Posted on 11/19/2007 8:37:01 AM PST by NormsRevenge
TEHRAN, Iran - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez made his fourth trip to Iran in two years on Monday, state media reported, as the two countries sought to strengthen ties while their leaders exhort the international community to resist U.S. policies.
Chavez, who arrived in Tehran from Saudi Arabia where he attended the weekend's OPEC summit, is expected to discuss various political and economic issues with his Iranian counterpart, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
Chavez was accompanied by a string of top Venezuelan officials for the hours-long visit — among them the foreign, industry, oil and communication ministers, as well as the mayor of Caracas, the country's capital.
Ahmadinejad also attended the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
During the gathering, the two firebrand leaders echoed one another, blaming President Bush's policies for the decline of the dollar and its negative effect on other countries, and challenging Saudi Arabia's reluctance to mention weak dollar concerns in the summit's final declaration.
Ahmadinejad claimed OPEC's member countries want to convert their cash reserves into a currency other than the depreciating U.S. dollar, which he called a "worthless piece of paper."
Chavez said the dollar was in free-fall and that its "empire" must end, and proposed trading oil in a basket of currencies excluding the dollar.
But the two were unable to generate support from enough in the 13-member cartel — many of whom, including Saudi Arabia, are staunch U.S. allies.
Tehran is in a bitter standoff with Washington over its nuclear program, which the U.S. fears is a cover for a weapons program but which Iran insists is peaceful.
Meanwhile, the U.S. accuses Chavez of being a threat to stability in Latin America, while the Venezuelan leader is constantly criticizing U.S. "imperialism" under Bush.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Mohammad Ali Hosseini, said Sunday the two leaders would sign economic deals and memorandums of understanding in economic fields, and an agreement on small and medium enterprises.
In July, the two countries broke ground to start building a jointly owned petrochemical complex in Iran, with 51 percent of it in Iranian ownership and 49 percent to be owned by Venezuela. The two also began construction of a second petrochemical complex in Venezuela, at a total combined cost of $1.4 billion. No details on the ventures have been disclosed.
The two nations believe their petrochemical partnership will help Iran access markets in Latin America and Venezuela would get access to energy markets in Asia, especially India.
During Chavez's previous visit in July, the two countries signed some 20 economic and trade agreements. Since 2001, they have signed over 180 trade agreements, worth more than $20 billion in potential investment, according to IRNA.
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Hugo Chavez gestures, left , and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, right, waves to the media as he welcomes his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chavez, left, in Tehran, Iran, Monday, Nov. 19, 2007. An unidentified translator stands at center. Chavez came to Iran on Monday to further boost ties with a close ally in what is his fourth visit here in the last two years, the official Islamic Republic News Agency reported. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)
The pig and the punk
That is one tempting target.
A man rides a motorcycle wearing a t-shirt with an image of Revolutionary icon 'Che' Guevara while takes part in a rally to support Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's proposal of constitutional changes in Caracas November 18, 2007. Venezuelans will vote on the proposal in a referendum on December 2. REUTERS/Edwin Montilva (VENEZUELA)
A Hellfire doesn’t do justice to what Muck-moo did to us.
Too bad he can’t stay in Iran with his soulmate.
Benito visits Adolf.
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah (R) embraces Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez at the end of the 3rd OPEC Summit in Riyadh November 18, 2007. REUTERS/Ali Jarekji (SAUDI ARABIA)
Are you sure? Maybe a .50 stick could help find out.
This guy is one statement away from taking a place right below Bin Laden.
Talk about a target rich environment.
Benito visits Adolf.
an apt comparison
Saudi’s are now saying the $100 oil is undervalued.
Our politicians are running us headstrong into the losing side of a new cold war.
It’ time for this SOB to have a tragic accident.
Where’s that short circuit in the center fuel tank when you need it?
That’s a good one!
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