Cablegate: Senate Approves Venezuelan Military Cooperation

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UNCLAS LA PAZ 003222

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MARR MASS PGOV PREL KTIA BL
SUBJECT: SENATE APPROVES VENEZUELAN MILITARY COOPERATION

REF: LA PAZ 2732

(SBU) On November 22, opposition political party Podemos
abandoned the senate in protest of the Movement Toward
Socialism's (MAS) pending land reform law, as well as the
MAS' approval of a simple majority vote in the Constituent
Assembly. During a late-night session on November 28, with
the presence of Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) senators and
two opposition alternate senators, the senate achieved quorum
and approved five new laws (septel), including the
Bolivian-Venezuelan military agreement. As reported in
reftel, the agreement, which had been pending since October,
provides for increased military cooperation between the two
countries and construction of two military bases in eastern
Bolivia.
GOLDBERG

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