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Chavez promises that Venezuela will stand beside Iran
Deutsche Presse
TEHRAN
Petroleumworld.com 07 30 06Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Saturday in Tehran that Venezuela would always stand beside Iran.
'I stress herewith that, under whatever circumstances, we will always stand beside the Iranian nation. History has shown that as long as we stay united, we can remain resistant and defeat imperialism,' Chavez said in a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Calling Ahmadinejad 'my brother', Chavez said that during his visit to Iran, several oil contracts would be signed between Iranian and Venezuelan companies.
Ahmadinejad praised Chavez's 'good and decisive stance' against the US and said that having him in Iran was 'like a meeting between two brothers and comrades.'
'Mr Chavez is very close to Iran due to his revolutionary standpoints and also the two countries of Iran and Venezuela have various common points on regional and global issues,' Ahmadinejad said.
'We therefore consider the progress of Venezuela like our own progress,' the president said.
One day later than scheduled, Chavez arrived on Saturday in Tehran for a two-day visit. The purpose of the visit was to discuss with Ahmadinejad the latest global developments, finalize joint energy projects and harmonize the future stance of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Chavez was also expected to receive on Sunday the 'High Medal of the Islamic Republic of Iran' for his contribution to improving bilateral ties in recent years.
Accompanied by Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez, Chavez was also scheduled to sign some energy agreements before leaving Iran on Sunday.
He was also expected to inaugurate the new Venezuelan embassy building in Tehran and talk to Iranian business leaders in the capital's chamber of commerce.
The Venezuelan president, who is very popular within Iran's ruling system due to his anti-US stance and favourable position towards Tehran's controversial nuclear programme, was also scheduled to meet with former presidents Mohammad Khatami and Akbar Hashemi-Rafsanjani.
Deutsche Presse 29 07 06
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