Venezuela Govt., Wary Foes Sign Pact to End Battles The National Assembly, where Chavez supporters hold a slim majority, must first appoint a new National Electoral Council to set a poll date and verify the signatures collected. This could involve intense political infighting. Chavez, who survived a coup last year, has also called for a check of the electoral register, which he says is full of errors. Critics say these requirements could give him a chance to try to block the poll through legal maneuvers. "But if Chavez tries to stall, he at least gets kicked in the teeth by international opinion," said Robert Bottome of Caracas-based VenEconomy consultants.***
Argentina gives royal welcome to Castro -- or maybe not?***Is the new government a collection of 1970s leftist activists who live in a time bubble? How can people like you, who fought against a right-wing dictatorship, support a dictator who doesn't allow political parties, freedom of expression or independent unions?
When I asked Bielsa these questions, he replied that the ABC interview had taken place more than a week ago.''I was not foreign minister last week,'' Bielsa told me. ``The [ABC] question specifically referred to the executions, and I felt I had neither the position nor the moral authority to make a judgment.''
And what would you say if I asked you in a broader sense whether Cuba respects human rights?
The foreign minister responded that he will make a judgment on that once he examines the previous government's reasons for changing Argentina's vote at the United Nations from a condemnation of Cuba's human rights abuses to an abstention.''I consider the United States to be a friendly country,'' Bielsa added. ``Argentina has not decided to have an automatic alignment with Cuba and Venezuela to systematically confront the United States in international organizations.''***