Venezuela pressured Suriname on PetroCaribe deal -cables

(De Ware Tijd)  — Leaked diplomatic correspondence of the American Embassy shows that actions by Venezuela to get greater influence in Suriname were closely watched by diplomats stationed in Suriname. Talks US diplomats conducted with high officials at Foreign Affairs show that Venezuela pressured Suriname into signing the PetroCaribe-deal. As Paramaribo did not want to sign just like that, Caracas refused to renew the fishery deal between the two countries that had expired in 2002. Venezuela especially refused to sign the clause that would make cheap fuel available to the Surinamese fishery sector.