VZCZCXRO5801
PP RUEHAG RUEHROV
DE RUEHCV #0634 0851816
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 261816Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8224
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 000634
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPT PASS TO WHA/AND AND PM
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2017
TAGS: MARR MASS PGOV PM PREL VE
SUBJECT: ACTION REQUEST: CLOSURE OF VMAO
REF: CARACAS 00423
Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Daniel Lawton
for Reason 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) This is an Action Request -- see Paragraph 3.
2. (C) Post requested February 28 guidance on the status of
the Venezuelan Air Force's purchases currently in the
pipeline and regarding the removal of items in the Venezuelan
Military Acquisitions Office (VMAO) in Miami, Florida. Based
on subsequent discussions, Post believes that the best way to
proceed with the permanent closure of the VMAO is for the
Department to deliver a diplomatic note to the Embassy of the
Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
3. (C) Action recommendation: Post suggests that the
Department consider delivering a diplomatic note to the
Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in order to
expedite the closure of the VMAO. Post recommended language
follows:
BEGIN TEXT:
Complementary opening,... and has the honor to refer to the
Diplomatic Note from the Department of State of May 22, 2006,
informing the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
that the Department found the operation of the Venezuelan
Military Acquisitions Office (VMAO) in Miami, Florida, to be
no longer required. That Note requested that the Venezuelan
Government take the necessary steps to remove all personnel,
services, material and equipment related to the VMAO and any
related facilities.
The Department notes that material and equipment related to
the VMAO continues to be maintained in warehouse facilities
in Miami. The Department requires that the Embassy take all
necessary steps to remove all such material and equipment
from the United States within 120 days of receipt of this
Note.
The Embassy may ship immediately any and all said equipment,
provided that the proper export documentation under U.S. law
and regulation has been obtained. The Unites States
Government reserves the right to deny the export or transfer
of any individual item, in accordance with U.S. law and
regulation.
In the interests of efficiency, the Embassy can provide to
the Department a bonded inventory of all items retained at
the VMAO and associated warehouses in order to facilitate the
process of documenting those items for legal export from the
United States. The Department is prepared to assist in this
process.
The Department informs the Embassy of its intentions to
definitively close the VMAO and any associated warehouse
space 120 days after the Embassy's receipt of this Note.
END TEXT.
BROWNFIELD