![Keep Us Strong](../../../static/gfx/ja-cg.jpg)
![WikiLeaks logo](../../../static/gfx/WL_Hour_Glass_small.png)
Currently released so far... 3954 / 251,287
Articles
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Amsterdam
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lagos
Mission USNATO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Browse by tag
AF
AM
AE
AG
AR
ASEC
AS
AU
AORC
AJ
AMGT
AGMT
AFIN
APER
ABUD
ATRN
AEMR
ACOA
AEC
AO
AX
AMED
ADCO
AODE
AFFAIRS
AC
AL
ASIG
ABLD
AA
AFU
ASUP
AROC
ATFN
CH
CE
CA
CASC
CU
CLINTON
CO
CI
CVIS
CDG
CIA
CACM
CDB
CS
CBW
CD
CV
CMGT
CJAN
CG
CF
CN
CAN
COUNTER
CIS
CM
CONDOLEEZZA
COE
CR
CY
CTM
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CPAS
CWC
CT
CKGR
CB
CACS
COM
CJUS
CARSON
COUNTERTERRORISM
EUN
EG
EAID
ENRG
ETTC
EFIN
ECON
ETRD
EPET
EINV
EMIN
ECIP
ECPS
EINDETRD
EAGR
EU
EN
EZ
ELAB
ER
ET
ES
EUC
EI
EAIR
EIND
EWWT
ELTN
EREL
ECIN
EFIS
EINT
EC
ENVR
ECA
EXTERNAL
EINVETC
ENIV
EINN
ENGR
EUR
ESA
ENERG
EK
ELECTIONS
ECUN
EINVEFIN
IR
IS
IZ
INRB
IAEA
IN
IT
ID
IO
IV
ICTY
IQ
ICAO
INTERPOL
IPR
IRAJ
INRA
INRO
IC
IIP
ITPHUM
IWC
ISRAELI
IRAQI
ICRC
IMO
IF
ILC
IEFIN
INTELSAT
IL
IA
IBRD
IMF
ITALY
ITALIAN
KCOR
KDEM
KNNP
KU
KWBG
KPAL
KN
KS
KZ
KAWK
KISL
KPAO
KCRM
KJUS
KSEC
KIPR
KGHG
KIFR
KTFN
KDRG
KV
KSUM
KWAC
KAWC
KDEMAF
KFIN
KGIC
KTIP
KOMC
KHLS
KSPR
KGCC
KPIN
KG
KBIO
KHIV
KSCA
KE
KFRD
KPKO
KNUC
KMDR
KPLS
KOLY
KUNR
KIRF
KIRC
KACT
KRAD
KCOM
KMCA
KHDP
KVPR
KDEV
KWMN
KTIA
KPRP
KCIP
KCFE
KOCI
KTDB
KMRS
KLIG
KBCT
KICC
KGIT
KSTC
KPAK
KNEI
KSEP
KPOA
KFLU
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KO
KTER
KHUM
KRFD
KBTR
KDDG
KWWMN
KFLO
KSAF
KBTS
KPRV
KMPI
KNPP
KNAR
KWMM
KERG
KTBT
KCRS
KRVC
KR
KPWR
KMIG
MOPS
MZ
MO
MNUC
MASS
MARR
MY
MEPP
MCAP
MA
MR
ML
MX
MIL
MTCRE
MPOS
MOPPS
MTCR
MAPP
MU
MG
MASC
MCC
MK
MTRE
MP
MDC
MAR
MEPI
MRCRE
MI
MT
MQADHAFI
MD
MAPS
MUCN
PREL
PTER
PGOV
PO
PHUM
PINS
PARM
PK
PINR
PINT
PBTS
PROP
PE
PL
PREF
POGOV
PINL
POL
PBIO
PSOE
PHSA
PKFK
PGOF
PARMS
PA
PM
PMIL
PTERE
PF
PALESTINIAN
PY
PGGV
PNR
POV
PAK
PAO
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PNAT
PROV
PEL
PGOVE
POLINT
POLITICS
PEPR
PSI
PU
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PECON
SNAR
SA
SY
SOCI
STEINBERG
SP
SENV
SCUL
SF
SO
SR
SG
SW
SU
SL
SMIG
SN
SHUM
SZ
SYR
ST
SANC
SC
SAN
SIPRS
SK
SH
SI
UNSC
UP
UK
USEU
UG
UNMIK
UV
UZ
UY
UN
US
UNGA
UNO
USUN
UE
UNESCO
UAE
UNEP
USTR
UNHCR
UNDP
UNHRC
USAID
UNCHS
UNAUS
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 08LISBON2629, S/NF) PORTUGAL: "WE KNOW CHAVEZ IS A CRAZY MAN
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08LISBON2629.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
08LISBON2629 | 2008-10-07 10:10 | 2010-12-12 21:09 | SECRET//NOFORN | Embassy Lisbon |
VZCZCXRO0101
PP RUEHAG RUEHROV
DE RUEHLI #2629/01 2811054
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
P 071054Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY LISBON
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7064
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0087
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 LISBON 002629
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/01/2018
TAGS: PREL PGOV PO
SUBJECT: (S/NF) PORTUGAL: "WE KNOW CHAVEZ IS A CRAZY MAN
BUT..."
REF: A. LISBON 1155 (NOTAL)
¶B. LISBON 2596
Classified By: Dana M. Brown, Pol-Econ Officer, Embassy Lisbon
Reason 1.4 (b) and (d)
¶1. (C) Summary: Hugo Chavez visited Portugal on September 27,
at the end of a trip that included stops in Cuba, China,
Russia, and France. Portugal has warmed towards Venezuela
recently and become the EU nation most visited by Chavez over
the past year. In addition to protecting the large
Portuguese population resident in Venezuela, over the past
year the GOP has bolstered bilateral economic ties to include
a wide range of "milk for oil," "infrastructure for oil," and
"technology for oil" deals. Portuguese Prime Minister
Socrates agreed to additional cooperation during Chavez's
latest visit and they will meet again in late October at the
Ibero-American Summit in El Salvador. End summary.
------------------------------
Trade: On the Prowl for Energy
------------------------------
¶2. (SBU) Portugal imports all of its oil and natural gas and,
as part of its expanding energy diversification efforts, in
May officially signed an "oil for milk" deal with Venezuela
involving exchange of Portuguese dairy products for
Venezuelan oil. The GOP quickly added other areas of
cooperation including port infrastructure, housing,
technology, law enforcement, and commercial aviation. Over
the last year, the GOP and GOV have signed more than 40
agreements on new areas of cooperation.
¶3. (U) Some of the Portuguese companies participating in the
agreements include Montebravo (construction), Sapropor
(foodstuffs), Primor, Cerealis (foodstuffs), Ramirez (canned
fish), Cofaco (canned seafood) and Sovena (cooking oils).
All the companies began sending shipments in April 2008 prior
to PM Socrates' May visit to Venezuela.
---------------------
Protecting the People
---------------------
¶4. (C) Despite the growing economic links, Portuguese
officials stress to us that the 600,000 Portuguese residents
in Venezuela are the main reason for Portugal's close
bilateral relationship with Venezuela. MFA officials have
told us, for example, that they believe that it is important
to maintain a friendly relationship with Chavez to ensure
that the GOV does not persecute the Portuguese in retaliation
for bilateral tension. In fact, MFA Americas' Director
Helena Coutinho mentioned that Portugal would continue to be
friendly to Chavez "unless he declares a war."
¶5. (C) The GOP has reason to be concerned about the
conditions of Portuguese citizens in Venezuela, given the
deteriorating security situation there, and many Portuguese
shopkeepers recently demanded more direct government
protection. In late September, several Portuguese
businessmen sent an open letter to PM Socrates, demanding
that he raise with Chavez the worsening security situation in
Caracas suburbs. This year, 20 Portuguese businessmen were
kidnapped, and another ten were murdered (four in September
alone). Federico Ludovice, PM Socrates' Diplomatic Advisor
on Latin America, told us that Socrates would raise the issue
privately with Chavez, but noted that the security situation
in Venezuela is generally problematic and the Portuguese were
not a particular target. On September 30, Chavez announced
the creation of a special interlocutor with the Portuguese
community to address security concerns.
-----------------------
Political Repercussions
-----------------------
¶6. (S/NF) While the GOP turned down two of Chavez's
requests to visit Lisbon in 2005 because of unhappiness over
Venezuela's detention of a Portuguese pilot accused of drug
trafficking, Chavez visited Lisbon once in 2006 for a
refueling stop and again in November 2007 for a dinner hosted
by the Prime Minister. Chavez's September 2008 visit marked
the fourth visit between the two leaders this year. When we
raise U.S. concerns over policies implemented by the Chavez
administration, our interlocutors regularly assure us that
they understand our concerns and use the visits to deliver
tough messages in private. President Cavaco Silva summed it
up when he told Ambassador (ref A) that, "You have to
understand our position. We have five hundred thousand (sic)
Portuguese there. We know--and I've met him--that he's a
LISBON 00002629 002 OF 002
crazy man, but..."
¶7. (C) Despite the benefits of increased trade with Venezuela
to Portugal's ailing economy, the Prime Minister did not win
public support after Chavez's July visit to Lisbon, largely
due to Chavez's indiscretion. During that visit, Socrates
reportedly confided his concerns about the lackluster
Portuguese economy to Chavez, who then related the comments
on a Venezuelan national broadcast. Chavez claimed Socrates
had said the Portuguese economy was "stagnant," a diagnosis
far grimmer than the optimistic analyses he shares with
domestic audiences. Opposition parties PSD and CDS seized on
the news and asked Socrates to clarify his statement before
the Parliament but Socrates did not respond.
--------------------
The Latest Encounter
--------------------
¶8. (U) Chavez's September 27 visit to Lisbon once again
focused on increasing economic ties. He signed two deals
with the Portuguese government and Portuguese companies - one
to buy one million Portuguese-made computers and the other to
build 50,000 pre-fabricated houses in Venezuela ) the latter
worth two billion euros. The Portuguese media gave the visit
high profile coverage and ran photos of the two leaders arm
in arm.
¶9. (C) Perhaps in response to the uptick in visits and
Portugal's new status as the most visited EU nation, local
headlines asked, "What does Chavez want from us?" Chavez
told the press he was appreciative that Portugal had "opened
the door" to the world for Venezuela. He added that Portugal
was able to explain and defend Venezuela to its European
partners and dispel the view that Venezuela was a devil and
that he was a tyrant. During Chavez's impromptu speech,
Chavez highlighted his political agenda, including the
"silent revolution of true democracy." In his comments,
Socrates strictly focused on the GOP's concern about the
well-being of the Portuguese community in Venezuela and on
bilateral cooperation with Venezuela on education with the
computers. Socrates and Chavez are next slated to meet at
the Ibero-American Summit in El Salvador later in October.
----------------------------
Comment: Rising Costs of Oil
----------------------------
¶10. (C/NF) The GOP has heard our concerns about Venezuela but
defends its energy deals with Chavez by pointing toward
US-Venezuela oil trade. On the whole, Portugal's interest in
finding new energy suppliers has received a mixed response --
the press and public appear divided between strengthening
ties with petroleum producers like Chavez and unease over
doing business with these new, controversial partners. Given
Socrates' public discomfort over Chavez's airing his private
comments on TV, and Chavez's propensity to use the bilateral
relationship in ways that embarrass Socrates, the Prime
Minister may pause before he agrees to yet another photo op
with his "good friend Chavez." End comment.
STEPHENSON