Monday, October 27, 2008

Patrick J. O'Donoghue's news and views from Venezuela -- October 28, 2008

Speaking in Maracaibo, President Chavez insists that a drop in oil prices will not influence his position of power and recalls that when he entered government crude oil was at $7 a barrel. There are people in Venezuela, Chavez states, who seem to think that Chavez will fall just because of a drop in oil prices. It could strengthen the government even more, Chavez retorts, because it will be looked upon as a challenge and a commitment. Chavez stresses that the revolution does not depend on oil prices and that even in times of abundance, the State must economize and save ... that has been his objective since he came to power. The President rejects charges that he has been squandering money and points to several important infrastructure works in Zulia, such as Termozulia 1 and 2 and the Maracaibo Metro. Hitting out at Zulia state Governor, Manuel Rosales, Chavez accuses him of corruption and turning Maracaibo into a haven for diverse types of Mafiosos, conspirators and criminals.

President Chavez has announced that he wants to see Zulia State Governor Manuel Rosales in prison for illegal activities and harboring narco-traffickers. Addressing the Attorney General, and the Supreme Tribunal of Justice (TSJ), Chavez says that there are denunciations against Rosales, for example that he has acquired 11 farms, luxury mansions, movements of capital, front-men, as well as allowing arms-traffickers and narco-traffickers to enter the State.

Zulia State Governor, Manuel Rosales and candidate to the Maracaibo Mayor's Office has defended his record, stating that history will judge the work of each politician, hinting that he has done far more than the government nominee in Maracaibo, which he declares a dirty city, full of uncollected garbage. Rosales rejects charges that he is in cahoots with mafias and narco-traffickers, returning the ball to the government, which he quips has close relations with the guerrilla groups that move within the world of narco-trafficking and kidnapping. Chavez should moderate his language, Rosales advises, and his candidate should be more honest and less threatening in his behavior.

The Minister of Foreign Relations (MRE), Nicolas Maduro says the French automobile group, Renault has expressed interest in setting up two lines of production in Venezuela. The Renault president is expected to visit Venezuelan shortly to finish details of a possible agreement. Maduro maintains that France is prepared to help Venezuela by transferring technology in the fields of railroad, alternative energy and manufacture. According to Maduro, who took part in an international conference in Paris over the weekend, relations between Venezuela and France have opened up and have become "extraordinary in all fields of cooperation."

National Elections Council (CNE) president, Tibisay Lucena says she is satisfied with an electoral trial run on Sunday. 42 pilot centers were opened throughout Venezuela and Lucena reports that 99.72% of the centers managed to open at 7.30 in the morning. The CNE is expected to deliver a summary of the overall performance but first reports indicate that CANTV Telecom telephone lines were operating hundred percent. The coming elections in November 23, Lucena states, are complex because voters will be casting more than one vote.

Christian Socialist leader, Luis Ignacio Planas has called on opposition candidates, hindering unitary agreements to withdraw. Planas insists that if there is no unity, there will be no victory for the opposition and what people are demanding is unity, political maturity and sacrifice. The opposition leader admits that unity has been difficult and that each political party is fighting for its own interests. COPEI, Planas says, supports Gustavo Marcano as opposition candidate to the State Governorship of Anzoategui.

Reports on the Venezuelan government sponsored international conference in Paris (Saturday, Oct. 25) titled: Venezuela: Towards Independent European Politics: supporting Democracy and Social Progress in Latin America.

Le Monde Diplomatique director, Ignacio Ramonet h as headed a meeting organized by the Venezuelan government in Paris to discuss European Union-Latin American relations and the Bolivarian revolution. Among the personalities attending was former Portuguese President, Mario Soares, who stated, among other things, that a victory of Barack Obama in the United States will usher in important changes in the world, even though many developing countries will suffer from the financial and economic crisis. Soares has expressed pessimism about the way the European Union is developing and its domination by right- wing parties, admitting ruefully that the European Left is currently in a state of dispersion and disarray. Venezuela, he adds, could be a reference for Europe as part of a Latin America in movement.

Venezuelan Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Samuel Moncada addressed the conference, analyzing the origins of the current financial crisis and stating that the Capitalist model and US imperial policy is on a downward curve with the proviso that Capitalism will not disappear just because of the above mentioned factors. The Ambassador says Venezuela has provided other ideas and other alternatives and is currently in a position to resist two hard and difficult years of crisis and recession. Attempts to discredit President Chavez, Moncada warns, will fizzle out, given the nature of obvious decadence of Capitalism ... initiatives, such as the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), The Bank of the South and Union of South American Countries (Unasur) are evidence that Venezuela will continue to advance and show leadership.

Minister of Foreign Relations (MRE), Nicolas Maduro proclaims that Latin America could be a fundamental ally of the European Union (EU) in the creation of a new world financial order. Maduro was speaking at an international conference in Paris organized by the Venezuelan government dealing with relations between Latin America, European Union and Venezuela. Latin America is perhaps the best opportunity that Europe has to establish productive and deep top-level relations, Maduro told his audience, insisting that Europe should take a greater look at Latin America and try to recognize the new processes in action and on that basis establish relations of cooperation. The Foreign Minister also criticized the proposed G-20 summit set for November, arguing it will not be enough to confront the current crisis and contending that a collective solution must be found. President Chavez has proposed a world meeting of heads of state and governments to seek a common formula in response to the crisis. The debate, the Minister insists, should centre around re-founding institutions, the monetary system and regulating the financial system without forgetting a debate on the relevance of Capitalism in bringing about justice and peace, and attacking poverty and inequalities. Furthermore, Maduro stresses, Europe should take a more active part in the building of a pluripolar world.

Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com

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Venezuela is facing the most difficult period of its history with honest reporters crippled by sectarianism on top of rampant corruption within the administration and beyond, aided and abetted by criminal forces in the US and Spanish governments which cannot accept the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people to decide over their own future.

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