Cablegate: Once Again Chavez Takes Huge Entourage to Unga

VZCZCXRO4823
PP RUEHAO RUEHCD RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHGR RUEHHA RUEHHO RUEHMC RUEHNG
RUEHNL RUEHQU RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRS RUEHTM RUEHVC
DE RUEHCV #1879 2642116
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 212116Z SEP 07
FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9770
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 0924
RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS

UNCLAS CARACAS 001879

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNGA OVIP KSEP ITRA VE
SUBJECT: ONCE AGAIN CHAVEZ TAKES HUGE ENTOURAGE TO UNGA

REF: A. STATE 101170

B. CARACAS 01575

1.(SBU) As of September 21, the U.S. Embassy in Caracas has
approved visas for 233 delegates to attend the 62nd United
Nations General Assembly in New York. So far, the delegation
includes President Chavez, his Chief of Staff, Hugo Cabezas,
Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro, Minister of Communication
William Lara, various Vice Foreign Ministers, a large
contingent of technical staff, members of the Venezuelan
Armed Forces, and seven Cuban doctors.

2. (SBU) The military part of the delegation includes
doctors, flight crew, security and protocol people, but no
senior military officials of note. Minister of Communication
Lara will be accompanied by his press director and the
requisite staff of photographers, journalists, and technical
support. Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro will be accompanied
by at least four Vice Ministers. The Foreign Ministry will
also bring its own protocol people, photographers and
translators.

DUDDY

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