US embassy cable - 04CARACAS3116

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 003116 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/03/2014 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, VE 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S PRESENTATION OF CREDENTIALS TO FM 
 
REF: STATE 213121 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Brownfield. REASON 1.5 (B) 
 
1.  (U) Ambassador, accompanied by DCM, presented copies of 
his credentials to Foreign Minister Perez late afternoon Oct. 
1.  Perez was accompanied by Chief of Staff Jesus Avancini 
and a MFA notetaker Pulido.  Ambassador was the last of 
several ambassadors who presented credentials to the FM that 
afternoon.  Perez had returned from the U.S. (UN and OAS) the 
day before. 
 
2.  (C) After 15 minutes of pleasantries (Texas, Barinas, 
Venezuelan rodeo), Ambassador worked through reftel (notal) 
talking points, emphasizing: 
 
-     USG would not back off our fundamental principles, but 
we could adjust the tone and volume of our dialogue if they 
did as well; 
-     We had a list of issues requiring attention; we assumed 
they had their own list; 
-     We were not going to solve bilateral issues by starting 
at the top; senior government meetings would come at the end, 
not the beginning; 
-     If we were going to make progress, we needed channels 
of communication, particularly at working levels; we would 
continue to reach out to GOV to try to address bilateral 
issues. 
 
Following two cell phone interruptions from the President, 
Perez said he agreed with the step by step approach.  He 
wanted an improved bilateral relationship. 
 
3.  (U) Following meeting, FM and Ambassador met with the 
press outside his office.  Ambassador noted he had presented 
credentials, and discussed how 190 years of bilateral 
relations gave us a good starting point to address issues of 
democracy, prosperity, and security.  Press asked Ambassador 
whether USG was willing to improve relations with the GOV. 
Ambassador said we were willing to explore improved relations 
on both bilateral and regional issues. 
Brownfield 
 
 
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      2004CARACA03116 - CONFIDENTIAL