PING – Hugo is at it again!
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HugoPing Archive
Posted on 05/11/2006 12:35:07 PM PDT by Ebenezer
(English-language translation)
MADRID - [Guatemala] President Oscar Berger told the Spanish EFE news agency that his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chávez’s interfering in the internal affairs of other countries “will not be tolerated” and warned of a risk of polarization in Latin America.
Berger was received yesterday in this city by the Spanish monarchs and will travel today from there to Vienna to participate in the European Union - Latin America Summit.
The President expressed his concern, which he has shared with his Salvadoran counterpart Elías Antonio Saca, over the political influence Chávez may exert on countries in the region through his offers of oil to organizations controlled by left-wing opposition parties under advantageous conditions, as is happening in Nicaragua and El Salvador.
“It worries us in Central America (...) that Venezuela is patronizing a government opposition party, and we believe that is interfering in the internal affairs of a country and [that] it should not be accepted,” said Berger, who considers that “a political price.”
Venezuela has agreed to advantageous conditions in supplying oil to Salvadoran municipalities controlled by the left-wing Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front and the Nicaragua Municipalities Association which is controlled by the Sandinistas.
“We don’t have as many municipalities run by the left, but, obviously, it would be an intervention in the political field which is not appreciated,” Berger assured.
He emphasized that “that intervention of a country in the sovereignty of another will not be tolerated.”
Regarding how he sees the future of Latin America after Venezuela’s announced withdrawal from the Andean Community, the weakening of the Mercosur [trading zone], and the promotion of the so-called Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas by Chávez and the presidents of Bolivia and Cuba Evo Morales and Fidel Castro[, respectively,] Berger said that “a risk of polarization exists if there is interference of one country in another.”
About Chávez’s influence in Latin America, [Berger] predicted that there will be “some surprises” in the electoral processes in 2006 and 2007. He explained that “the populist leaders fit in certain countries, but not in others.”
He added: “The situation in Bolivia and its international obligations worry us.” He considered a “mistake” the nationalization of the Bolivian oil [industry] because “it will drive investment away.”
“History has not reflected it well, [and], in the end, it fails,” although he pointed out that he respects Morales’ decision.
[Berger] also praised the degree to which Central America has integrated when stating that “contrary to what is happening with Mercosur and the Andean countries, the Isthmus is, now more than ever, united and presenting an important bloc and front” of 30 million inhabitants.
Possible Meeting
When asked if he anticipated meeting with Chávez in Vienna to discuss a possible agreement on supplying oil to Guatemala, Berger replied that a meeting has not been arranged. However, he explained: “We have expressed interest in sitting at the table with any person and entity that produces oil” and may offer advantageous conditions.
Guatemala and Venezuela are competing to gain a seat in the United Nations Security Council, but Berger indicated that his country “has very good possibilities of gathering the necessary votes” to accomplish this.
In another matter, Berger reiterated his support of United States President George W. Bush’s immigration reform [proposal], because, as he stated, it has advantages for both Guatemala and the United States.
Regarding the problem of criminal gangs in Guatemala[,] other countries in Central America, and Mexico, he explained that his government develops policies and actions aimed at preventing rather than prosecuting.
He is trying to replicate the Soviet experience in Central and South America.
Add to that the tons of cash the Commandante has and it's easy to see that the Guatemalan President is far more likely to get a bullet in the back of his head than he is to successfully resist that filthy Marxist's intentions.
We are funding our downfall. Whoopee!
We have family that live in Guatamala. The president is a good conservative guy. He is really trying to help the country, however, they are struggling right now with corruption as many of the US illegal immigrant Guatamalan criminals are being deported back from the US and are stirring up trouble down there.
Remember Senator Dodd chastising Condi Rice for criticizing Chavez? Someone ought to ask him whether these foreign heads of state are exaccerbating the problem by their rhetoric.
Chavez ping.
Our 3 biggest oil suppliers; #1 Mexico #2 Canada #3 Venezuela. Chavez is seeking to form some leftist oil cartel right under our noses.
And Putin is trying to ressurect the Soviet expereince in the Former Soviet Union....
Canada 63,326
Mexico 52,575
Venezula 41,295
Saudi A 40,630
Nigeria 38,544
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