US embassy cable - 04MADRID3066

C O N F I D E N T I A L MADRID 003066 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR WHA/AND AND WHA/PDA 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, KDEM, VE, KPAO, SP 
SUBJECT: SPAIN/EU SUPPORT FOR THE VENEZUELAN PRESIDENTIAL 
REFERENDUM 
 
REF: A. (A) MADRID 2958 
     B. (B) STATE 168747 
 
Classified By: Kathleen M. Fitzpatrick, Political Counselor. 
Reasons 1.4 (B) & (D) 
 
1.  (C) Following up on USOAS Ambassador Maisto's strong 
pitch to the GOS on the Venezuelan presidential referendum 
(ref a), Poloff delivered ref b points on August 10 to Javier 
Ignacio Martinez del Barrio, Technical Advisor to the Deputy 
Director for Countries within the Andean Community.  Martinez 
told Poloff that Spain has made numerous statements in 
support a free and fair recall referendum in Venezuela. 
Martinez said that the European Union was unable to reach an 
agreement with the Government of Venezuela (GoV) because the 
EU felt the GoV did not meet EU requirements on when to 
pre-position monitors before the referendum and whether to 
give them unrestricted access to conduct monitoring 
activities.  However, the EU decided last week to send five 
technical experts to assist the Venezuelan referendum under 
the umbrella of the OAS, Martinez explained.  The EU would 
announce its participation in Venezuela referendum this week. 
 Martinez added that Spain fully supports for the OAS's and 
Carter Center's initiatives in Venezuela. 
 
2.  (C) Working with Embassy Madrid's PAS, Ambassador Maisto 
conducted an active outreach program with the Spanish media 
during his late July visit.  Maisto urged strong public 
support for a free and fair referendum in Venezuela.  Media 
activities included: 
 
(A)  El Pais interview with Ambassador Maisto on August 5. 
 
(B)  Spanish National Radio (RNE) 5 network interview with 
Ambassador Maisto on August 5, rebroadcast on RNE Foreign 
Radio, heard principally in Latin America. 
 
(C)  Antena 3 TV interview with Ambassador Maisto, recorded 
July 29 and expected to be rebroadcast on Antena 3 just 
before the Venezuela referendum and during the Spanish 
Program "Seven Days" news analysis show in mid-August. 
 
3.  (C) The Spanish business daily "Business Gazette" 
published August 11 a strongly worded editorial supporting 
the efforts of the opposition to save Venezuela from "the 
despotism colonel Chavez runs."  However, we do not expect 
the Spanish media to report Venezuelan reaction until just 
before and just after the referendum.  PAS will look for 
appropriate material from the Washington file, which we can 
use to develop an op-ed under the byline of the Charge or 
another senior USG official. 
MANZANARES