C) SUMMARY: A Senior Chevron official confirmed that he believes PDVSA is cheating on its OPEC-mandated quota cuts to take advantage of greater demand for heavy crude. He also confirmed that PDVSA issued an informal rig stoppage order and instructed its joint venture partners to cease capital [...] |
2009-03-24 11:41:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
09CARACAS378 |
PRESS FREEDOM UPDATE - FEBRUARY/MARCH 2009 [...] (C) Summary: Following multiple attacks against journalists in January 2009 (Reftel), Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) threats against the freedom of press continued in February and March. President Chavez recently ordered his governors and mayors to "draw a map of [...] |
2009-03-25 13:15:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
09CARACAS388 |
VENEZUELA ISSUES ALMOST ALL PENDING DIPLOMATIC [...] (C) Summary. USG protests against harassment of Embassy operations have spurred some MFA action. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) recently issued visas to almost all pending PCS employees, several TDY visas, and pledged to resume issuing all TDY visas. The Venezuelan government also ag [...] |
2009-03-25 22:42:00 | Embassy Caracas | SECRET | PREL PGOV EAID MCAP AMGT VE |
09CARACAS390 |
NOT A GOOD IDEA, BUT IT'S THE LAW: THE BRV'S LEGAL [...] (C) SUMMARY: Although recent government interventions in the food processing industry are at once real attempts to hold food prices down and maintain a social contract with the poor, leading commentators, including legal experts and representatives of American companies, estimate that the GBR [...] |
2009-03-26 16:20:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EAGR ETRD PGOV VE |
09CARACAS397 |
VENEZUELA: ACCESS TO CADIVI DOLLARS TIGHTENS [...] This message is sensitive but unclassified, please treat accordingly. 2. (SBU) Summary. On March 16, the National Assembly of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) approved revised lists of products eligible for importation using the official exchange rate. Imports at the official [...] |
2009-03-27 15:34:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN EINV ETRD PREL PGOV VE |
09CARACAS398 |
SUPREME COURT INITIATES ANOTHER JUDICIAL [...] (C) Summary: The pro-Chavez Venezuelan Supreme Court (TSJ) has announced an "integral restructuring" to combat corruption, although it is almost certainly a measure to remove judges or court officials who have not sufficiently demonstrated their "revolutionary" credentials. Judicial expert [...] |
2009-03-27 15:46:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | KJUS PGOV KDEM PHUM VE |
09CARACAS4 |
PRESSURE IN OVERNIGHT INTERBANK MARKET AS SOME [...] (U) The overnight market for interbank loans has come under increasing pressure in the last two months, with the loan amounts negotiated and average interest rates more than doubling. In 2007, the average daily total negotiated in the interbank overnight market was 1,212 billion bolivars (Bs; USD 5 [...] |
2009-01-02 13:22:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN VE |
09CARACAS404 |
REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO HELP STRENGTHEN [...] (C) Summary: As President Chavez concentrates even more power in his presidency, and closes off space for democratic dialogue, Embassy's USAID/OTI programs in support of democracy and civil society are vital to preserving and strengthening remaining democratic institutions and practices in Venezuel [...] |
2009-03-27 18:44:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL EAID VE |
09CARACAS406 |
PARALLEL MARKET DISRUPTED BY FREEZING OF U.S. [...] (U) The parallel foreign exchange market in Venezuela was severely disrupted on March 26 after an "umbrella" U.S. bank account was apparently frozen. According to local brokers, the account in question was a Bank of America account held by a Florida-based company called Rosemont Corporation. [...] |
2009-03-27 21:04:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN VE |
09CARACAS407 |
VENEZUELAN AVIATION UPDATE: NATIONALIZATIONS, [...] (C) SUMMARY: In a possible violation of the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuelan (GBRV) has grounded all foreign-registered private aircraft, 95 percent of which are US-registered. The GBRV informed the Embassy via diplomat [...] |
2009-03-27 21:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV EAIR VE |
09CARACAS418 |
CHAVEZ GOES AFTER OPPOSITION LEADER ROSALES [...] (C) Summary: The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) continues to go after emblematic targets among the democratic opposition, including Maracaibo Mayor and 2006 opposition presidential candidate Manuel Rosales. As of March 31, rumors abound regarding whether Rosales, who is b [...] |
2009-03-31 21:42:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS422 |
CHAVEZ AS HE SEES HIMSELF - THE REVOLUTIONARY [...] (C) Summary: President Chavez claims that he wants to improve relations with the new U.S. administration (Reftel), but his intolerance for what he perceives as criticism and his radical worldview continue to pose major hurdles to bettering bilateral relations. His perennial (mis)treatment [...] |
2009-04-01 19:59:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV SNAR PTER VE |
09CARACAS426 |
KIMBERLY-CLARK OPERATIONS IN VENEZUELA [...] (C) Summary. Following extensive press coverage the week of March 23 of a government "investigation" of a plant owned by Kimberly-Clark, EmbOffs met with the company March 27. Kimberly-Clark reported it was not concerned by the "routine government inspection" of its Venezuelan factory. Th [...] |
2009-04-02 14:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PREL EINV PGOV VE |
09CARACAS428 |
VENEZUELA: OIL PRODUCTION IN THE WEST: A MIXED BAG [...] (C) SUMMARY: Petroleum AttachQ (PetAtt) conducted site visits in Zulia March 23-26. Companies corroborated reftel reporting and provided additional perspective on the complexity of problems encountered daily in the oil sector. Chevron's production is near capacity in the West; it is taking a [...] |
2009-04-02 17:55:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
09CARACAS433 |
VENEZUELA NATIONALIZES U.S. COMPANY CARGILL'S RICE [...] (C) On March 31, the Venezuelan government made President Chavez's threats official by publishing a "forced acquisition order" for U.S. company Cargill's rice plant (Ref A). Citing the "Law of Expropriation for Reasons of Public or Social Utility", the decree, which appeared in the Venezuelan [...] |
2009-04-03 17:54:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV EAGR VE |
09CARACAS438 |
GENERAL BADUEL ARRESTED AGAIN [...] (SBU) With guns drawn, plain clothed agents of the Directorate of Military Intelligence (DIM), on April 2 unceremoniously pulled former Defense Minister General Raul Baduel out of his vehicle after leaving his sub-division in the city of Maracay. According to Baduel's wife, Cruz Maria Baduel [...] |
2009-04-03 21:39:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM VE |
09CARACAS44 |
CHAVEZ THREATENS TO EXPEL CHARGE' D'AFFAIRES [...] (S) Summary. President Chavez threatened to expel Charge' Caulfield if the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) can prove that he met recently with opposition leaders in Puerto Rico. State media outlets accuse the Charge' of meeting with Globovision Director Ravell and l [...] |
2009-01-14 15:06:00 | Embassy Caracas | SECRET | PREL PGOV VE |
09CARACAS440 |
VENEZUELA: SCHLUMBERGER BULL-ISH ON PDVSA [...] (C) SUMMARY: PDVSA and Schlumberger are exploring areas of possible cooperation, but press reports of a joint venture are premature. Since March 11, PDVSA has made regular payments to Schlumberger (roughly 5% of outstanding receivables), is current with February and March invoices, and plans t [...] |
2009-04-06 15:26:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
09CARACAS441 |
OPPOSITION LEADER ROSALES STILL IN HIDING AS [...] (C) Summary: Maracaibo mayor and former opposition Presidential candidate Manuel Rosales remains in hiding, probably in Zulia State, a week after he was rumored to have fled the country in pursuit of political asylum. His lawyers provided Polcouns April 2 with a step-by-step legal rebuttal [...] |
2009-04-06 20:56:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS442 |
CUBAN MEDICAL PERSONNEL FLEE VENEZUELA [...] (C) Summary: Embassy Caracas notes a significant number of Cuban medical personnel applying to be paroled into the United States under the Significant Public Benefit Parole (SPBP) for Cuban Medical Professionals outside of Cuba (CMPP). During Consular Section interviews in March, Cuban Medical [...] |
2009-04-06 21:49:00 | Embassy Caracas | SECRET | PGOV PHUM PREL KTIP VE CU |
09CARACAS443 |
PRO-CHAVEZ COURT SENTENCES POLICE COMMISSIONERS TO [...] (C) Summary. A pro-Chavez court handed down harsh sentences on April 3 ending the politically motivated trial of three former Caracas police commissioners and eight other police officers charged with the deaths of pro-Chavez supporters during an April 2002 coup attempt. Former Caracas Metr [...] |
2009-04-06 22:07:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM KDEM PGOV VE |
09CARACAS445 |
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SEALS THE FATE OF CARACAS MAYOR [...] (C) Summary: The Chavista-dominated National Assembly (AN) is set to pass the Federal District Law April 7 to create a new Vice President of the Republic for Caracas, appointed by President Chavez, whose authorities are expected to completely marginalize the opposition Mayor of Greater Cara [...] |
2009-04-07 21:37:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS446 |
VISAS VIPER MARCH 2009 ACTIVITY REPORT [...] The Acting DCM chaired the Caracas Visas Viper Committee meeting on March 30, 2009. Post law enforcement agencies had no new Visas Viper names to submit to the Consular Section for March 2009. 2. Conoff requested that participants continue submitting names of suspected terrorists for the [...] |
2009-04-08 12:25:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | CVIS KVPR PTER ASEC PINR CMGT VE |
09CARACAS452 |
VENEZUELAN AUTO INDUSTRY NEARING COLLAPSE [...] (C) Lack of access to controlled dollars is bringing the Venezuelan automotive sector to the point where it will begin to shut down at the end of April if the Foreign Exchange Control Commission (CADIVI) does not quickly make available large amounts of foreign exchange. The seven assemblers [...] |
2009-04-08 21:29:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PREL EINV PGOV VE |
09CARACAS454 |
INFLATION AND A FIXED EXCHANGE RATE INCREASINGLY [...] (SBU) Summary: Budgetary pressures stemming from Venezuela's unorthodox economic policies have strained Post's operations and will almost certainly pose stark choices for Post and the Department in the coming year. Inflation is high and growing, and the official exchange rate has been fixed [...] |
2009-04-08 21:35:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ABUD AFIN AMGT CMGT APER ECON EFIN VE |
09CARACAS471 |
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY POISED TO SILENCE INDEPENDENT [...] (C) Summary. The National Assembly is reportedly poised to pass a revived version of the 2006 Law on International Cooperation. If promulgated in its current form, the law would severely limit the ability of foreign donors to support development, human rights, counternarcotics, and pro-dem [...] |
2009-04-16 12:06:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM SNAR PREF VE |
09CARACAS477 |
CHAVEZ ANNOUNCES ALBA LEADERS WILL AGREE TO LAUNCH [...] (U) President Chavez claimed on April 16 that leaders of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA) would approve an agreement to establish a "unitary regional compensation system" called the Sucre during their April 16 summit. His announcement builds on a proposal cont [...] |
2009-04-16 20:56:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN PREL VE |
09CARACAS478 |
VENEZUELAN PLANNING FOR SUMMIT OF THE AMERICAS [...] (SBU) Summary: The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) engaged post on the subjects of an UNASUR-Obama meeting at the Summit of the Americas (SOA), and de-confliction of the air space near Venezuela in support of the SOA. However, the working level GBRV interlocutors di [...] |
2009-04-16 21:24:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL MOPS PGOV VE |
09CARACAS486 |
GBRV STEPS UP PRESSURE ON THE CATHOLIC CHURCH [...] (C) Summary: The Venezuelan Catholic Conference of Bishops (CEV) issued a highly critical April 6 communique warning that Venezuela's democratic system is "at risk of collapse". In response, President Chavez (using parallels from liberation theology) insinuated on Easter Sunday in his nati [...] |
2009-04-17 16:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL KIRF KDEM VE VT |
09CARACAS492 |
BORDER BRUHAHA NEARLY OVERSHADOWS URIBE VISIT AS [...] (SBU) Summary: Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez and Colombian President Alvaro Uribe held a brief meeting on April 14 in Caracas. Consistent with prior reporting (Ref B), the Colombian side was focused on trade and protecting the interests of Colombian businessmen and investors in Venezuela. I [...] |
2009-04-20 11:38:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PTER CO VE |
09CARACAS494 |
AN OFFER THEY CAN'T REFUSE? GBRV ASKS LOCAL BANKS [...] (C) Summary: The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) has signaled its plans to ask local banks to finance a significant part of its anticipated deficit in 2009. The Central Bank (BCV) has taken steps to increase banks' liquidity and incentives to buy GBRV debt, reducin [...] |
2009-04-20 12:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN VE |
09CARACAS495 |
CHAVEZ IN TOKYO: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING [...] (C) SUMMARY: President Chavez's April 5-7 visit to Tokyo followed the Bolivarian model - heavy on theater and light on substance. Shifting from the negative rhetoric against the U.S. displayed on previous stops in Iran and Qatar, Chavez hit more positive notes in Japan. While media reports i [...] |
2009-04-20 13:10:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
09CARACAS497 |
TECHNOCRAT-TURNED-RADICAL APPOINTED AS CARACAS VEEP [...] (C) Summary: President Chavez named Jacqueline Faria, a civil engineer and former cabinet member, as the new Vice President of Caracas on April 15 -- an office and appointment designed to undercut opposition Mayor of Greater Caracas Antonio Ledezma. Farias earned a reputation as a technocra [...] |
2009-04-21 13:27:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PHUM PINR VE |
09CARACAS50 |
CATHOLIC BISHOPS CRITICIZE INDEFINITE REELECTION [...] (C) Summary: The Catholic Conference of Bishops (CEV) issued a January 13 communique sharply criticizing President Chavez's proposal to change the 1999 Constitution to eliminate term limits for all elected positions. The CEV expressed doubts about the legality of Chavez's upcoming referendum [...] |
2009-01-15 14:32:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | KIRF PGOV PHUM PREL VE |
09CARACAS503 |
OPPOSITION LEADER SKIPS COURT DATE, FLEES TO PERU [...] (C) Summary: Maracaibo Mayor and former 2006 consensus opposition presidential candidate Manuel Rosales did not appear at his April 20 mandatory court date regarding pending illicit enrichment charges. He is reportedly seeking asylum in Peru. Rosales has already released one letter calling [...] |
2009-04-21 20:35:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS51 |
VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT MAY RAISE VAT, ALREADY OWES [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Press reports indicate that the Venezuelan government may move to increase the Value Added Tax (VAT) in an attempt to raise revenue as oil prices remain low. Meanwhile, the Venezuelan government is currently sitting on VAT refunds of over USD 300,000 for the US Embassy; Post's a [...] |
2009-01-15 15:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON PGOV PREL ETRD AMGT FMGT VE |
09CARACAS511 |
CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL GIVES UP ON VENEZUELA [...] (C) SUMMARY: NGO Conservation International closed its doors in Venezuela on March 31 saying it wanted to focus on countries where it can have an impact on host government environmental policies. The Venezuelan head of another US-based NGO, The Nature Conservancy, said the government would g [...] |
2009-04-23 15:55:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV EAGR SENV VE |
09CARACAS535 |
VENEZUELA CLAIMS PREPAREDNESS ON SWINE FLU [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Venezuela's Health Ministry reported there are no actual or suspected cases of swine flu in Venezuela, and that local health authorities stand ready to screen incoming travelers from the United States and Mexico. No actions have been taken to restrict agricultural products fro [...] |
2009-04-27 22:21:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV EAGR AMED SOCI VE |
09CARACAS538 |
SPECULATION ABOUT ULTERIOR USG MOTIVES IN FREEZING [...] (C) Businessman Andres Duarte (strictly protect) shared with Econcouns and PetAtt speculation he had heard from several associates that the recent freezing of a Bank of America account (ref A) was part of a USG plan to "tighten the financial noose" around the government of the Bolivarian Repu [...] |
2009-04-29 14:33:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN PREL VE |
09CARACAS539 |
CHAVEZ CONTINUES ATTACKS ON THE OPPOSITION AND [...] (C) Summary: President Chavez is now using Venezuela's highly politicized judiciary to go after well-known, but vulnerable, political supporters. He and his supporters also continue to put pressure on the opposition media, pursuing charges against prominent opposition journalist Teodoro Pe [...] |
2009-04-29 15:04:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
09CARACAS54 |
CHAVEZ BROADENS AMENDMENT LANGUAGE/OPPOSITION FINALLY BEGINS TO REACT [...] (C) Summary: President Chavez revised his amendment proposal January 5 to remove term limits for all elected officials, strengthening his argument that the proposal would "expand the political rights" of Venezuelans to choose how long to keep all officials -- not just the president -- in office. As [...] |
2009-01-15 21:06:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS540 |
GRV RECALLS AMBASSADOR FROM PERU AND WELCOMES [...] (C) Summary. The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) ordered its ambassador home from Peru on April 27 to protest the Peruvian government's decision to grant opposition leader Manuel Rosales asylum. On the same day, Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro welcomed a senior Pal [...] |
2009-04-29 18:05:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL PHUM PE VE |
09CARACAS541 |
VENEZUELA: MORE EVIDENCE OF CASH FLOW PROBLEMS [...] (C) SUMMARY: Faced with mounting receivables payable by PDVSA and other government entities, the GBRV is turning to alternative payment solutions to stay afloat during its cash flow crisis, including proposing barter swaps of commodities and the issuance of bonds. Halliburton confirmed receiv [...] |
2009-04-29 21:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
09CARACAS544 |
VENEZUELA: NO RESPONSE ON CODEX FOOD LABELING [...] (C) Post delivered reftel A remarks to potential members of Venezuela's currently defunct CODEX committee on April 23. Although there has been no official response and none is anticipated, Venezuelan participation in the May 2009 Calgary meeting is unlikely. Several potential CODEX committee [...] |
2009-04-30 17:01:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV EAGR VE |
09CARACAS545 |
PDVSA TO PURCHASE WILLIAMS' PLANTS [...] (C) SUMMARY: PDVSA intends to nationalize William's El Furrial and PIGAP II high-pressure gas injection plants but does not have the resources to pay Williams. As both of the projects involve OPIC financing, there is significant USG interest in the transaction estimated to be worth $500 milli [...] |
2009-04-30 19:17:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
09CARACAS546 |
PRESS FREEDOM UPDATE - APRIL 2009 [...] (C) Summary: The Government of the Bolivaran Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) continued to put pressure on the independent media during April. President Chavez used the occasion of the anniversary of the April 2002 failed military coup to lambaste both the United States and opposition-oriented [...] |
2009-04-30 20:05:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL VE PGOV |
09CARACAS547 |
NEW LAWS FURTHER POLITICIZE VENEZUELAN JUDICIARY [...] (C) Summary: The National Assembly (AN) passed two new judicial laws in April that will further diminish what independence remains within Venezuela's court system and make it easier for the executive and legislative branches to discipline or remove magistrates. Pundits assess that this is [...] |
2009-04-30 20:07:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM KJUS VE |
09CARACAS548 |
NEW CENTRAL BANK PRESIDENT NOMINATED [...] (U) President Chavez designated former Finance Minister Nelson Merentes as President of Venezuela's Central Bank (BCV) on April 28, filling the vacancy left by the December 2008 death of the former president. Also on April 28, the National Assembly approved Merentes' nomination, and the Offi [...] |
2009-04-30 20:34:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EFIN PGOV PINR VE |
09CARACAS559 |
CHAVEZ DEFENDS TERRORISM RECORD BUT WON'T STOP FARC [...] (C) Summary: During a May 1 rally, President Hugo Chavez harshly criticized the Venezuela section of the USG April 30 Country Reports on Terrorism, calling it "a new aggression by the American empire." During the May 3 broadcast of his regular Sunday political talk show, "Alo Presidente," [...] |
2009-05-05 18:30:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PTER PGOV PREL VE CO |
09CARACAS560 |
POOR TURNOUT FOR VENEZUELAN LABOR DAY MARCHES; [...] (C) Summary: Government supporters and the opposition organizers organized competing May 1 Labor Day marches in Caracas. Both sides attracted only modest turn-outs at the start of a long weekend when Venezuelans traditionally head to the beach. Members of the Caracas metropolitan police an [...] |
2009-05-05 19:34:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ELAB PHUM PREL VE |
09CARACAS561 |
EU AND OTHERS CONCERNED OVER NGO LAW; FEW WILLING [...] (C) Summary: The local diplomatic community is concerned about the increasing authoritarianism of the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV), including the draft law that would restrict NGO activities. Domestic economic concerns, reluctance to interfere in internal affairs, [...] |
2009-05-05 20:21:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM SNAR PREF VE |
09CARACAS564 |
PDVSA AND VENEZUELA: TWO DESTINIES INTERTWINED IN [...] (C) Summary: The cash flow crisis at PDVSA (Petroleos de Venezuela, the state oil company) is straining Venezuela's oil sector and overall economy. Since the December 2002-February 2003 oil sector strike, PDVSA has put itself at the service of President Chavez's Bolivarian revolution, fundi [...] |
2009-05-06 20:36:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EPET EFIN PGOV VE |
09CARACAS568 |
VENEZUELAN SOCIAL SECURITY LAW, INCREASED MANDATORY CONTRIBUTIONS [...] No summary [...] |
2009-05-07 16:29:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | AFSN AMGT AFIN |
09CARACAS581 |
VENEZUELA: PDVSA SEIZES SERVICE COMPANIES [...] (C) Summary: On May 7, the National Assembly passed and President Chavez promulgated a law permitting the expropriation (partial or total) of companies involved in the oil services industry. PDVSA officials accompanied by the National Guard quickly began the transfer of assets and operations [...] |
2009-05-08 22:06:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
09CARACAS583 |
INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY WORKING QUIETLY TO STOP [...] (C) Summary: The international diplomatic community is quietly questioning the Venezuelan government about the proposed law restricting international financing of NGOs. Several European Union (EU) ambassadors are not convinced that the law will pass, at least not in its most aggressive form. Nor do [...] |
2009-05-11 11:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM SNAR PREF VE |
09CARACAS584 |
VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT TARGETS MORE POLITICAL [...] (C) Summary: The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) continues to direct the legislative and judicial branches to pursue politically-motivated charges against members of the political opposition and dissident members of President Chavez's United Socialist Party of Vene [...] |
2009-05-11 11:18:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS592 |
PDVSA: UPDATE ON SERVICE COMPANY SEIZURES [...] (C) SUMMARY: Legal uncertainty surrounds the Venezuelan government's (GBRV) actions on May 8 regarding the seizure of oil service companies. According to PDVSA, it assumed operational control of sixty firms, but the resolution dated May 8 listed only 39 companies, and did not include internat [...] |
2009-05-11 21:37:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
09CARACAS595 |
CHAVEZ THREATENS TO CLOSE LOCAL TV NEWS STATION [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez threatened to close the opposition-oriented cable television news network Globovision during the May 10 broadcast of his weekly "Alo, Presidente" talk show. Chavez's threat follows Globovision's May 4 broadcast of U.S. Geological Survey seismic data as well as [...] |
2009-05-12 16:49:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL VE |
09CARACAS602 |
CHAVEZ DESIGNATES OLD FACES AMONG NEW PSUV [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez has reorganized his United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) putting long-time loyalists in key positions and fusing ever more closely his party and the state. National Assembly (AN) President Cilia Flores has been elevated to the number-two slot (below Chav [...] |
2009-05-13 20:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM PINR VE |
09CARACAS614 |
U.S. COMPANIES COULD LOSE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS AS [...] (SBU) Summary: U.S. companies stand to lose hundreds of millions of dollars, if not more than one billion dollars, as the backlog at CADIVI grows. The government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) maintains currency controls, and CADIVI is the GBRV agency that determines who rec [...] |
2009-05-18 17:17:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN VE |
09CARACAS615 |
VENEZUELAN AIRLINE WITH POSSIBLE DRUG TIES TO FLY [...] (C) ACTION REQUEST: Post requests information on whether or not Venezuelan carrier Aeropostal is cleared to commence flights to the United States and any information, derogatory or otherwise, on U.S.-based company Aircraft Parts and Pieces, Inc. 2. (C) SUMMARY: President of Venezuelan air [...] |
2009-05-18 17:30:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV EAIR CASC CVIS ASEC |
09CARACAS616 |
VENEZUELA: TITLE III OF THE LIBERTAD ACT [...] (U) Post's response to Reftel A questions follow. 2. (C) Has the host country, in post's opinion, worked to promote the advancement of democracy and human rights in Cuba? Post sees no evidence that the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) has undertaken policies or [...] |
2009-05-18 18:27:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ETRD ETTC PREL CU VE |
09CARACAS62 |
CHARGE'S MEETING WITH FM MADURO - JANUARY 15 [...] (C) Summary. Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro called in Charge January 15 at President Chavez's request to ask him for an explanation of his recent visit to Puerto Rico. Maduro noted that the Government of the BolivarianRepublic of Venezuela (GBRV) viewed with concern the "strange coincidence" betwe [...] |
2009-01-16 16:02:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE |
09CARACAS625 |
VENEZUELAN AIRLINES MAY LOSE SABRE TRAVEL SERVICES [...] (C) SUMMARY: U.S. travel services giant Sabre has sent "disconnect letters" to two privately owned Venezuelan carriers and has already suspended its contract with government owned carrier Conviasa due to non-payment. Sabre is concerned that if it discontinues its services in Venezuela, the Gov [...] |
2009-05-20 16:08:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV EAIR CASC CVIS KHLS |
09CARACAS643 |
VENEZUELA: BRV PRESSES SOCIALIST LABOR AGENDA [...] (C) Summary. The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) is making determined efforts to stem the demands of public sector workers and to reshape employer-worker relations along socialist lines. The National Assembly is considering a draft reform of Venezuela's labor law, w [...] |
2009-05-22 19:53:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ELAB EINV PGOV PREL VE |
09CARACAS644 |
VENEZUELA: WOOD GROUP ASSETS SEIZED, ENSCO FILES [...] (C) SUMMARY: PDVSA published a new list of oil service sector companies that it has added to the government's reserve, including Wood Group's local subsidiary, Simco. Wood Group continues to hold out hope that PDVSA will negotiate a fair compensation package, but has not ruled out internationa [...] |
2009-05-22 19:57:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
09CARACAS658 |
TEACHERS CALL NEW CONTRACT "IDEOLOGICAL" [...] (C) Summary: The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) reached agreement with three teachers' unions (but excluded six other unions) to sign a collective bargaining agreement May 12. The agreement provides for a 15% raise, but changes the teacher evaluation system and m [...] |
2009-05-27 16:34:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV ELAB SOCI KDEM VE |
09CARACAS663 |
GBRV STEPS UP ATTACKS ON PRESS IN MAY [...] (C) Summary: The Government of the Bolvarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) accelerated its attacks on independent media outlets and journalists in May. President Chavez threatened to close opposition-oriented cable news network Globovision, and government officials raided the home of Globov [...] |
2009-05-28 21:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PGOV PREL VE |
09CARACAS666 |
VENEZUELA: SABRE TRAVEL SERVICES ON AGAIN OFF [...] (C) SUMMARY: After Sabre Travel Services suspended ticketing and reservation services to Venezuelan airlines Aserca and Santa Barbara (SBA) on May 26 it reactivated the same on May 28. Both airlines worked in an "emergency" situation, but managed to maintain operations. However, Sabre may "s [...] |
2009-06-01 13:04:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EAIR ETRD CASC PGOV CVIS KHLS VE |
09CARACAS67 |
MOROCCO CLOSING EMBASSY DUE TO CHAVEZ'S POLISARIO [...] (SBU) Summary. Morocco announced its plans to close its Caracas embassy and relocate to the Dominican Republic via a terse January 15 press release carried widely in the Venezuelan media. The Moroccans cited Venezuela's "growing hostility" to Moroccan territorial integrity and recent measure [...] |
2009-01-16 21:30:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL VE MO |
09CARACAS673 |
VENEZUELA REPORTS THREE CONFIRMED H1N1 CASES [...] On May 28, via a press release on its website (www.mpps.gob.ve), the Venezuelan Ministry of Health (MoH) confirmed the first case of H1N1 in Venezuela. According to the press release, the individual, a male of 22 years, returned May 25 from a five day trip to Panama and subsequently checked [...] |
2009-06-01 19:51:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | AMED ASEC CASC KPAO KSAF TBIO KFLU KSEAO KSTH |
09CARACAS680 |
WHERE'S HUGO? [...] (C) Summary: President Chavez disappeared from national view May 30, missing the last half of a planned four-day marathon speech and the June 1 inauguration of the incoming President of El Salvador, Mauricio Funes. State-owned media outlets claimed technical issues were to blame for the su [...] |
2009-06-03 13:25:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
09CARACAS681 |
CHAVEZ'S PROPOSED ELECTORAL LAW TO TRAMPLE [...] (C) Summary: The National Assembly is actively considering a new electoral law that would drastically limit the ability of small parties in Venezuela to claim legislative seats at all levels of government. The legislature approved the measure in a first vote May 21, and it is currently eng [...] |
2009-06-03 13:26:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS685 |
CHAVEZ BACK IN PUBLIC VIEW, CLAIMS CIA [...] (C) Summary: President Chavez reappeared on state TV the night of June 2 after disappearing without warning from Venezuelan airwaves on May 31 (Reftel). Chavez alleged that the CIA and Cuban exile Luis Posada Carriles were seeking to assassinate him and credited Nicaraguan President Daniel [...] |
2009-06-04 11:22:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV VE |
09CARACAS686 |
PRESIDENT MAKES IMPORTING FOOD MORE DIFFICULT, [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Director of Communications for Venezuela's foreign exchange committee (CADIVI) informed wheat and pasta industry representatives recently that three leading companies will be excluded from the "Pago a la Vista" (cash payments) system, which eases bureaucratic procedures for [...] |
2009-06-04 11:25:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EAGR ECON ETRD PGOV VE |
09CARACAS690 |
NATIONALIZED SPANISH AND ARGENTINE COMPANIES GET [...] (C) Summary: Local analysts believe two major nationalization agreements recently concluded by the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) represent good deals for the Spanish and Argentine owners of the nationalized companies. In the case of Banco de Venezuela (BdV), owne [...] |
2009-06-05 14:28:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PREL VE |
09CARACAS691 |
VISAS VIPER APRIL 2009 ACTIVITY REPORT [...] The RSO chaired the Caracas Visas Viper Committee meeting on April 28. Post law enforcement agencies had no new Visas Viper names to submit to the Consular Section for April 2009. 2. Conoff requested that participants continue submitting names of suspected terrorists for the CLASS databas [...] |
2009-06-05 14:31:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | CVIS KVPR PTER ASEC PINR CMGT VE |
09CARACAS692 |
EXPLAINING VENEZUELAN ACQUIESCENCE [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez's efforts to concentrate more power in his hands and undermine the democratic opposition have been met in Venezuela with more acceptance and resignation than outrage and resistance. There are numerous, credible theories to explain Venezuelans' acquiescence to an [...] |
2009-06-05 15:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM SOCI VE |
09CARACAS693 |
VENEZUELA HARASSES CLASSIFIED POUCH TRANSFERS [...] (C) Summary: The Venezuelan Protocol Director phoned Charge on June 4 to detail new procedures that compromise the ability of the Embassy to receive classified escorted diplomatic pouches. Despite claiming to be just "tidying up" procedures, this action represents renewed efforts to harass [...] |
2009-06-05 16:18:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PINR PREL AOPR AREP VE |
09CARACAS70 |
CHAVEZ BREAKS RELATIONS WITH ISRAEL/JEWISH [...] (C) Summary. The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) officially broke diplomatic relations with Israel on January 14. Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro announced the rupture in diplomatic relations via a communique disseminated via state media that simultaneously condemne [...] |
2009-01-16 21:43:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL ASEC VE IS |
09CARACAS707 |
VENEZUELA: UPDATE ON TIDEWATER VESSELS AND [...] (C) U.S. oil service firm Tidewater Senior Vice President Gerry Kehoe and Country Representative Mikael Jakobs (strictly protect throughout) on June 4 told Petroleum AttachQ (PetAtt) and visiting Washington energy analyst that Tidewater plans to send its two U.S.-flagged oil support vessels wi [...] |
2009-06-09 10:58:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
09CARACAS715 |
VISAS VIPER MAY 2009 ACTIVITY REPORT [...] The Acting DCM chaired the Caracas Visas Viper Committee meeting on May 26, 2009. Post law enforcement agencies had no new Visas Viper names to submit to the Consular Section for May 2009. 2. Conoff requested that participants continue submitting names of suspected terrorists for the CLAS [...] |
2009-06-09 21:42:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | CVIS KVPR PTER ASEC PINR CMGT VE |
09CARACAS724 |
OPPOSITION ANNOUNCES NEWEST UNITY EFFORT [...] (C) Summary: Opposition political parties held a June 8 press conference to announce that they are creating a "unity table" with a structure of 11 committees aimed at drafting a single democratic alternative to Chavismo. The presence of virtually all political party leaders across the ideol [...] |
2009-06-10 21:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS725 |
VENEZUELA: U.S. COMPANY EXTERRAN ASSETS SEIZED [...] (C) SUMMARY: PDVSA has now seized additional U.S. company assets under the auspices of the May 7 Organic Law permitting the expropriation of companies involved in the oil services industry. Exterran (formerly Hanover Compression Corporation and Universal Compression Holdings) confirmed June 8 [...] |
2009-06-10 22:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
09CARACAS728 |
VENEZUELA INCAPABLE OF SUBSTANTIVE NUCLEAR [...] (C) SUMMARY: A plain-spoken nuclear physicist told Econoff that those spreading rumors that Venezuela is helping third countries (i.e. Iran) develop atomic bombs "are full of (expletive)." He said Venezuela is currently unable to provide such assistance particularly as the Chavez administration "do [...] |
2009-06-11 17:24:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV ENRG TRGY EMIN PTER |
09CARACAS730 |
CHARGE'S MEETING WITH CARABOBO GOVERNOR SALAS FEO [...] (C) Summary: Carabobo Governor Henrique Fernando Salas Feo discussed increasing economic problems, his disagreements with other opposition parties, and concerns about the future of elections in a June 9 meeting at his home with the Charge d'Affaires. Governor Salas Feo asserted that Presiden [...] |
2009-06-11 21:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM SNAR PREF VE |
09CARACAS731 |
VENEZUELA: COCA-COLA ZERO BANNED [...] (C) Summary: On June 10, Mexican-owned Coca-Cola Femsa was notified by the Venezuelan government of an administrative review corroborating the ingredients of Coca-Cola Zero. Femsa voluntarily complied and has temporarily pulled Coca-Cola Zero from the Venezuelan market. Despite what Femsa t [...] |
2009-06-11 21:50:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ETRD PREL EINV PGOV VE |
09CARACAS741 |
VENEZUELA: WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU ARE EXPECTING [...] (C) SUMMARY: The experience of Swiss cement company Holcim may offer insight into what U.S. companies with recently nationalized interests in Venezuela can expect from the Venezuelan government over the coming months. In the Holcim case, a model the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of V [...] |
2009-06-12 21:24:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV VE |
09CARACAS748 |
PDVSA'S 2008 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: SHINING A DIM [...] (C) Summary: PDVSA's recently issued audited financial statements for 2008 do nothing to refute the belief that PDVSA is suffering a cash flow crisis given inefficient management, increased political commitments, and faltering production (ref A). Given the difficulty interpreting the statem [...] |
2009-06-15 21:02:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EFIN VE |
09CARACAS750 |
TEN TENETS OF CHAVISMO [...] This message is the end of tour analysis of the political situation in Venezuela by Embassy Deputy Political Counselor Dan Lawton. 2. (C) Summary. Despite President Chavez's professed allegiance to socialism, his political project lacks any consistent ideology. Instead, the Venezuelan president e [...] |
2009-06-16 13:23:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM VE |
09CARACAS759 |
CHAVEZ USES TREASON ACCUSATIONS TO TARGET [...] (C) Summary: Taking a relatively new tact, President Chavez used accusations of treason and paramilitary involvement June 14 to target the opposition Governor of Tachira State Cesar Perez Vivas. Several days prior, the Chavista-dominated National Assembly (AN) announced it would investigat [...] |
2009-06-17 21:32:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS760 |
DEATH OF A STUDENT ACTIVIST [...] (C) Summary: The killing June 13 of a student activist from the opposition Primero Justicia (PJ) party has become a highly-charged political issue. The United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) mayor of the municipality where the death occurred has alleged that his predecessor and politica [...] |
2009-06-17 21:34:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS761 |
CHAVEZ GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES SUPPORT FOR AHMADINEJAD [...] (C) Summary: The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) announced its official support June 16 for the reelection of Iranian President Mahmoud Ajmadinejad and -- in language typical of President Chavez's worldview -- denounced an alleged campaign to discredit the election [...] |
2009-06-17 21:52:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS764 |
CHAVISTAS PROTEST AGAINST MIRANDA GOVERNOR, [...] (C) Summary: The Charge d'Affaires (CDA) called off a planned visit June 17 to Miranda State after learning of preparations for a United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) protest the same day in front of the opposition Governor's mansion. Embassy had notified the Ministry of Foreign Affa [...] |
2009-06-18 22:35:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM KIRF VE |
09CARACAS766 |
GBRV TIGHTENS SCREWS ON TV NEWS STATION [...] (C) Summary: The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) is increasing the pressure on the opposition-oriented Globovision cable news network. President Chavez has repeatedly asked his cabinet to use whatever means available to "stop Globovision." A range of GBRV ministrie [...] |
2009-06-19 21:28:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM KDEM VE |
09CARACAS768 |
VENEZUELA: CONTINUES TO COURT JAPANESE INTEREST [...] (C) During a June 15 Japanese embassy-hosted farewell dinner in honor of A/DCM and PolCon, Japanese Ambassador Shuji Shimokoji discussed bilateral relations with Venezuela, Minister Ramirez's travel to Tokyo, and the new Venezuelan petrochemical law. He stated that Prime Minister Aso placed a [...] |
2009-06-22 19:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
09CARACAS77 |
CHAVEZ SHARPLY CRITICIZES NEW U.S. PRESIDENT [...] (C) Summary: President Chavez aggressively responded to remarks made by then President-Elect Obama during a recent interview with Mexico-based Univision TV in which Obama reportedly criticized the Venezuelan President. Chavez accused Obama of having the "same stench" as former President Bush [...] |
2009-01-20 20:53:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
09CARACAS770 |
VENEZUELA: PATENT PROTECTIONS THREATENED [...] (SBU) Summary. On June 14, President Chavez ordered a review of the country's legal protection of patents. Two days later, the Venezuelan government announced that the "technical information" relating to patents granted in the past by the Venezuelan government would soon be posted on the In [...] |
2009-06-22 19:28:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PREL EINV PGOV VE |
09CARACAS776 |
OPPOSITION STATES AND MUNICIPALITIES SURVIVING [...] (SBU) Summary: With the significant exception of the Alcaldia Mayor (Mayor of Metropolitan Caracas), states and municipalities won by opposition candidates in the November 2008 elections appear to be weathering significant budget cuts forced by central government action, particularly changes [...] |
2009-06-22 20:10:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PGOV VE |
09CARACAS777 |
MUNICIPALITY USES REFERENDUM TO RESIST CENTRAL [...] (C) Summary: Caracas's Chacao Municipality is resisting national government efforts to obstruct the opposition-led municipality's initiatives. The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) is trying to stop Chacao from building a new civic center and school, a project that has [...] |
2009-06-22 20:15:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS778 |
VENEZUELAN GOVERNMENT'S NATIONALIZATIONS CONTINUE: [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Venezuelan government continues to centralize power over the country's ports under the Diosdado Cabello-led Ministry of Public Works and Housing with its seizure of privately owned port warehouse operations. On June 10, the Ministry announced that, within 30 days, the governm [...] |
2009-06-22 20:45:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV EAGR MARR VE |
09CARACAS779 |
TIP REPORT "AN OBSTACLE TO NORMALIZING RELATIONS" [...] (C) Embassy Caracas delivered an advance copy of the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 16, as requested in Reftel. No Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) official has responded directly to the Embassy regarding the report. [...] |
2009-06-22 20:49:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM KTIP VE |
09CARACAS781 |
STUDENT MOVEMENT STRUGGLES UNDER WEIGHT OF PUBLIC [...] (C) Summary: Student leaders are expressing frustration with mounting political pressure and the high expectations placed on them as one of the few credible groups in Venezuela who can counter President Chavez's increasing authoritarianism. Less than a week after the June 13 death of a stu [...] |
2009-06-23 20:21:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS79 |
FM'S CHIEF OF STAFF PROMISES ACTION ON RECIPROCITY [...] (C) Summary. Chief of Staff to the Foreign Minister Temir Porras met with the Charge January 19 to "turn the page" on ongoing MFA-imposed administrative impediments to normal diplomatic relations, provided the USG reciprocates in the United States. Porras pledged to issue and renew visas for [...] |
2009-01-20 21:26:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV AMGT MCAP SNAR VE |
09CARACAS791 |
ALBA SUMMIT: NEW MEMBERS, NEW NAME [...] (C) Summary: Venezuela hosted an extraordinary ALBA Summit on June 24, welcoming Ecuador, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Antigua and Barbuda to the organization. President Chavez proposed a new name for ALBA, changing the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas to the Bolivarian Allian [...] |
2009-06-25 19:06:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM VE |
09CARACAS796 |
VENEZUELA: NO RESPONSE ON VIOLATION OF U.S. [...] (SBU) The Venezuelan government has not responded to the March 19 EEB/TRA/OTP Memorandum on FAA Case Number 2008EA250055, the "Violation of Federal Aviation Regulations." The FAA documents detail the case against a pilot for Venezuelan government-owned petroleum company PDVSA. The violations [...] |
2009-06-26 13:03:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV EAIR VE |
09CARACAS80 |
PRESIDENTIAL TERM LIMITS REFERENDUM: WHAT'S AT STAKE [...] (C) Summary. President Chavez is seeking to concentrate even more power in his hands via the February 15 referendum to eliminate term limits. Should he win, we expect Chavez will try to govern at least until 2019 and to steer his government in an even more authoritarian direction. Should he lose, C [...] |
2009-01-20 21:28:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS800 |
VENEZUELA: 180 CONFIRMED CASES OF H1N1 [...] (SBU) Summary. On June 25, official Venezuelan news agency ABN announced the number of confirmed H1N1 cases in the country had risen to one hundred and eighty. One Consular Section Locally Engaged Staff is suspected to have had H1N1 but test results were inconclusive. Post has sufficient s [...] |
2009-06-26 21:21:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AMED ASEC CASC KPAO KSAF TBIO KFIU KSTH VE |
09CARACAS801 |
PDVSA ANNOUNCES LONG-AWAITED BOND ISSUANCE [...] (U) After three months of rumors concerning various plans for emitting bonds, PDVSA announced on June 25 terms for a USD 3 billion issuance. The bond, called Petrobono 2011, is a dollar-denominated zero coupon bond maturing on July 8, 2011. It can be purchased in bolivars (Bs) by Venezuelan [...] |
2009-06-26 21:24:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN EPET VE |
09CARACAS809 |
CHAVEZ BLASTS HONDURAN COUPSTERS, BLAMES UNITED [...] (C) Summary: In typical style, Chavez sought June 28 to claim his share of the limelight in the aftermath of the coup that overthrew fellow leftist leader Manuel Zelaya of Honduras. Chavez likened the situation to the unsuccessful Venezuelan coup attempt against him in 2002 and pledged that [...] |
2009-06-29 16:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS817 |
VENEZUELA: RECENT EXPROPRIATIONS' IMPACT ON THE [...] (C) SUMMARY: Recent oil service sector expropriations in Venezuela targeted two diverse groups: (1) water injection and natural gas compression operations related to crude oil production; and (2) launch operators on Lake Maracaibo that had organized and threatened to strike over PDVSA's arrears [...] |
2009-07-01 12:43:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
09CARACAS819 |
VENEZUELA: THE REVOLUTION ACCELERATES AS THE [...] (C) Summary: As we approach the halfway point of 2009, two trends are clear in Venezuela's economy: state control is accelerating just as the economy enters a recession. Most analysts predict economic output to decline by 1.5 to three percent in 2009 as lower oil prices force the government [...] |
2009-07-01 12:57:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN VE |
09CARACAS824 |
HIV/AIDS IN VENEZUELA [...] (C) Summary. The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) does not publish statistics on the incidence of HIV/AIDS in Venezuela. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and a local HIV/AIDS non-governmental organization (NGO) estimate that approximately 130,00 [...] |
2009-07-01 16:27:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON SOCI PREL PGOV TBIO VE |
09CARACAS827 |
VENEZUELA: LOCAL HALLIBURTON OPERATION IN [...] (C) SUMMARY: Halliburton is concerned that its perceived historical connection with the previous U.S. administration and the $300 million it is owed by PDVSA may provide ample rationale for the GBRV to expropriate the U.S. oil services company. Venezuelan courts have now ruled twice in favor o [...] |
2009-07-01 17:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
09CARACAS828 |
PDVSA LAUNCHES BID ROUND FOR MARISCAL SUCRE [...] (C) Mitsubishi's Venezuela Projects Director, Yasuyuki Ozaki (strictly protect throughout), told Petroleum Attache that PDVSA launched a "Second Bid Round" for commercial development of the Mariscal Sucre natural gas blocks the morning of June 30. The Mariscal Sucre offshore blocks are locate [...] |
2009-07-01 19:53:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
09CARACAS831 |
PRESS FREEDOM UPDATE - JUNE [...] (C) Summary: The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezeula (GBRV) continues to intimidate, threaten and harass independent media outlets in Venezuela. President Chavez frequently calls for the closure of Globovision, the last free-to-air opposition-leaning TV station, and the GBRV ha [...] |
2009-07-01 21:05:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM VE |
09CARACAS833 |
CHAVEZ: INDIRECTLY, US IS STILL TO BLAME [...] (C) Summary: At a military graduation ceremony on June 30, President Chavez continued to express strong support for ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya. Chavez, while acknowledging the helpfulness of statements from President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton, also declared that the U [...] |
2009-07-01 21:43:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM VE |
09CARACAS847 |
240 RADIO STATIONS THREATENED WITH CLOSURE [...] (C) Summary: Diosdado Cabello, a top aide to President Hugo Chavez, announced July 4 the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) would potentially revoke the licenses of 240 radio stations across the country. Citing incomplete tax payments and improper regulatory filings [...] |
2009-07-06 17:13:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM VE |
09CARACAS85 |
ATTACKS ON OPPOSITION BY PRO-GOVERNMENT GROUPS [...] (C) Summary. Pro-government gangs in Caracas threw tear gas canisters at the home of a prominent media director, the Holy See Mission, and student groups, as well as firebombed the car of a university student leader during the January 18-19 weekend. In addition, Chavista thugs carrying police [...] |
2009-01-21 21:39:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM ASEC VE |
09CARACAS850 |
LEDEZMA TRIES TO WIN OAS ATTENTION WITH A HUNGER [...] (C) Summary: Mayor of Greater Caracas Antonio Ledezma entered the offices of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Caracas July 3 and began a hunger strike to demand an OAS response to President Chavez's transgressions against the opposition in Venezuela. Ledezma has argued that the [...] |
2009-07-07 16:37:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS851 |
CHAVEZ CALLS PRESIDENT OBAMA "A PRISONER OF THE [...] (C) Summary: In a media interview following the Venezuelan Independence Day celebration in Ciudad Bolivar on July 5, President Hugo Chavez said that while President Obama is not responsible for the events in Honduras, the United States tacitly supports the coup and the provisional government. [...] |
2009-07-07 17:27:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM VE |
09CARACAS852 |
RESULTS ANNOUNCED FOR PETROBONO 2011 [...] (U) PDVSA announced on July 6 the results of the Petrobono 2011 bond auction. Interested buyers submitted offers for USD 7.9 billion worth of the bonds. PDVSA accepted all offers at or above 175 percent of face value. Of the total amount for which offers were placed, only offers for USD 1.4 [...] |
2009-07-07 20:46:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EFIN VE |
09CARACAS853 |
GULF OF VENEZUELA OFFSHORE GAS EXPLORATION NOT [...] (C) SUMMARY: Chevron completed drilling an exploratory offshore well in the Cardon III block in the Gulf of Venezuela but plans to plug and abandon the well. While gas was found, the amount was deemed non-commercial. After months of setbacks and technical challenges, Russia's Gazprom continu [...] |
2009-07-07 21:18:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
09CARACAS854 |
VENEZUELA: AMERICAN OIL AND SERVICE COMPANIES [...] (C) Summary: Executives representing U.S. companies involved in Venezuela's oil sector briefed the Ambassador on the status of the industry, highlighting problems all face in securing payments from PDVSA; difficulties maintaining positive relationships with PDVSA, the Ministry for Energy and P [...] |
2009-07-07 21:48:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
09CARACAS858 |
CHAVISTAS FEELING BOXED IN BY THE SECRETARY'S [...] (C) Summary: Chavistas may be feeling that the calls for a stronger US response regarding the coup in Honduras may have backfired and diminished the possibility of a Venezuelan-led resolution to the current situation. The announcement by Secretary Clinton that Costa Rican President Oscar A [...] |
2009-07-08 21:39:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS859 |
INSULZA INVITES LEDEZMA TO WASHINGTON [...] (C) Summary: After securing salary payments for his supporters and getting the OAS's attention to his plight, Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma lifted his six-day old hunger strike. After days with little movement, there was a flurry of activity on July 7, with OAS Secretary General Jose Miguel [...] |
2009-07-09 10:50:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM VE |
09CARACAS86 |
CHAVEZ'S CAMPAIGN: I AM THE REVOLUTION [...] (C) Summary: Chavez has kicked his "Yes" campaign for the February 15 referendum to remove term limits into high gear. His message, which has saturated media from all sides of the political spectrum, is that he is the only leader capable of safeguarding and continuing his "revolutionary" p [...] |
2009-01-21 22:02:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS860 |
VENEZUELAN INTEREST IN RESURRECTING MOU WITH US [...] (C) SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST: This is an action request. PDVSA board members have twice proposed reactivating the bilateral MOU on energy cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Post recommends that the DOE and other Washington agencies authorize the Ambassador to press for p [...] |
2009-07-09 10:55:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
09CARACAS863 |
AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY US [...] (C) Summary: The Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission (DCM) attended a breakfast July 9 hosted by the National Assembly (AN)'s Interparliamentary Friendship Group at the offices of AN First Vice President Saul Ortega. Francisco Torrealba, who is president of the group, and Calixto Ortega [...] |
2009-07-09 18:29:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS864 |
MIXED SIGNALS AT RETURN OF AMBASSADOR [...] (C) Summary. US Ambassador Patrick Duddy returned to Venezuela July 1, following a nearly ten month expulsion and the 2008 recall of Hugo Chavez's Ambassador in Washington. On July 2, Ambassador Duddy hosted the annual Independence Day celebrations at the US Embassy in Caracas. Despite off [...] |
2009-07-09 18:54:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL CASC PGOV ASEC VE |
09CARACAS867 |
MFA FINDS SECRETARY'S COMMENTS DISRESPECTFUL [...] (SBU) A communique late on July 8 from the Ministry of Foreign Relations criticized Secretary Clinton's comments on Venezuela during a July 7 interview with Globovision, Venezuela's last opposition television channel. Calling the interview "unfriendly," the MFA questioned the sincerity of t [...] |
2009-07-10 13:53:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | PREL KDEM VE |
09CARACAS87 |
VENEZUELA'S 2009 ECONOMIC OUTLOOK: GRIM TO DIRE [...] (C) Summary: If oil prices remain at or near current levels, 2009 will be an extremely difficult year, perhaps even a crisis year, for the Venezuelan economy. Most independent analysts expect anemic economic growth or a slight contraction; inflation at 40 percent or above; a loss of real pu [...] |
2009-01-22 13:41:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PGOV VE |
09CARACAS887 |
NEW MEASURES PROPOSED TO ELIMINATE INDEPENDENT [...] (C) Summary: Pressure and attacks against the independent media have continued during the first-half of July. Government Minister Diasdado Cabello told lawmakers that any draft legislation on media social responsibility should include provisions to limit radio networks, restrict joint prog [...] |
2009-07-13 20:13:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM VE |
09CARACAS888 |
CHAVEZ CHALLENGES PRESIDENT OBAMA TO PROVE USG [...] (C) Summary: In an eight-hour "Alo, Presidente" TV and radio broadcast July 12, President Chavez rained criticisms on the US Government, challenging President Obama to withdraw US troops from the joint US-Honduran Palmerola military base to "prove" the US was not involved in the Honduran cou [...] |
2009-07-13 20:17:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS890 |
VISAS VIPER JUNE 2009 ACTIVITY REPORT [...] The CG chaired the Caracas Visas Viper Committee meeting on June 30, 2009. Post law enforcement agencies had no new Visas Viper names to submit to the Consular Section for June 2009. 2. Conoff requested that participants continue submitting names of suspected terrorists for the CLASS data [...] |
2009-07-14 13:36:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | CVIS KVPR PTER ASEC PINR CMGT VE |
09CARACAS891 |
PDVSA EXPROPRIATES REMAINING TIDEWATER VESSELS [...] (C) Tidewater's remaining assets in Venezuela were verbally expropriated the weekend of July 11-12. According to Tidewater Country Representative, Mikael Jacob (strictly protect throughout), the U.S. oil services company had four boats supporting PDVSA's PetroSucre project (formerly ConocoPhi [...] |
2009-07-14 19:04:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
09CARACAS902 |
VENZUELA TO CHANGE INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY LAW TO [...] (SBU) Summary. The government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) is reportedly well along with plans to reform its principal industrial property law. According to press reports of remarks by Commerce Minister Eduardo Saman at a July 9 conference, however, this might only be the f [...] |
2009-07-16 17:33:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECIN ECON EFIN EIND EMIN ENIV ETRD ETTC KIDE |
09CARACAS904 |
FROM BOLIVIA, CHAVEZ REPEATS ACCUSATIONS OF USG [...] (C) Summary: President Chavez, while giving a speech July 16 in La Paz celebrating Bolivia's bicentennial, repeated accusations that the USG -- and the State Department and CIA specifically -- were behind the coup in Honduras. In a message he has been pushing for weeks, Chavez contended th [...] |
2009-07-16 21:44:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS908 |
SELECTIVE VENEZUELAN PORT NATIONALIZATIONS BENEFIT [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Venezuelan government has seized all port operators in Maracaibo and is threatening to do the same throughout the country. The seizures have further deprived an opposition state of tax revenue and sources indicate costs and opportunities for corruption have already increased at the [...] |
2009-07-17 16:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON PGOV PREL ETRD EINV EAGR MARR EAIR VE |
09CARACAS912 |
NATIONAL GUARD DRIVES OUT LOCAL POLICE [...] (C) Summary: In the early hours of July 15, Venezuelan National Guard (GN) soldiers, using tear gas, took over a Miranda state police substation in the small town of Curiepe. Townsfolk who gathered to protest the takeover were driven off with plastic bullets and tear gas. The GN soldiers were [...] |
2009-07-17 23:03:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM SNAR VE |
09CARACAS918 |
ALLEGATIONS OF MINISTER DIOSDADO CABELLO'S [...] (C) In a lunch with EconCouns and Econoff on July 10, XXXXXXXXXXXX alleged Minister of Public Works and Housing Diosdado Cabello was expanding his network of corruption into the financial sector. According to XXXXXXXXXXXX, Cabello and several other former military officers who participated with Cha [...] |
2009-07-20 13:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN PGOV VE |
09CARACAS919 |
ENERGY MINISTER RAMIREZ IN NO MOOD TO NEGOTIATE [...] (C) Summary: On July 14 Energy and Petroleum Minister Rafael Ramirez told oil and gas workers that he would not negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement with the enemies of the revolution. He also called on state-owned businesses to activate "socialist committees" in order to spread [...] |
2009-07-20 13:18:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECIN ECON EFIN EIND EMIN ENRG EPET ETRD ETTC |
09CARACAS932 |
VENEZUELA: FIRST H1N1 DEATH [...] (SBU) On July 19 Health Minister Jesus Mantilla announced that an 11-month-old baby girl had died from complications associated with the H1N1 virus, including viral pneumonia and dehydration. The official cause of death was multiple organ failure, according to the Ministry of Health. A postmo [...] |
2009-07-20 19:15:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | AMED ASEC CASC KPAO KSAF TBIO KFLU KSEAO KSTH |
09CARACAS933 |
CHAVEZ CALLS FOR "SOCIALIST EDUCATION"; NEW LAW IN [...] (C) Summary: President Chavez, National Assembly leaders, and the Ministers of Education and Higher Education have declared that the controversial Education Law will be passed soon by the National Assembly, possibly within the next few weeks. No text of the draft law is available for review, [...] |
2009-07-20 20:09:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM KPAO VE |
09CARACAS934 |
VENEZUELAN TV BROADCASTS OUTRAGEOUS MONTAGE OF [...] (C) Summary: An altered "parody version" of Secretary of State Clinton's July 7 interview with the host of opposition oriented Globovision TV's "Hello Citizen" was broadcast on both the internet and Venezuelan Government television station VTV over the weekend. The doctored broadcast falsi [...] |
2009-07-20 21:36:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM VE |
09CARACAS935 |
GBRV INCENSED OVER LEAKED GAO REPORT [...] (SBU) International media reports during the week of July 13 referred to a "congressional report", classifying Venezuela as "approaching a narco-state," have raised the ire of the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV). (Note: A GAO report on U.S. - Venezuelan counter-dr [...] |
2009-07-20 22:29:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SNAR VE |
09CARACAS96 |
AS DICTATED BY CHAVEZ, CENTRAL BANK TRANSFERS 29 [...] (C) Summary: On January 21, Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) reserves dropped by USD 12.5 billion dollars (29 percent of total reserves), apparently reflecting a transfer of USD 12.3 billion dollars to the National Development Fund (Fonden). This transfer is unprecedented for its size. While [...] |
2009-01-23 18:50:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN VE |
09CARACAS967 |
THREATS AGAINST INDEPENDENT MEDIA CONTINUE IN JULY [...] (C) Summary: As of the second half of July, pressure continues against independent media in Venezuela. New charges were brought against opposition-oriented Globovision station owner, Guillermo Zuloaga, for "conspiracy to commit a crime." A judge barred Zuloaga from leaving the country but [...] |
2009-07-27 20:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM VE |
09CARACAS976 |
CADIVI RELEASES LIST OF COMPANY-SPECIFIC HARD [...] (U) CADIVI, the GBRV entity which rations hard currency at the official exchange rate under Venezuela's currency controls, released on its website a table with company-specific data on hard currency approvals from 2004 through April 20, 2009. Each company's total is broken down between impor [...] |
2009-07-28 14:52:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ECON EFIN PGOV PREL VE |
09CARACAS980 |
VENEZUELA CONDITIONS NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS ON [...] (C) Summary: In a July 21 press release from the Foreign Ministry the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) said that normalization of relations between Venezuela and the U.S. was conditional on the cessation of criticism, referring specifically to official reports releas [...] |
2009-07-28 20:19:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM SNAR VE |
09CARACAS981 |
SMALL U.S. INVESTMENT IN ELECTRICITY GENERATION [...] (C) Acting through its European subsidiary, PSEG Global LLC, a New Jersey-based company, sent Rafael Ramirez, Minister of Energy and Petroleum (MEP), a letter July 22 requesting the reinitiation of negotiations over the GBRV's intended nationalization of Turboven, a group of companies with a [...] |
2009-07-28 20:28:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EINV ENRG VE |
09CARACAS982 |
CHAVEZ DETERMINED TO ACCELERATE HIS REVOLUTION [...] (C) SUMMARY. President Hugo Chavez appears determined to enact a series of controversial laws covering the electoral process, education, social property, and the criminal penal code that are vital tenets of his Bolivarian Revolution and would further consolidate his power. Many of the laws are repa [...] |
2009-07-28 20:53:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS983 |
ANNOUNCEMENT OF COLOMBIAN FOLS PROMPTS CHAVEZ TO [...] (SBU) Summary: Following the announcement of U. S. Forward Operating Locations in Colombia, President Hugo Chavez openly labeled the United States as "the enemy" in a July 23 speech to military officers. In an attempt to intimidate Colombia, Chavez on July 20, ordered a "review" of relatio [...] |
2009-07-28 22:16:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PTER CO VE |
09CARACAS985 |
NEW ELECTORAL LAW ADVANTAGES MAJORITY (CHAVISTA) [...] (C) Summary: The National Assembly (AN) is poised to pass the Organic Law of Electoral Processes (LOPE) by mid-August, at the height of the Venezuelan vacation season, amidst little public protest. The bill would institutionalize practices that tilt the electoral playing field to greatly a [...] |
2009-07-29 15:42:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS987 |
BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING: CONTROVERSIAL CRIMINAL [...] (C) Summary: The Chavista-dominated National Assembly (AN) is poised to pass yet another reform to Venezuela's criminal penal code (COPP) which would expand state control over criminal proceedings and, most controversially, require banks and telecommunications companies to record and make a [...] |
2009-07-29 21:32:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV KDEM VE |
09CARACAS99 |
PRESS FREEDOM UPDATE: MULTIPLE ATTACKS AGAINST [...] (C) Summary: Supporters of the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) continue to try to intimidate journalists who are critical of the GBRV and government officials. There have been numerous attacks on local journalists during the first three weeks of 2009, including what [...] |
2009-01-23 22:13:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
09CARACAS990 |
AMBASSADOR'S FUTURE CALL ON FOREIGN MINISTER [...] No summary [...] |
2009-07-30 19:03:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL VE |
09CARACAS994 |
CHAVEZ FREEZES RELATIONS WITH COLOMBIA [...] (C) SUMMARY: Following President Chavez's July 28 announcement to "freeze" relations with Colombia, an Embassy contact within the Agriculture and Lands Ministry reported that she had been tasked to identify Colombian imports suitable for substitution and to compile a list of Colombian busine [...] |
2009-07-30 22:12:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EAGR ECON EFIN EIND EINV ELAB EMIN ENRG EPET |
10CARACAS101 |
Three Cable Stations Reopen, Student Protests Continue [...] (SBU) Summary: Three of the smaller cable channels closed as a result of the government's January 21 decision to reclassify them as "national" (ref a) were back on the air on January 27 following their successful appeal to Conatel, the broadcasting regulatory agency, to be reclassified a [...] |
2010-01-28 15:18:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM VE |
10CARACAS103 |
TFHA01: Demarche Request: U.S. Aid to Haiti [...] (SBU) On January 27, Polcouns delivered ref a demarche and non-paper on U.S. assistance to Haiti to the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry's Director of North American Affairs, Yaneth Arocha. Polcouns also provided a copy of our January 26 diplomatic note strongly protesting the inclusion on V [...] |
2010-01-28 16:23:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PREL PREF EAID ECON HA VE |
10CARACAS105 |
Raising RCTV and Haiti with Venezuelan Foreign Ministry [...] (C) Summary. In a January 27 lunch with the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry's Director for North American Affairs, Yaneth Arocha, Polcouns raised U.S. concerns about official Venezuelan misinformation about U.S. assistance efforts in Haiti (ref a) and the closure of RCTV. Arocha said she [...] |
2010-01-28 16:41:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PHUM KDEM VE PINR |
10CARACAS107 |
January 2010 Caracas CIWG [...] No summary [...] |
2010-01-28 18:32:00 | Embassy Caracas | SECRET//NOFORN | ASEC |
10CARACAS109 |
RCTV President Asks U.S. to Press U.S. Cables Operators to [...] (C) Summary. In a meeting with the Charge on January 26, RCTV President Marcel Granier asked the U.S. government to press DirectTV, Net Uno, and Inter to restore RCTV programming in Venezuela. Granier charged that these were "U.S. companies" and that they had illegally bowed to Venezuelan governmen [...] |
2010-01-28 23:24:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL PGOV KDEM VE EINV |
10CARACAS11 |
Carabobo Bid Round Update & Venezuela's New Petroleum [...] (C) SUMMARY: The final terms and conditions for the Carabobo extra heavy oil bid round were issued at the end of November. While they do not contain all of the changes hoped for by potential bidders, there were enough alterations to make it possible that international oil companies may submit [...] |
2010-01-06 19:50:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
10CARACAS119 |
RE: Chavez Threatens "Radical Action" if Protests Continue [...] (SBU) Summary: On January 28, hundreds of students gathered in cities across Venezuela for a fifth day of protests. Media reports indicate that since January 25, the protests have led to 2 deaths, nearly 70 injuries, and at least 60 arrests/detentions nationwide, although almost all of the [...] |
2010-01-29 21:43:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM VE |
10CARACAS128 |
Caracas Request for PSA Conversion of LGF [...] Post has received DS request (REFTEL A) that Post provide additional information about Post's proposal to convert the Local Guard Force (LGF) program from contractor provided to Personal Services Agreement (PSA). Answers provided are keyed to REFTEL A. REFTEL B contains the completed cost be [...] |
2010-02-22 22:11:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ASEC ABUD AFIN AMGT |
10CARACAS13 |
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY STARTS NEW SESSION, REELECTS MOST OF ITS [...] (C) Summary: The Chavista-dominated National Assembly (AN) opened its new session January 5 with the selection of its three-member executive board and the administrative secretary and sub-secretary positions. President Cilia Flores and First Vice-President Jose Albornoz retained their respe [...] |
2010-01-07 14:27:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV KDEM VE |
10CARACAS133 |
Government Health Official Open to Scientific Food Safety [...] (C) SUMMARY: According to a scientist with the Ministry of Health's National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), technical level officials are willing to adopt food product trade rules based on sound science. Post believes that continued engagement on scientific matters could support bilateral c [...] |
2010-02-02 18:49:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EAGR ECON ETRD VE PGOV |
10CARACAS137 |
Venezuela: Carabobo Round Closes, Winners to be Announced on [...] Summary: Two international consortia bid on two of the three Carabobo extra heavy oil projects in Venezuela. Companies from countries (Russia, China, and Brazil) with ideological affinities to Venezuela, reportedly abstained from the bid round. There is some speculation in Caracas that Iraq' [...] |
2010-02-03 21:58:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
10CARACAS139 |
Venezuela: Cuban Assistance to Confront Electricity Crisis [...] (SBU) The evening of February 2, President Chavez announced the arrival of Cuban Minister of Technology and President of the Cabinet of Ministers Ramiro Valdez in Venezuela [NOTE: According to USINT Havana, Valdez is the Cuban Minister of Communication. END NOTE]. He reportedly was sent to le [...] |
2010-02-03 22:02:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
10CARACAS143 |
Venezuela: Airlines Close to Deal with GBRV on Arrears [...] (C) SUMMARY: The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reached an agreement with the Venezuelan Central Bank (BCV) to use the new 2.6 bolivares fuertes (BsF) to $1 exchange rate to liquidate foreign exchange requests pending with the GBRV from international airlines prior to the Ja [...] |
2010-02-04 14:42:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EAIR ECON ETRD PREL SNAR VE BEXP EINT ETTC |
10CARACAS145 |
Ascension of Agriculture Minister to Qe Presidency Bodes [...] (C) SUMMARY: On February 2, 2010, Minister of Agriculture and Lands, Elias Jaua Milano, was sworn in as Vice President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV), a position he received, according to President Chavez, due to his loyalty, honesty, and dedication to the revolution. His se [...] |
2010-02-04 16:11:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EAGR VE ETRD PGOV |
10CARACAS147 |
Venezuela: Insights into Recent PDVSA Activity from [...] (C) SUMMARY: According to a source in Mitsubishi XXXXXXXXXXXX, PDVSA is seeking to close at least $13 billion in finance deals. Senior PDVSA officials are reportedly upset over the failure to solicit bids from international companies for the Mariscal Sucre offshore natural gas project; PDVSA announ [...] |
2010-02-04 17:50:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
10CARACAS15 |
Chavez Seeks to Institutionalize His Regional Vision and [...] (C) Summary: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez continues to try to institutionalize his revolutionary vision for Latin America and his regional leadership by formalizing his socialist ideology; creating and financing new regional political, economic, social and media structures; and trying to [...] |
2010-01-07 19:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREF PHUM PREL KDEM VE |
10CARACAS151 |
Venezuela: Cuban Minister Vald??s' Mission in Caracas [...] (SBU) SUMMARY: Press reports from opposition, independent Venezuelan media on February 4 react negatively to President Chavez's announcement that Cuban Minister of Communication and Computing Ramiro ValdC)s is in Caracas to assist in resolving Venezuela's electricity crisis [NOTE: President Cha [...] |
2010-02-04 21:40:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
10CARACAS155 |
VENEZUELA: PDVSA Official's Comments on Bariven and PDVSA [...] (C) SUMMARY: According to George Kabboul, the former President of PDVSA procurement subsidiary Bariven, the Venezuelan national oil company continues to be concerned that the USG might decide to close down its Houston operations. Kabboul maintains that Bariven provides procurement services for [...] |
2010-02-05 22:47:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
10CARACAS161 |
Venezuela Deports Three Fugitives, Justice Minister Asks for [...] (C) Summary: On February 2, the Venezuelan government (GBRV) deported U.S. fugitive Salomon "Big Daddy" Camacho, as well as two fugitives wanted by France and Colombia. Minister of Justice El-Aissami told PolOff and Legatt that he had been instructed by President Chavez to return these [...] |
2010-02-09 21:39:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL SNAR CO VE KCRM |
10CARACAS163 |
Venezuela: Italian Ambassador Briefs on Eni Oil Deals [...] (C) SUMMARY: Italy's Eni stands to become possibly the second largest international oil company operating in Venezuela as a result of deals signed at the end of January, according to Italian Ambassador Luigi Maccotta. It has agreed to develop the extra heavy crude Junin 5 block, to build an upgrade [...] |
2010-02-10 22:10:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON IT VE |
10CARACAS165 |
Chavez Calls Protesting Students "Fascists"; "Real Students [...] (SBU) Speaking to his cabinet in a nationally televised broadcast on February 5, President Chavez called the students who protested February 4 "fascists, subversives, violent, filled with hate and anger." He said they "destroyed part of the Metro, and wanted to fill Caracas with violence, so [...] |
2010-02-11 16:20:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM VE |
10CARACAS167 |
View from the Countryside: The Government Is Taking Over [...] (C) Summary: Government control is wide and deep in the agricultural state of Yaracuy, located in the northwest part of Venezuela. Business leaders described constant attacks on the private sector through land invasions and expropriations, subsidized agricultural imports, and government indif [...] |
2010-02-11 16:22:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL KDEM EAGR VE |
10CARACAS169 |
DRAFT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LEGISLATION HAS AN UNCERTAIN [...] (C) SUMMARY: On January 25, a legal consultant for the Venezuelan Chamber of Medicine (CAVEME) told EconOffs that an intellectual property reform drafted by Commerce Minister Eduardo Saman had "no chance" of being passed. Saman's draft law has raised concerns in the IPR legal community b [...] |
2010-02-11 18:30:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ECIN EIND EINT EINV ETRD KIPR VE |
10CARACAS171 |
EXPROPRIATE IT! CHAVEZ SEIZES BUILDINGS IN PLAZA BOLIVAR TO [...] (SBU) On February 7, President Chavez ordered the expropriation of several buildings in the historical center of Caracas during his "Hello, President" radio and television program. On a televised stroll through Plaza Bolivar with his daughter Maria Gabriela, President Chavez pointed to in [...] |
2010-02-11 22:08:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV ECON VE |
10CARACAS173 |
VENEZUELA: Chavez Declares Electricity State of Emergency [...] (U) SUMMARY: Speaking on national cadena (mandatory television and radio coverage of a presidential speech) around 5 p.m. on February 8, President Chavez emitted decree Number 7,228 declaring an electricity state of emergency and naming an "electricity general staff." Returning to national cad [...] |
2010-02-11 22:13:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | ENRG ECON AMGT EINV ABLD AEMR VE |
10CARACAS177 |
Opposition Committed to Elections Despite Challenges [...] (C) Summary. Despite continuing internal rivalries, opposition political party leaders are united on the need to resist Chavez' "provocations" and remain focused on the September legislative elections, where they expect to present a unified candidate slate and to win at least 40 seats i [...] |
2010-02-12 15:31:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PREL PGOV KDEM VE |
10CARACAS179 |
Venevision Seeks "Balance" in News Coverage [...] (C) Summary. Ambassador Duddy met with representatives of Venezuela's largest non-subscription media group, the Cisneros Group (Venevision), on February 10 to discuss the current status of freedom of expression in the country. The media conglomerate, owned by Gustavo Cisneros, claims its [...] |
2010-02-12 16:02:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
10CARACAS181 |
Rumored Sale of Globovision [...] Summary. On February 10, opposition-oriented cable television station Globovision issued a press release denying rumors that it had been sold or had changed management. However, Director Ravell confirmed that he had been asked to resign. End Summary. Rumors of Government Pressur [...] |
2010-02-12 16:47:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE KDEM |
10CARACAS185 |
Unofficial Emissary Suggests Possibility for Improved [...] (C) Summary. Rene Arreaza, who is closely tied to senior Chavista officials, told the Ambassador on February 3 that, despite President Chavez' hostile rhetoric, the GBRV was willing to have a dialogue with the United States. Arreaza noted two initiatives promoting dialogue, one bilater [...] |
2010-02-12 19:23:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PREL VE |
10CARACAS187 |
Increased Harassment of Approved Cuban Medical Parolees [...] (C) Summary: Harassment of Cuban Medical parolees has increased significantly since December 2009. Recent media coverage has exacerbated difficulties experienced by parolees attempting to exit Venezuela. These Cuban medical professionals who staff President Chavez's flagship medical service program [...] |
2010-02-12 20:20:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV PHUM PREL KDEM CU VE |
10CARACAS189 |
Widespread Support for "Chavismo Lite" in Lara State [...] (C) Summary: On February 3 and 4, Emboffs visited the city of Barquisimeto in western Lara State, where "Chavista lite" Governor Henri Falcon is widely praised across the political spectrum for his administrative efficiency and relatively moderate political stance. Business leaders noted Fa [...] |
2010-02-12 20:36:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV KDEM VE |
10CARACAS19 |
Despite Implementation of New TSA Regulations, Ongoing [...] (C) Summary: On January 4, Post contacted both U.S. and domestic carriers to ensure compliance with the new TSA security directive. Given the inability of TSA to certify Venezuelan airports, airlines have already imposed heightened security measures. Contacts in the aviation industry, thou [...] |
2010-01-08 21:51:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON VE EAIR PGOV PTER PINS |
10CARACAS191 |
Water - Yet Another Venezuelan Shortage [...] (C) SUMMARY: Despite Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's claims that low water levels are due to the El NiC1o weather phenomenon, a lack of investment in water infrastructure by the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) has intensified water shortages. Due to the low water [...] |
2010-02-12 21:02:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON ENRG VE EINV |
10CARACAS193 |
Chevron "Wins" A Carabobo Project [...] (C) SUMMARY: Chevron and Repsol-led consortia won the rights to negotiate mixed company deals with the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum (MENPET) in the Carabobo bid round. In its first major heavy oil bid round since President Chavez assumed power in 1999, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela [...] |
2010-02-12 21:14:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
10CARACAS197 |
Expections for Chavez' Electoral Strategy [...] (C) Summary: Based on Chavez' past practices, most observers expect him to employ the following electoral strategies in the September 26 elections for National Assembly (AN) Deputies in order to achieve his goal of retaining at least a two thirds majority: using his political machine to get [...] |
2010-02-13 00:40:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV KDEM VE PREL |
10CARACAS20 |
Request for Establishment of Defensive Security Coordinator [...] (SBU) Summary: Per reftels Caracas requests DS/IP/OPO/FPD establish one Defensive Security Coordinator (DSC) position in Caracas to manage select Caracas Defensive Planning and Support Staff (DPSS). Post Management and Charge John Caulfield support this new position. Post will provide office [...] |
2010-01-14 15:07:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ASEC AMGT APER |
10CARACAS201 |
Venezuela: The GBRV's Political Response to Colombian Offer [...] (SBU) In response to press reports of Colombian Minister of Mines and Energy HernC!nMartC-nez' offer to help Venezuela through its current electricity crisis, Venezuela's Executive Vice President ElC-as Jaua rejected the Colombian offer on Tuesday, February 16. On Wednesday, February 17, Venez [...] |
2010-02-18 22:50:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG ECON EINV CO VE |
10CARACAS203 |
EIGHT GBRV CABINET CHANGES IN LAST MONTH [...] (C) Summary: On February 13, President Chavez announced that Minister of Commerce Eduardo Saman had been replaced, bringing to eight the number of Venezuelan government (GBRV) ministers since mid-January who have either resigned or been relieved of their duties. Theories abound regarding [...] |
2010-02-18 23:00:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV VE ECON |
10CARACAS207 |
Venezuela's Financial Sector: Fragility Grows, but Neither [...] (C) Summary: Venezuela's financial sector is showing increasing fragility. The Venezuelan government (GBRV) now controls 28 percent of the banking sector's assets (up from 12 percent one year ago), has established a foothold in the insurance sector, and has taken at least temporary control o [...] |
2010-02-19 22:28:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN VE |
10CARACAS209 |
S/GWI Project Proposal - Venezuela [...] Please find below a project proposal for the "Shelter for Victims of Gender-Based Violence" for the S/GWI small grants initiative, as announced in reftel. FundaSucre, a public foundation of the Sucre municipality of Caracas, would be the recipient organization, and this project would support [...] |
2010-02-19 22:52:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED | PGOV PREF PHUM PREL KDEM SNAR VE |
10CARACAS21 |
Vice Foreign Minister Expresses Interest in "Normalizing" Bilateral Contacts [...] (C) Summary. On January 8, six months after his return to post, Ambassador Duddy had his first meeting with a senior Venezuelan government (GBRV) official, Vice Foreign Minister Francisco Arias Cardenas. Arias told the Ambassador he was interested in opening a dialogue both on policy as well as ope [...] |
2010-01-08 22:02:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL ENRG VE |
10CARACAS211 |
GBRV SELLS ALUMINUM TO TRANSNATIONALS INSTEAD OF LOCAL [...] (C) SUMMARY: The Venezuelan government (GBRV) is selling state-produced aluminum to multinational companies and undersupplying local fabricators, according to a private sector aluminum entrepreneur. State-owned aluminum companies Alcasa and Venalum have decreased production following a [...] |
2010-02-22 20:32:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON VE EIND EINT EINV EMIN ENRG ETRD |
10CARACAS213 |
VENEZUELA: Chevron Fears Default Expropriation of Natural [...] (C) SUMMARY: Chevron believes its 10% participation in the downstream development of Venezuela's first liquefied natural gas (LNG) train may be in jeopardy due to Iranian involvement in the project. The company has learned that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (GBRV) has contracted with Ir [...] |
2010-02-22 21:36:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON IR TD VE |
10CARACAS215 |
STOCK REQUEST, RSO CARACAS [...] No summary [...] |
2010-02-23 17:33:00 | Embassy Caracas | SECRET | ASEC KSEO |
10CARACAS219 |
Globovision Owners Acknowledge Defeat; El Nacional On the Ropes? [...] (S) Summary: In separate meetings with the Ambassador between February 17-19, several of Venezuela's major private media XXXXXXXXXXXX acknowledged that relentless Venezuelan Government (GBRV) pressure against their television and print outlets has threatened to put them out of business. XX [...] |
2010-02-23 18:15:00 | Embassy Caracas | SECRET | PGOV PREL VE PHUM KDEM |
10CARACAS223 |
FOLLOW-ON COMPLIANCE RESPONSE - OIG INSPECTION CARACAS, [...] No summary [...] |
2010-02-24 16:34:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ASEC ABLD AADP ASIG |
10CARACAS225 |
Venezuela: BP and Statoil Insights into the Carabobo Bid [...] (C) SUMMARY: The lack of infrastructure development in the area of the Faja heavy oil belt projected for development under the Carabobo bid round projects as well as PDVSA's failure to clarify the bidding terms and conditions contributed to BP and Statoil decisions not to submit bids for one of [...] |
2010-02-24 21:15:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
10CARACAS227 |
POPULAR GOVERNOR LEAVES THE PSUV, JOINS ALLIED PPT [...] (C) Summary: The second-most popular political figure within the Chavista movement, Governor of Lara State Henri Falcon, announced February 22 in an open letter that he was leaving the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) for the allied Fatherland For All (PPT) party. Falcon alleged t [...] |
2010-02-24 21:51:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PGOV KDEM VE |
10CARACAS229 |
TRIPWIRES FOR AUTHORIZED AND ORDERED DEPARTURE IN THE EVENT [...] No summary [...] |
2010-02-25 17:42:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ASEC CVIS AMGT AEMR |
10CARACAS23 |
Vice Foreign Minister Expresses Interest in "Normalizing" [...] (C) Summary. On January 8, six months after his return to post, Ambassador Duddy had his first meeting with a senior Venezuelan government (GBRV) official, Vice Foreign Minister Francisco Arias Cardenas. Arias told the Ambassador he was interested in opening a dialogue both on policy a [...] |
2010-01-08 22:08:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN | PREL ENRG VE |
10CARACAS231 |
Venezuela's 2010 TIP REPORT SUBMISSION [...] No summary [...] |
2010-02-25 20:49:00 | Embassy Caracas | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | ELAB KMCA PHUM PREF SMIG ASEC KCRM KFRD KWMN KTIP |
10CARACAS233 |
VENEZUELA: PDVSA Director for Strategic Planning Alleges it [...] (C) SUMMARY: Fadi Kabboul, a member of PDVSA's board of directors, asserted PDVSA's openness to dialogue with the USG, and expressed interest in the US Geological Survey's survey on recoverable oil in the Orinoco Belt that effectively doubled Venezuela's estimated reserves, and the on-going deb [...] |
2010-02-26 13:31:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | EPET EINV ENRG ECON VE |
10CARACAS237 |
GE TURBINE SALES TO VENEZUELA [...] (C) Following President Chavez's comments the night of February 19 that energy issues were not ideological and that his Administration has signed agreements with General Electric, Post reached out to the company to discuss its current activities in Venezuela. On February 24, Emboffs spoke by [...] |
2010-02-26 20:45:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ENRG ECON VE |
10CARACAS239 |
Chavez Blasts IACHR Human Rights Report as "Pure Garbage" [...] (C) Summary: On February 25, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez strongly rejected the special report issued by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) of the Organization of American States (OAS), calling it "pure garbage" that reflected the continued "demonization" of Venez [...] |
2010-02-26 20:57:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PHUM PREL PGOV VE OAS |
10CARACAS241 |
"Jesus Christ, Super Censored": GBRV Pressure Sinks [...] (C) Summary: On February 26, local media reported that a sponsorship deal for the Venezuelan musical production of Jesus Christ, Superstar fell apart after the production company refused to comply with demands by sponsors Blackberry-RIM and Movilnet that publicity for the musical not be pl [...] |
2010-02-26 20:59:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | PGOV VE PHUM SCUL EINV |
10CARACAS27 |
Venezuela: Chavez Devlaues Bolivar and Creates a Second Rate [...] (SBU) Summary: President Chavez announced a devaluation of the bolivar (Bs) on January 8. Instead of an official exchange rate of 2.15 Bs/USD, there will be two rates: an "official" rate of 2.6 Bs/USD (a devaluation of 17 percent) and a "dolC!r petrolero" rate of 4.3 Bs/USD (a 50 percent de [...] |
2010-01-11 19:07:00 | Embassy Caracas | CONFIDENTIAL | ECON EFIN VE PGOV EPET EINV ETRD EAIR CVIS |
10CARACAS29 |
Foreign Minister Maduro Protests Alleged Overflights, [...] (C) Summary. On January 11, Foreign Minister Nicholas Maduro called in Charge Caulfield to deliver a diplomatic note protesting an alleged violation of Venezuelan airspace by a U.S. military aircraft on January 8. Maduro expressed concern that the alleged overflight occurred |