Cablegate: Chavez Demands Obama Explain Dca to Unasur

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FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3704
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RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS

UNCLAS CARACAS 001207

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HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PREL VE CO
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ DEMANDS OBAMA EXPLAIN DCA TO UNASUR

REF: CARACAS 1144

1. (SBU) Speaking in Madrid on September 11, Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez repeated the suggestion, first raised
by Brazilian President Da Silva at the August 28 UNASUR
summit in Argentina, that President Obama publicly explain
the purpose of the Defense Cooperation Agreement with
Colombia. Chavez asked that Obama attend the upcoming UNASUR
Summit in Quito and, "explain the idea behind the bases."
Note: The GBRV has not given the Embassy either a verbal or
written invitation for the President to attend. End Note.

2. (SBU) Over the weekend, five of Venezuela's leading
dailies, including papers of record El Nacional and El
Universal, carried Chavez's comments as well as those of
Brazilian diplomat Celso Amorim, who claimed Obama had told
him "he would discuss UNASUR with his team."
DUDDY

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