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### Viewing cable 06CARACAS1276, BRAZIL STILL INTERESTED IN TUCANO SALES, PROPOSES

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06CARACAS1276 | 2006-05-11 19:24 | 2010-12-05 12:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Caracas

`

    VZCZCXRO1909
    RR RUEHAG
    DE RUEHCV #1276/01 1311924
    ZNY CCCCC ZZH
    R 111924Z MAY 06
    FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4443
    INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEM COLLECTIVE
    RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 0650
    RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 6439
    RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 5455
    RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 1203
    RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 1984
    RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 0216
    RUEHMU/AMEMBASSY MANAGUA 1200
    RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 3751
    RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0706
    RUEHZP/AMEMBASSY PANAMA 1076
    RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO 2064
    RUEHSJ/AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE 1197
    RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 3503
    RUEHDG/AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO 0169
    RUEHAO/AMCONSUL CURACAO 0798
    RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0184
    RUEHMI/USOFFICE FRC FT LAUDERDALE 3072
    RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
    RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL
    RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0701

` `

    C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 CARACAS 001276

    SIPDIS

    SIPDIS

    HQOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
    FOR FRC LAMBERT

    E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/12/2016
    TAGS: ECON EPET PREL PTER BL BR IR VE UN CU
    SUBJECT: BRAZIL STILL INTERESTED IN TUCANO SALES, PROPOSES
    TRADE

    REF: BRASILIA 882 AND PREVIOUS

    CARACAS 00001276 001.2 OF 003

    Classified By: AMBASSADOR WILLIAM R. BROWNFIELD FOR REASON 1.4 (b and d )

    ¶1. Actions requested - see para 12.

    Summary
    -------

    ¶2. (C) Brazilian Ambassador Joao Carlos da Sousa Gomes,
    acting on instructions, proposed that we trade licensing for
    U.S. components in the Tucano aircraft for Brazilian support
    for Sumate with the BRV. That sounds like a bad trade to us,
    but we asked whether GOB would be willing to discuss help
    regarding the BRV's push for a non-permanent UNSC seat. Da
    Sousa Gomes said the Bolivarians were unhappy with Brazilian
    FM Amorim's criticism of the BRV role in the nationalization
    of the Bolivian hydrocarbon industry, resulting in a call
    from a nervous FM Rodriguez demanding a "retraction." The
    Brazilian made clear that despite this rough patch, Brasilia
    had a lasting interest in maintaining good relations with
    Caracas. Da Sousa Gomes, in the mood to chat, also shared
    the details of a "chilling" conversation he had had with
    Iranian Ambassador Sobhani, who was apparently unconcerned
    about the prospects of a broader conflict over the nuclear
    impasse. Finally, da Sousa Gomes told us of a recent talk
    with Cuban Ambassador Sanchez, who attacked Sumate and
    related details of the carnal activities of fellow
    ambassadors. We leave to the Department whether to consider
    an approach on the UNSC, as well as whether to offer the GOB
    a briefing on Iranian support for terrorism in the
    hemisphere. End summary.

    Tucanos for Sumate
    ------------------

    ¶3. (C) Ambassador and DCM met with Brazilian Ambassador
    Joao Carlos da Sousa Gomes on May 10 at his request to
    discuss a number of issues. Da Sousa Gomes was principally
    interested in proposing a "deal" to permit licensing of U.S.
    components of Tucano aircraft to Venezuela. Stating that his
    message came direct from Brazilian FM Amorim, he said that
    Brazil was still deeply interested in selling the Tucanos to
    the BRV. He argued that permitting the sale would give the
    GOB the ability to influence the BRV; taken the other way,
    the inability to complete the sale undercut Brazil's
    moderating influence in Caracas. Admitting that this was a
    "difficult issue for USG," da Sousa Gomes said he was
    authorized to propose a trade: the United States gives on
    the Tucanos, and GOB takes a more proactive stance with the
    BRV on Sumate. Da Sousa Gomes said this help would be
    particularly useful now, because he believed another BRV
    assault on Sumate was likely in the near future.

    ¶4. (C) The Ambassador replied that he could not speak to
    the Tucanos; that was a decision made in Washington. Having
    said that, he noted the proposed Brazilian action on Sumate
    was symbolic, whereas the Tucanos were real. It would be
    difficult to sell such a linkage to Washington. On the other
    hand, there was one very concrete issue that Brazil could be
    helpful on: Venezuela's bid for a non-permanent seat on the
    UNSC. While he emphasized he was not speaking on
    instructions, the Ambassador said that such a linkage would
    be more concrete and, therefore, perhaps compelling to the
    USG. Da Sousa Gomes was skeptical, noting that the BRV's
    early commitment to permanent seat for Brazil on UNSC made it

    CARACAS 00001276 002.2 OF 003

    difficult for the GOB to fail to back the BRV for a temporary
    seat.

    ¶5. (C) The Ambassador delved further. GRULAC is obviously
    split over the issue of its candidate for the nonpermanent
    seat. If pushed by a large, influential nation interested in
    ensuring consensus, the GRULAC might find a candidate other
    than Venezuela who might receive consensus support. He
    concluded this part of the discussion by indicating that he
    doubted that Washington would reopen Tucano decision, but
    might be more inclined to do so if it were part of a package
    to solve our mutual problem of the BRV's candidacy for a
    non-permanent UNSC seat.

    Brazilian Push-back Touches Bolivarian Nerve
    --------------------------------------------

    ¶6. (C) We began the conversation discussing the news of the
    day, FM Amorim's strong push-back against the BRV for its
    role in the nationalization of the Bolivian gas industry. Da
    Sousa Gomes made a number of observations about the GOB's
    views that were identical to those already reported by
    Embassy Brasilia (refs). He took credit for the idea of
    Amorim's strong words, saying he'd argued that the BRV
    respected a government that stood up for itself. That said,
    da Sousa Gomes said that Brasilia had no interest in
    provoking a further crisis over this matter. Venezuela was a
    neighbor, and they needed to find ways to get along.

    ¶7. (C) The Brazilian ambassador said that the BRV was
    stirred up by Amorim's words. BRV FM Ali Rodriguez called
    him even before Amorim had finished speaking to demand a
    "retraction." da Sousa Gomes told him that was impossible,
    so a flustered Rodriguez insisted on speaking with Amorim
    directly, to make the same points. He got no satisfaction in
    that call. According to da Sousa Gomes, President Chavez
    himself called Brasilia, seeking to speak with President
    Lula, but Lula did not take the call. (Note: Both
    presidents will be at the EU-Latin America summit, so Chavez
    will doubtless corner Lula, there if not before.)

    Iran
    ----

    ¶8. (C) da Sousa Gomes then turned to a recent conversation
    he had with Iranian Ambassador Ahmad Sobhani. According to
    da Sousa Gomes, Sobhani told him that there was a great deal
    of misinformation about Iran's activities in Venezuela.
    There was no collaboration on nuclear matters, and Sobhani
    derided Venezuela's tiny nuclear research program as
    unserious. Sobhani said that the stories about a uranium
    mining operation were also untrue. When the Brazilian
    queried about the impasse in the IAEA and now the UN on the
    Iranian nuclear program, Sobhani said that Iran had a problem
    with the United States and "all of Europe" on this issue, and
    would not back down. The ability to run its own peaceful
    nuclear program was a point of principle for Iran. Da Sousa
    Gomes said that he came away from the conversation chilled by
    the Iranian's unconcern over the prospect that his
    government's actions might provoke a broader conflict. The
    Brazilian offered to give us a written summary of his report
    to Brasilia for our information.

    ¶9. (C) The Ambassador was grateful for the information, and
    underlined our strong concerns about Iran-Venezuela links.
    Our concerns focused in three separate areas. First, on the
    nuclear front, for reasons well known to all. Second, the

    CARACAS 00001276 003 OF 003

    United States is increasingly concerned that Iranian
    know-how, both technical and in terms of avoiding U.S.
    prohibitions on the sale of military parts to Iran, would
    help the BRV evade any limitations on the sale of military
    parts to the BRV. Finally, and most importantly, we are
    concerned about terrorism. Iran has a well-known link with
    Hezbollah, a deadly terrorist organization. The Iranian
    government has pledged to attack the U.S. homeland if
    attacked. We are worried that an Iranian-supported Hezbollah
    or other terrorist presence in Venezuela could represent a
    threat to the United States. Da Sousa Gomes clearly had not
    thought this last issue through, and asked if we could
    provide additional information. The Ambassador agreed to
    look into the matter, noting that obviously any such
    discussions would occur in Brasilia or Washington.

    Cuba
    ----

    ¶10. (C) Finally, the chatty da Sousa Gomes gave us his
    readout on a recent lunch with Cuban Ambassador German
    Sanchez Otero. (Note: Da Sousa Gomes said that he could
    attest to the long-serving (over 11 years in Caracas)
    Sanchez' close ties to Cuban dictator Fidel Castro; the old
    rascal called Sanchez three times during the course of the
    lunch!) According to da Sousa Gomes, Sanchez is totally
    plugged in to the Bolivarian government, relating in a
    detailed fashion the inner workings of various ministries.
    Sanchez also eagerly discussed Venezuelan internal political
    developments, focusing of course on the upcoming presidential
    elections. Sanchez had nice things to say about left-wing
    candidate Teodoro Petkoff, at least at a personal level; da
    Sousa Gomes noted that he's heard similar expressions of
    personal affection for Petkoff from Bolivarian officials.

    ¶11. (C) da Sousa Gomes was particularly struck by two
    elements of his conversation with Sanchez: first, a deep
    hatred for Sumate, which Sanchez claimed was a subversive
    organization funded by the CIA which had to be stopped. (da
    Sousa Gomes' earlier warning that the BRV might have planned
    a fresh assault on Sumate (para 3) may have in part been
    informed by Sanchez harsh words for the NGO). Second,
    Sanchez delighted in relating the prurient details of the
    personal lives of other ambassadors accredited here. Da
    Sousa Gomes added that he believed that some ambassadors
    actually submitted written reports to the BRV on the
    peccadilloes of their fellow ambassadors.

    ¶12. (C) Actions requested:

    -- Tucano trade: We oppose reconsidering the Tucano decision
    for a promise to be proactive on Sumate. It is the
    Department's call whether to pursue a possible Tucano-UNSC
    connection.

    -- Briefing to the GOB on Iran: da Sousa Gomes seemed
    genuinely taken aback by the notion that an Iranian
    diplomatic presence might support Hezbollah or another FTO in
    the Western Hemisphere. Washington and Embassy Brasilia may
    want to consider a detailed briefing on this matter to
    relevant GOB officials.

    BROWNFIELD

`