US embassy cable - 04CARACAS3624

C O N F I D E N T I A L  CARACAS 003624 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
NSC FOR CBARTON 
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2014 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, VE 
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S VISIT TO MARACAY 
 
 
Classified By: Abelardo A. Arias, Political Counselor, for Reason 1.4(d 
) 
 
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Summary 
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1. (U) The Ambassador visited Maracay, Aragua State, November 
16, 2004 and met with the president of the Aragua State 
judges, the mayor, business leaders and the press.  He also 
stopped by an agricultural laboratory that receives U.S. 
funding (despite the Ministry of Science and Technology 
declining the request for a formal visit). During each 
meeting and following press event, the Ambassador highlighted 
previous U.S. assistance and the benefits it had produced for 
Aragua State. He emphasized cooperation and progress in areas 
where the U.S. and Venezuela coincided (energy, illegal 
drugs, and terrorism).  The Ambassador also said he hoped, 
without altering fundamental USG positions of principle, to 
reduce the tone and volume of the rhetoric in areas in which 
the countries disagreed (democratic institutions, regional 
politics, human rights, etc.).  End Summary. 
 
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The Players 
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2. (U) The Ambassador visited Maracay, Aragua State, a 
pro-Chavez agricultural state, November 16, 2004.  He briefly 
toured an agricultural research laboratory that receives U.S. 
funding.  The Ministry of Science and Technology had declined 
the request for a formal visit.  The Ambassador called on Dr. 
Juan Ibarra, president of the Aragua State judicial circuit 
and a former IV grantee.  Ibarra explained the progress the 
courts of Aragua had made as a direct result of U.S. 
assistance (modernization, congruency of decisions, etc. and 
said he was interested in increased cooperation, especially 
in the courtroom management and logistics.  The Ambassador 
also met with former Army colonel Humberto Prieto, mayor of 
Maracay (Movimiento Quinta Republica*MVR), and about 20 
leaders of American and Venezuelan businesses, granting press 
interviews after each.  He then spoke with the boards of the 
two leading newspapers, the centrist "El Aragueno" 
(circulation 55,000) and the anti-Chavez "El Siglo," 
(circulation 75,000) agreeing to an interview at the latter. 
Filippo Sindoni, President of "El Aragueno," confirmed 
several business leaders' assertions that the economy in 
Aragua State seems to be recovering. 
 
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The Message and the Media 
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3. (U) During each meeting and press event the Ambassador 
highlighted previous U.S. assistance and the benefits it has 
produced for Aragua State.  He emphasized cooperation and 
progress in areas where the U.S. and Venezuela coincided 
(energy, illegal drugs, and terrorism), and said that while 
the USG would maintain its principled positions, he hoped to 
reduce the tone and volume of the rhetoric in areas in which 
the countries disagreed (democratic institutions, regional 
politics, human rights, etc.).  Fielding questions the 
Ambassador said Secretary Powell's resignation was in line 
with cabinet changes that typically occur after the first 
term; he praised Condoleezza Rice's nomination; and he 
reiterated President Bush's commitment to Latin America and 
the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). 
 
4. (U) Both "El Siglo" and "El Aragueno" featured front-page 
coverage of the Ambassador's visit.  There was also local 
radio and regional television coverage.  The message 
concentrated on the benefits that relations with the United 
States bring, reduced tone and volume of rhetoric, Secretary 
Powell's resignation, and Condoleezza Rice's nomination.  "El 
Universal," the leading conservative newspaper, briefly 
mentioned the Ambassador's comments on the latter. 
 
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Comment 
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5. (C) The Ambassador's visit publicly highlighted the 
people-to-people benefits a relationship with the United 
States could bring in a traditionally pro-Chavez state.  The 
Ambassador's originally approved requests for a meeting with 
Chavista Governor Didalco Bolivar and the visit to the 
 
agricultural research laboratory partially sponsored by the 
U.S. were both canceled at the last minute with improbable 
explanations.  The request to meet with Garrison Commander 
General Gustavo Rangel Briceno went unanswered.  The informal 
call on the laboratory despite the Ministry of Science and 
Technology declining showed that we would not be sidelined by 
the GOV's attempt to limit Embassy access. 
Brownfield 
 
 
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      2004CARACA03624 - CONFIDENTIAL