C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001160 SIPDIS HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
C O R R E C T E D COPY (TEST PARA 2) E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/18/2018 TAGS:
PGOV, PREL, RS, GG, VE SUBJECT: BRV BLAMES U.S. FOR GEORGIA CONFLICT 
REF: A. CARACAS 001024 B. CARACAS 000625 C. CARACAS 000233 Classified 
By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ, REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D) 

1. (SBU) The BRV Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an August 14 press 
release asserting that the United States "planned, prepared, and 
ordered" the Georgian military offensive against the break-away region 
of South Ossetia. The statement continued, "The international community 
was once again witness to the policy of destabilization and incitement 
to violence that the American empire practices around the world." The 
BRV statement goes on to absolve Russia of all blame and declare it a 
force for peace in the region. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called 
Georgian President a U.S. "puppet," and said the Russians, "did what 
they had to do," on August 17 in his weekly television show, "Alo, 
Presidente."

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COMMENT
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2. (C) The BRV frequently levels 
preposterous charges against the United States for domestic and 
international problems. The BRV was slow to react this time, but the 
statement is consistent with the growing ties between Russian and 
Venezuela. Over the last several years, the BRV has inked arms deals 
with Russia reportedly for some USD 3-4 billion (Ref A). Chavez also 
recently returned from a trip to Russia, where he was reported to have 
said Russian bases would be welcome in Venezuela (Note: BRV officials 
quickly 'clarified' Chavez' remarks and denied such an offer had been 
made. End note.) In the August 17 edition of "Alo, Presidente," Chavez 
said Russia intended to send naval ships to the Caribbean Sea and that 
the ships would be received in Venezuela. 

3. (C) The BRV's position on 
the Russia - Georgia conflict appears to derive entirely from 
Venezuela's increasingly close relationship with Russia. The BRV opposed
recognition of an independent Kosovo while again strongly backing 
Russia. In a February 21, 2008 speech, Chavez declared that Kosovar 
independence was, "a plan by the Empire (read: the U.S.) to weaken the 
governments of the world (Ref C)." Chavez also strongly opposes the 
autonomy movement in the Santa Cruz region of Bolivia and has accused 
the United States of backing secessionist efforts in Venezuela's 
oil-rich state of Zulia (Ref B).

DUDDY