Cablegate: Media Reaction: Western Hemisphere: Venezuela, Chavez'

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OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSO #0298 1641054
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 121054Z JUN 08
FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8310
INFO RHEHNSC/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 9440
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO PRIORITY 8753
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 3110

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000298

SIPDIS

STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD

DEPT PASS USTR

USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD BR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: WESTERN HEMISPHERE: VENEZUELA, CHAVEZ'
REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL INFLUENCE

Loaded Gun

Article in center-right O Estado de S.Paulo (6/12) says: "Among the
classified documents obtained by newspaper Valor under the Freedom
of Information Act...there is a cable from Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice to the U.S. Embassy in Brasilia reporting that 'in
response to the Secretary's comment that Brazil needs to send a
frank message to Venezuelan President Chavez, [former Chief of Staff
Jos] Dirceu stated that he had already counseled Chavez on the need
to be more careful in his rhetoric (telling Chavez he was playing
with a 'loaded gun').' Chavez has, belatedly, taken Lula's
advice.... Chavez now says that the Farc should abandon the
guerilla. Chavez's less belligerent position offers potential for a
very positive diplomatic outcome: the release of hostages that have
been suffering at the hands of the Farc for a long time, like Ingrid
Betancourt. It is a sign of hope."
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