The United Kingdom Foreign Relations Office revealed the list of Venezuelan media and opposition groups to which it provided funding, as part of the strategy of “support” for the regime change plan in Venezuela promoted by the United States in alliance with Europe.
“The FCO (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) has funded several NGOs between January 2016 and September 2018, as part of the UK’s support to strengthen civil society, human rights and democracy,” reads the communication issued by this office on February 20, 2019, addressed to Nina Cross, to whom they apologize for having omitted the UK-funded media and opposition groups in an earlier document.
This document revealed that the recipients of the financing, which according to the publication of Daily Maverick could exceed one million dollars in two years, it was directed to the Center for Justice and Peace (Cepaz), the Efecto Cocuyo Foundation, the National Investment Council (Conapri), the Fe y Alegría Radio Institute, the National Union of Press Workers (Sntp), EXODO AC, Westminister Foundation for Democracy, PROVITA AC, Ibera-American Center for Training in International Law and Human Rights AC (Cifodidh) and Transparecia Venezuela.
All these groups and media with a marked oppositional tendency, did not hesitate to show their support for the plan of “interim presidency” headed by Juan Guaidó, which had the support of the Government of the United Kingdom, which decided to recognize the self-proclaimed and deliver the reservations of Venezuelan gold deposited in the Bank of England.
This disclosure of financing to sectors of the Venezuelan opposition is in addition to those that have been declassified and in some cases reported by the United States, who in the voice of its “special envoy for Venezuela”, Elliott Abrams, has indicated the monetary “support” provided by the State Department and foundations such as “National Endowment for Democracy” to media and NGOs that oppose the Venezuelan Government.
Here is the translation of this document:
UK Foreign Office
Nina Cross
By email
[email protected]
February 20, 2019
Dear Nina Cross
INTERNAL REVIEW OF THE REQUEST FOR FOI REF: 1042-18
Thank you for your email on January 7 requesting an internal review of Foreign and Commonwealth’s handling of your FOI request.
Your application requested:
He responded to my FOI asking what NGO and CSO he finances in Venezuela and whether he finances Mercy Corps or the Red Cross. You replied:
I can confirm that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has relevant information for your application.
The FCO has funded various NGOs between January 2016 and September 2018, as part of the UK’s support to strengthen civil society, human rights and democracy. securities in Venezuela. However, the UK has not provided funding to Mercy Corps or the Red Cross in Venezuela between those dates.
This is a half answer as I asked him which NGO he funds. Indicate which NGOs and CSOs have funded within Venezuela between January 2017 and January 2019.
I am writing to confirm that I have conducted a full review of all relevant material and handling of your application. I have reviewed all the information provided and am satisfied that a reasonable search was carried out in relation to your request.
Our apologies for omitting the information on which other NGOs funded by the FCO in Venezuela during the period January 2016 to September 2018, which was the timeline indicated in your original FOI request. It made no reference to CSOs in the original application. Please see the list of NGOs relevant to your application below:
- Center for Justice and Peace (CEPAZ)
- COCUYO EFFECT FOUNDATION
- National Council for the Promotion of Investments (CONAPRI)
- Fe y Alegría Radio Institute
- National Indication of Press Workers (SNTP)
- EXODO AC
- Westminister Foundation for Democracy
- And provitis
- Ibera-American Center for Education in International Law and Human Rights AC (CIFODIDH)
- Transparecia Venezuela, AC
If you believe that we have not handled your internal review properly and you wish to make a complaint, you may directly request a decision from the Information Commissioner. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF Sincerely, FOI Central Unit Parliamentary, Ministerial and Central Services.
Sincerely,
FOI Central Unit
Parliamentary, Ministerial and Central Services
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