US embassy cable - 04CARACAS1940

C O N F I D E N T I A L  CARACAS 001940 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
NSC FOR CBARTON 
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD 
USAID DCHA/OTI FOR RPORTER 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/27/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, KDEM, VE 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S TRIP TO MARACAIBO 
 
 
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ABELARDO A. ARIAS FOR REASONS 1.4 (d 
) 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1.  (C) On June 5, the Ambassador traveled to Maracaibo, 
Zulia State, where Esteban Pineda, editor of the Maracaibo 
daily Panorama, told him that the pro-Chavez gubernatorial 
candidate suffers from incredibly low support ratings and has 
few prospects in Zulia's upcoming elections.  At a lunch 
hosted by the Governor of Zulia, Manuel Rosales, invitees 
voiced concern over the date of the recall referendum and 
asserted that holding the referendum on August 15 could lead 
to delays beyond August 19 deadline.  When interviewed by a 
Panorama journalist, the Ambassador emphasized that the U.S. 
will only respect the results of the recall referendum if 
there is a clean and transparent electoral process. 
End Summary. 
 
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PINEDA'S OBSERVATIONS 
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2.  (C)  On June 5, the Ambassador traveled to Maracaibo, 
Zulia State, where he met with Esteban Pineda, editor of the 
pro-Chavez Maracaibo daily, Panorama.  Speaking on his 
business interests, Pineda reflected that he has established 
working relationships with Zulia Governor Manuel Rosales and 
the GoV, and that what is most important is not allowing 
continued political polarization to affect the business 
climate.  The Ambassador and Pineda also discussed the 
pro-Chavez gubernatorial candidate for Zulia, retired 
National Guard General Alberto Gutierrez.  Pineda remarked 
that Gutierrez suffers from low support ratings and has few 
prospects in upcoming elections.  (The Ambassador had a 
meeting scheduled with Gutierrez, but Gutierrez canceled, 
saying he had been called to Caracas.  In fact, he did not 
leave for Caracas until the following day.)  Pineda is very 
proud that his varied business interests are doing well and 
that he has money invested in Venezuela, not abroad.  He 
maintains good relations with both President Chavez and Gov. 
Rosales. 
 
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PANORAMA INTERVIEW 
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3.  (U)  The Ambassador granted also gave an interview to a 
journalist from Panorama after meeting with Pineda.  Asked 
about the recall referendum, the Ambassador remarked that the 
U.S. will only respect the results of the recall referendum 
if there is a clean and transparent electoral process.  The 
Ambassador reiterated U.S. commitment to a peaceful, 
democratic, constitutional and electoral solution to the 
current political crisis in Venezuela.  The Ambassador also 
expressed hope that the recall referendum would lead to an 
improvement in bilateral relations between the U.S. and 
Venezuela, and that commented that cooperation on more 
technical issues such as immigration and trade could serve as 
a first step toward reconciliation. 
 
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CONCERNS OVER THE REFERENDUM 
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4.  (SBU)  The Ambassador attended a lunch hosted by the 
Governor of Zulia Manuel Rosales (opposition -- Nuevo Tiempo 
party).  The recall referendum and the reparos process were 
central topics of conversation.  Concern was voiced over the 
as yet undefined date of the recall referendum. Holding the 
referendum on August 15 as the GoV proposes, they said, could 
lead to delays beyond August 19.  Those in attendance were 
also apprehensive about the potential for political violence 
during and after the recall referendum.  This anxiety stems 
in part from the March 6 murder of a local Accion Democratica 
leader, Evangelina Carrizo, in Machiques, Zulia State. 
Alfonso Marquez, Mayor of Machiques, commented that the most 
unsettling aspect of the Carrizo murder is that the GoV has 
demonstrated no intention to prosecute the case although the 
alleged murderer has been identified. 
 
5.  (SBU)  The lunch guests discussed the field of candidates 
for Zulia's upcoming gubernatorial election.  As stated by 
Pineda, they too maintained that pro-Chavez candidate Gen. 
Gutierrez only had a public opinion rating between 22% and 
 
25%.  All thought that he would not pose a substantial threat 
to Governor Rosales.  It was also noted that former governor 
of Zulia (and rival opposition candidate), Francisco Arias 
Cardenas had received less than 5% of the votes in public 
polling. 
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COMMENT 
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6.  (C)  The key force in Zulia politics is Gov. Rosales. 
The state chapter of the Coordinadora Democratica is 
moribund.  Rosales is the opposition.  The state is heavily 
anti-Chavista and Venezuelans ratified more signatures in the 
appeals process than in any other state.  Chavez regularly 
accuses Rosales of being both a golpista and a secessionist. 
Rumors abound that Rosales is one of the governors Chavez 
would like to have jailed. 
SHAPIRO 
 
 
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      2004CARACA01940 - CONFIDENTIAL