US embassy cable - 04CARACAS1384

C O N F I D E N T I A L  CARACAS 001384 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
NSC FOR CBARTON 
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD 
STATE PASS USAID FOR DCHA/OTI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/22/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, PHUM, VE 
SUBJECT: GOV GLOATS OVER CARTER LETTER ON SIGNATURE TALKS 
 
REF: CARACAS 1346 
 
Classified By: Abelardo A. Arias, Political Counselor, 
for Reasons 1.4(b) and (d). 
 
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Summary 
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1. (C) The GOV released on April 22 a letter sent a week 
earlier by former President Carter to President Hugo Chavez 
registering concerns over delays in the signature appeals 
process negotiations.  The letter offered recommendations to 
the GOV on the parameters of the appeals process and proposed 
an OAS-Carter Center observation mission to monitor them. 
Official press stripped the date from the letter and implied 
that President Carter had congratulated the GOV on the 
completed appeals process negotiations.  Private media 
emphasized Carter's criticisms of GOV foot-dragging during 
the signature verification process.  The Carter Center (TCC) 
representatives publicly lamented the GOV's decision to 
release "private correspondence," especially after 
negotiations had concluded, and privately explained to 
government opponents the Carter Center position.  The 
letter's release briefly influenced opposition discussions 
about participating in the appeals process, but seems to have 
had little damaging effect.  End summary. 
 
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The Velvet Glove Approach 
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2. (U) Former President Jimmy Carter sent a letter to 
President Hugo Chavez on April 16, before the National 
Electoral Council (CNE) decided on April 21 on rules for the 
signature appeals process ("reparos") for the presidential 
referendum (ref).  The letter congratulates the CNE, the 
Coordinadora Democratica (CD), and the Comando Ayacucho (the 
pro-Chavez campaign committee) for the efforts being made to 
find an acceptable appeals mechanism.  The letter notes that 
the verification process had suffered long delays and 
uncertainties, causing Venezuelans to doubt the integrity of 
their democratic institutions.  Carter recommends specific 
features for the appeals process, such as the use of registry 
books for those contesting the CNE's decision concerning 
their signature.  Carter also offers observers for the 
appeals process, and supports the Comando Ayacucho's proposal 
to include new observers from UNDP and the European Union. 
 
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Spin... 
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3. (C) After the CNE made its announcement, the GOV press 
agency Venpres released the letter on April 21, leaving off 
the date.  The Venpres headline read "Carter Recognizes 
Efforts of the Executive on the Appeals Process."  The timing 
of the release implied that President Carter had 
congratulated the GOV for reaching an acceptable agreement, 
implying that the opposition should take the deal.  Even OAS 
chief observer Marcelo Alvarez_ was confused by the press. 
Despite knowing about the letter last week, Alvarez_ told 
PolOff, he thought Venpres was referring to a new letter. 
 
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Counter-Spin 
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4. (U) Private media played up Carter's criticisms of the GOV 
for the delays in the verification process.  Caracas daily El 
Universal said Carter expressed "worry."  News channel 
Globovision said Carter's message was that the appeals 
mechanism would revive confidence of Venezuelans in the CNE. 
CD negotiator Alberto Quiros pointed out on a Globovision 
interview that Carter's letter was written before the 
mechanism was defined.  The Carter Center (TCC) tried to 
correct the story to Venezuelan press. 
 
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TCC Regrets Confusion 
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5. (C) TCC Latin America chief Jennifer McCoy told the 
Ambassador by e-mail, that it was "unfortunate" that the GOV 
released the private letter under confusing conditions.  She 
said the letter had been intended to encourage the GOV 
negotiators to agree quickly to a workable appeals mechanism. 
 McCoy said TCC would clarify to opposition leaders that TCC 
has not taken a position on the appeals proposal and would 
not advise them on whether to accept it. 
 
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Comment 
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6. (C) We do not know whether Carter's letter caused the 
Chavistas to be more flexible during the negotiations.  The 
letter's release, however, was clearly a GOV attempt to 
suggest that President Carter endorses the CNE's proposed 
appeals process just at the time that the opposition is 
debating whether to participate.  The letter's splash has 
been brief, and does not appear to have had great negative 
effect on opposition deliberations about going to the reparos. 
 
SHAPIRO 
 
 
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      2004CARACA01384 - CONFIDENTIAL