US embassy cable - 04CARACAS3788

C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 003788 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/08/2014 
TAGS: PREL, VE, US 
SUBJECT: VENEVUELAN VICE PRESIDENT RANGEL ON BILATERAL 
ACCESS 
 
Classified By: DCM Stephen McFarland 
 
1.  (C)  Summary:  The Ambassador met December 8 with Vice 
President Rangel to get a read on bilateral access. 
Stressing he would meet with GOV officials at whatever level 
the GOV determined, the Amb noted the relatively restricted 
current access to the GOV made it more difficult to address 
issues in our bilateral relationship.  Rangel initially took 
a stand on reciprocity -- Amb Alvarez_ did not have much 
access in Washington -- but agreed to facilatate meetings 
with the Ministers of Interior/Justice, Foreign Relations, 
and Education.  The Ambassador also raised the many USG 
programs/visits that have been turned down or withdrawn from 
by GOV officials;  Rangel said this did not reflect GOV 
policy, but he agreed to review the list the Ambassador 
provided.  In subsequent statements to the press, the 
Ambassador made clear that the GOV should listen to the 
criticisms made by human rights and press freedom NGOs 
regarding the new media law.  End Summary. 
 
2.  (C)  The Ambassador, joined by the DCM, met with  Vice 
President Jose Vicente Rangel and chief of staff Amb Rene 
Arreaza on December 8.  The Ambassador reminded Rangel that 
he had promised to assist the Ambassador in meeting key 
members of the GOV.  He said that two months after presenting 
credentials, he had only met three cabinet ministers, two of 
whom had already resigned.  The Ambassador stressed that he 
did not stand on protocol, and of course would be willing to 
meet with vice ministers or office directors -- with whomever 
the GOV designated who could speak with authority Did this 
situation reflect, he asked, a lack of GOV interest in the 
bilateral relationship, or skittishness on the part of 
individual ministers?  Neither, said Rangel, what it 
reflected was the GOV's concern that its Ambassador to the 
U.S., Amb. Bernardo Alvarez_, was not received at an 
appropriately high level in the USG; reciprocity was very 
important, as was rank. 
 
3.  (C)  The Ambassador responded that Alvarez_ had never 
complained to him about lack of access; Rangel said that 
Alvarez_ had done so with him.  Rangel urged that the USG look 
at improving Alvarez_' access within State and other agencies. 
  The Ambassador repeated that in his case, he was not 
insisting on meeting with higher-ranking officials; he only 
wanted to be able to meet with officials who could discuss 
and act upon our various bilateral issues.  Rangel eventually 
offered to facilitate meetings for the Ambassador with 
Interior Minister Chacon, new Foreign Minister Rodriguez, and 
Education Minister Isturiz. 
 
4.  (C)  The Vice President asked about the recent denial of 
visas to a Venezuelan bicycling group; the Ambassador replied 
that the denial resulted from fraudulent documents, 
apparently on the letterhead of the Vice Ministry of Sports. 
The Sports Vice minister has ducked our requests for a 
meeting for six months; this incident underscored the need 
for bilateral meetings and dialogue.  Rangel agreed. 
 
5.  (U)  In responding to press queries after the visit about 
the new media content law, the Ambassador stressed that the 
GOV should listen to the observations and criticisms of the 
law made public by international human rights and press 
freedom groups. 
 
6.  (C)  Comment:  The Ambassador spoke to Amb. Alvarez_ in 
Washington after the meeting.  Alvarez_ made clear that he and 
Rangel had discussed and coordinated the reciprocity argument 
before the meeting.  The GOV has made its points about 
wanting higher level contact in Washington; that said, Rangel 
conceded that it would be good to facilitate some additional 
Embassy-Gov high level contacts.  Rangel is loyal to his 
government and is no friend of the U.S., but he probably 
prefers more rather than less contact with the US Embassy. 
 
Brownfield 
 
 
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NOTE:  REASON MISSI 
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      2004CARACA03788 - CONFIDENTIAL