

Currently released so far... 12900 / 251,287
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
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
2011/05/20
2011/05/21
2011/05/22
2011/05/23
2011/05/24
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
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 Belmopan
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 Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Consulate Karachi
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
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 Suva
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 St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
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
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AE
ASEC
AS
AR
AMGT
AFIN
AORC
AU
AG
AF
APER
ABLD
ADCO
ABUD
AM
AID
AJ
AEMR
AMED
AL
ASUP
AN
AIT
ACOA
ANET
ASIG
AA
AGMT
AINF
AFFAIRS
ADANA
AY
AADP
ARF
ACS
AGR
AMCHAMS
AECL
AUC
APEC
APECO
AFGHANISTAN
ACAO
ASEAN
ADM
AGAO
AND
ADPM
ATRN
ALOW
AROC
APCS
AORG
AO
AODE
ACABQ
AX
AMEX
AZ
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
ASCH
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORL
BR
BO
BA
BM
BL
BH
BK
BEXP
BILAT
BTIO
BF
BU
BD
BY
BE
BG
BB
BBSR
BT
BRUSSELS
BP
BX
BC
BIDEN
BMGT
BWC
BN
BTIU
CA
CS
CO
CD
CR
CPAS
CDG
CI
CDC
CBW
CU
CVIS
CE
CONS
CH
CMGT
CASC
CY
CW
CG
CJAN
CIDA
CODEL
CWC
CIA
CBSA
CEUDA
CFED
CLINTON
CAC
CL
CACS
CIC
CHR
CAPC
CM
CT
CTR
COM
CROS
CN
COPUOS
CV
CF
CARSON
CONDOLEEZZA
CICTE
CYPRUS
COUNTER
COUNTRY
CBE
CKGR
CVR
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CLEARANCE
COE
CARICOM
CB
CSW
CITT
CACM
CDB
CJUS
CTM
CAN
CLMT
CBC
CNARC
CIS
EFIN
ECON
ETRD
EAID
EC
EU
EUN
EINV
EG
ETTC
EIND
ELAB
EAGR
ECIN
EINT
ENRG
EFIS
ELTN
EAIR
EPET
EZ
ET
ENERG
ECPS
EWWT
EI
ETRN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
ER
ES
EN
EMIN
ESENV
ENNP
ENGR
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENVI
ECINECONCS
ELN
EFTA
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EXTERNAL
ENIV
ESA
EPA
ETRO
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUR
ECUN
EXIM
EK
EUREM
ECONOMY
EUMEM
ERNG
EFINECONCS
EAIDS
ECA
ETRC
EINVEFIN
ETC
EAP
EINN
ECONOMIC
EXBS
ENGY
ECONOMICS
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EREL
EINVETC
ECONCS
ETRA
EAIG
EUC
ERD
IQ
IR
IS
IN
IA
IC
IZ
ICRC
ID
IDA
IT
IO
IAEA
ICJ
ICAO
IV
IBRD
IMF
IAHRC
IWC
ILO
ISLAMISTS
IGAD
ILC
ITU
ITF
INRA
INRO
ICTY
INRB
ITALY
IBET
IL
INTELSAT
ISRAELI
IMO
IDP
ICTR
ITRA
IRC
IRAQI
IEFIN
IPR
IIP
INMARSAT
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
INTERNAL
IRS
INTERPOL
IEA
INR
ISRAEL
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
IACI
INDO
KPAO
KMDR
KCOR
KNNP
KJUS
KCRM
KDEM
KVPR
KTFN
KPRP
KTIP
KSCA
KSUM
KTEX
KIDE
KIRF
KV
KTIA
KN
KG
KFRD
KWMN
KUNR
KISL
KU
KGHG
KPKO
KOMS
KPAL
KIPR
KMCA
KOMC
KRVC
KSEP
KAWC
KOLY
KWBG
KACT
KFLO
KHIV
KZ
KGIC
KBCT
KDRG
KBTR
KCFE
KE
KHLS
KMPI
KAWK
KPWR
KIRC
KRAD
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFLU
KPLS
KRIM
KSTH
KDDG
KPRV
KICC
KS
KSAF
KBIO
KREC
KCGC
KCIP
KTDB
KWAC
KPAI
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFSC
KSTC
KMFO
KID
KNAR
KMIG
KVRP
KNEI
KGIT
KNSD
KHDP
KSAC
KWMM
KR
KCOM
KAID
KENV
KVIR
KHSA
KO
KCRS
KPOA
KTER
KFIN
KSPR
KTBT
KX
KCMR
KMOC
KCRCM
KBTS
KSEO
KOCI
KNUP
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KSCI
KTLA
KCSY
KTRD
KMRS
KNPP
KJUST
KRCM
KCFC
KCHG
KREL
KFTFN
KLIG
KDEMAF
KGCC
KICA
KHUM
KSEC
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KPIR
KWWMN
KOM
KWNM
KRFD
KRGY
KIFR
KWMNCS
KPAK
MARR
MOPS
MUCN
MCAP
MNUC
MEPP
MTCRE
MASS
MO
MIL
MX
MAS
MEDIA
MAR
MI
MQADHAFI
MPOS
MTCR
MK
MG
MA
MY
MU
ML
MPS
MW
MD
MARAD
MC
MR
MT
MTRE
MASC
MRCRE
MAPP
MZ
MP
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPN
MEPI
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MCC
MIK
MAPS
MV
MILITARY
MDC
MASSMNUC
NI
NZ
NL
NO
NPT
NATO
NS
NU
NP
NPA
NSFO
NDP
NT
NW
NASA
NSG
NE
NORAD
NAFTA
NG
NATIONAL
NSSP
NV
NSF
NK
NA
NEW
NPG
NR
NGO
NIPP
NZUS
NH
NC
NRR
NAR
NATOPREL
NSC
OIIP
OPRC
OTRA
OEXC
OREP
OSCE
OVIP
OPAD
OBSP
OECD
OFFICIALS
OAS
OPDC
ODIP
OPCW
OES
OFDP
OPIC
OCS
OIC
OHUM
OSCI
OVP
ODC
OIE
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OFDA
ON
OCII
PREL
PINR
PGOV
PARM
PE
PTER
PHUM
PO
PINS
PREF
PK
PM
POL
PBTS
PNAT
PHSA
PAS
PA
PL
PGIV
PHUMPREL
POGOV
PAK
PEL
PROP
PP
PINL
PBT
PTBS
PG
PINF
PRL
PALESTINIAN
PSEPC
POSTS
PAHO
PHUMPGOV
PGOC
PNR
PREFA
PMIL
POLITICS
POLICY
PROV
PBIO
PREO
PAO
PDOV
PGOF
POV
PCI
PRAM
PSI
POLITICAL
PAIGH
PJUS
PARMS
PROG
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PS
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PNG
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PY
PLN
PHUH
PF
PHUS
PU
PARTIES
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
RU
RS
REGION
REACTION
REPORT
RO
RW
RCMP
RSO
RP
RM
ROOD
RFE
RICE
ROBERT
RSP
RF
RELATIONS
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
SENV
SY
SNAR
SCUL
SP
SF
SW
SOCI
SU
SMIG
SO
SA
SR
SZ
SI
SC
SEVN
SN
STEINBERG
SK
SH
SNARCS
SPCE
SARS
SNARN
SG
SL
SYRIA
SIPRS
SAARC
SNARIZ
SWE
SYR
SEN
SCRS
SAN
ST
SIPDIS
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SENVKGHG
SANC
SHI
SHUM
TU
TSPA
TBIO
TS
TRGY
TINT
TPHY
TN
TW
TH
TZ
TSPL
TP
TBID
TI
TF
TD
TT
TNGD
TL
TC
THPY
TIP
TX
TV
TK
TERRORISM
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TFIN
TAGS
TR
UK
UNSC
UNGA
UNESCO
UNHRC
UP
UN
USTR
US
UNDC
UY
UNICEF
UNDP
UNMIK
UNAUS
UNCHC
UNCSD
USOAS
UNFCYP
UG
UNIDROIT
UNO
UV
UNHCR
UNEP
USEU
UZ
UNCND
USUN
UNCHR
USNC
USPS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNDESCO
UNC
UNPUOS
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 10CARACAS219, Globovision Owners Acknowledge Defeat; El Nacional On the Ropes?
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. #10CARACAS219.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
10CARACAS219 | 2010-02-23 18:15 | 2011-01-24 21:30 | SECRET | Embassy Caracas |
VZCZCXRO1197
OO RUEHAG RUEHAO RUEHROV RUEHRS RUEHSL
DE RUEHCV #0219/01 0541816
ZNY SSSSS ZZH
O 231815Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0504
INFO EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS IMMEDIATE
RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
RHMFISS/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL IMMEDIATE
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 03 CARACAS 000219
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AMEMBASSY ATHENS PASS TO AMCONSUL THESSALONIKI
AMEMBASSY BERLIN PASS TO AMCONSUL DUSSELDORF
AMEMBASSY BERLIN PASS TO AMCONSUL LEIPZIG
AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PASS TO AMCONSUL RECIFE
AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PASS TO AMCONSUL QUEBEC
AMEMBASSY BRIDGETOWN PASS TO AMEMBASSY GRENADA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2035/02/23
TAGS: PGOV PREL VE PHUM KDEM
SUBJECT: Globovision Owners Acknowledge Defeat; El Nacional On the Ropes?
REF: 10 CARACAS 181; 09 CARACAS 663
CLASSIFIED BY: DUDDY, AMBASSADOR, DOS, AMB; REASON: 1.4(B), (D)
¶1. (S) Summary: In separate meetings with the Ambassador between February 17-19, several of Venezuela's major private media
XXXXXXXXXXXX acknowledged that relentless Venezuelan Government (GBRV) pressure against their television and print outlets has threatened to put them out of business. XXXXXXXXXXXX, confirmed the allegations of Globovision's outgoing director, XXXXXXXXXXXX, that threats from senior GBRV officials had forced them to fire XXXXXXXXXXXX and to tone down Globovision's strongly anti-Chavez orientation. In a separate conversation, XXXXXXXXXXXX asserted that due to the paper's substantial loss of advertising revenue from companies that had either been nationalized or been threatened by the GBRV, the paper would go out of business by April without substantial financial assistance. XXXXXXXXXXXX asked the Ambassador whether the U.S. could provide such assistance.
End Summary.
--------------------------------------------- ---------------------- --------
XXXXXXXXXXXX Resigns; Alleges GBRV Pressure on Globovision Owners
--------------------------------------------- ---------------------- --------
¶2. (SBU) Following more than a week of widespread speculation regarding the potential sale of opposition-oriented television network Globovision (Ref A), station director Alberto XXXXXXXXXXXX announced his resignation during a February 18 press conference. XXXXXXXXXXXX, who is also a minor shareholder in the station, alleged to reporters that Energy Minister Ali Rodriguez and Venezuela's Central Bank President Nelson Merentes had pressured the station's principal shareholders, Globovision President XXXXXXXXXXXX and Banco Federal President Nelson XXXXXXXXXXXX, to sack XXXXXXXXXXXX, to get rid of controversial anti-Chavez talk show host Leopoldo Castillo, and to soften the station's strongly anti-Chavez orientation. In resigning, XXXXXXXXXXXX affirmed: "For now my objectives have been met. The channel has not been sold, Leopoldo Castillo is still on the air, and Globovision will not change its editorial line." He added, "I have absolute faith in Globovision and XXXXXXXXXXXX that they will not modify their editorial stance."
¶3. (C) In a private meeting on February 17, XXXXXXXXXXXX told the Ambassador that GBRV pressure on XXXXXXXXXXXX involved trumped up legal charges stemming from a May 21, 2009, raid on XXXXXXXXXXXX's Caracas residence. The raid had resulted in the confiscation of 24 new vehicles and hunting trophies (Ref B), criminal charges against XXXXXXXXXXXX and his son, and an order preventing XXXXXXXXXXXX's departure from the country. (Note: XXXXXXXXXXXX has consistently claimed the automobiles belonged to his car dealership and were at his home for security reasons, and that the hunting trophies had been legally acquired abroad. End Note.) According to XXXXXXXXXXXX, the February 12 lifting of XXXXXXXXXXXX's overseas travel ban by the GBRV was a bargaining chip used against XXXXXXXXXXXX to force his acquiescence. XXXXXXXXXXXX opined that the pressure point applied by the government against XXXXXXXXXXXX was ultimately his son: "XXXXXXXXXXXX would do anything to keep him safe."
¶4. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX affirmed to the Ambassador that Nelson XXXXXXXXXXXX had been under similarly intense GBRV pressure to
engineer a change in Globovision's management and editorial line. XXXXXXXXXXXX claimed that XXXXXXXXXXXX had been threatened by Energy Minister (and previously Finance Minister) Rodriguez that if
XXXXXXXXXXXX did not comply with GBRV demands, "we will go after your bank."
CARACAS 00000219 002 OF 003
--------------------------------------------- ----------
XXXXXXXXXXXXConfirm Capitulation
--------------------------------------------- ----------
¶5. (S) In a February 18 meeting with the Ambassador, XXXXXXXXXXXX largely confirmed XXXXXXXXXXXX's account. Following various GBRV threats, some even from Chavez himself in the past, XXXXXXXXXXXX claimed that Minister Rodriguez had attempted to pressure XXXXXXXXXXXX into buying out Globovision shareholders XXXXXXXXXXXX and XXXXXXXXXXXX, firing XXXXXXXXXXXX, and getting rid of Leopoldo Castillo, to forestall the GBRV withdrawing millions of dollars in deposits from Banco Federal; XXXXXXXXXXXX added that he "had practically been forced to sell the bank." XXXXXXXXXXXXtold the Ambassador the GBRV strategy was for XXXXXXXXXXXX to buy Globovision for nearly 32 million dollars and for XXXXXXXXXXXX to "leave quietly... to work on expanding Globovision from abroad." XXXXXXXXXXXX further agreed to "Send Leopoldo Castillo away for a while... first class tickets for two weeks in Australia."
¶6. (S) Despite XXXXXXXXXXXX's pronouncements at his press conference that Globovision would not self-censor despite the GBRV pressure, XXXXXXXXXXXXadmitted they were being forced to soften the station's future editorial line. XXXXXXXXXXXXobserved that "this arrangement has bought us some time. Globo will continue on, however we will not use the screen to scare people. We will report on the problems in an objective, independent manner... we will, however, most likely refrain from naming names." When asked why the Government had allowed the station to operate for so long, XXXXXXXXXXXX replied, "The Government needs to leave a small window open to pretend there is freedom of expression here. " XXXXXXXXXXXX added, "Globovision is Chavez's 'Carta de Libertdad de Expression' ("free speech credential")... he can say, 'look here is Globovision, see, we are a democracy'.''
¶7. (S) XXXXXXXXXXXX told the Ambassador that the station is financially independent and healthy despite the GBRV's recent attacks, increased lawyer's fees, and continual legal harassment. (Note: Globovision currently confronts civil and criminal charges stemming from six separate GBRV investigations. End Note.) In reflecting on his decision to bend to the GBRV's will, XXXXXXXXXXXX noted "I have over 13,000 employees, plus the bank, to care for." Looking towards the September National Assembly elections, XXXXXXXXXXXX predicted: "If Chavez wins, we are all gone. Our next meeting will have to be in Boca Raton... Buying time before the election is the name of the game. XXXXXXXXXXXX
--------------------------------------------- ----
Major Newspaper Taking Its Last Gasps?
--------------------------------------------- ----
¶8. (S) In a separate February 19 meeting, Ambassador Duddy met with XXXXXXXXXXXX. Lamenting the GBRV's "economic asphyxiation" of El Nacional and the independent media generally, XXXXXXXXXXXX told the Ambassador that El Nacional was reaching the end of its financial rope. Due to plummeting advertising revenue that stemmed from the loss of advertising partners that had either been nationalized or been otherwise intimidated by the GBRV to cease such advertising, XXXXXXXXXXXX predicted that El Nacional could
CARACAS 00000219 003 OF 003
be out of money and thus business by April. XXXXXXXXXXXX affirmed that fellow independent daily El Universal was also having severe financial difficulties, and for similar reasons. (Note: In his February 18 meeting with the Ambassador, XXXXXXXXXXXX had highlighted that El Universal had lost over 14% of its advertising revenues just with the recent nationalization of supermarket chain Exito. End Note.) XXXXXXXXXXXX commented, "Globovision has now been lost. We will be the next to go."
¶9. (S) XXXXXXXXXXXX noted that increased GBRV nationalizations would further reduce already limited commercial space/advertising revenue, and limit the independent media's space to maneuver in the months ahead. To keep El Nacional alive, XXXXXXXXXXXX asked the Ambassador whether the Embassy knew of services of private financing they could approach outside the country, or failing that, if the USG could be persuaded to help. (Note: The Ambassador noted that investors and financial institutions in the U.S. were increasingly anxious about expansion in Venezuela. He also noted that he had never heard of the USG underwriting a newspaper even, for instance, during the difficult period in the early 80's in Pinochet's Chile.
End Note.)
¶10. (C) Comment: Chavez continues to reduce the private media's ability to serve as a countervailing democratic force. With Globovision executives softening their tone, counting their remaining days, and major print media in apparently dire financial conditions, Chavez is close to his goal of "domesticating" or eliminating the remaining free and independent media in Venezuela.
End Comment.
DUDDY