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Chavez: Bush's Latin American tour 'destined' to fail
AFP/Juan Barreto
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez gives a press conference at the Miraflores presidential palace. Chavez dismissed the upcoming Latin American tour of his US nemesis George W. Bush as a "diplomatic offensive" that is doomed to fail.
AFP
CARACAS
Petroleumworld.com 02 26 06Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Saturday dismissed the upcoming Latin American tour of his US nemesis George W. Bush as a "diplomatic offensive" that is doomed to fail.
"It is a diplomatic offensive ... but it is too late," Chavez said in a news conference. "I think the US president has nothing to look for in Latin America. It is an offensive destined for the depths of defeat."
The leftist leader, who has been accused by the United States of being a destabilizing force in the region and of threatening democracies with his behavior, said he respected the right of other Latin American leaders to meet Bush.
"We, of course, would never invite him because we know what he is," Chavez said, adding that he hoped the 2008 US presidential election would bring a government he can talk with. Bush is barred from running by term limits.
"Hopefully, the next US government is one we can talk with, and I say this not only for Venezuela but also the world, because the current US government is a real threat," said Chavez, who has called Bush the devil.
Bush is scheduled to travel to Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia, Guatemala and Mexico between March 8-14.
The White House has said the trip will "underscore the commitment of the United States for the Western Hemisphere and will highlight our common agenda to advance freedom, prosperity and social justice."
US-Venezuelan relations have nose-dived since Chavez was first elected in 1998. The South American leader, who was reelected in December, has moved closer to other US foes including Iran and Cuba.
His domestic critics argue he has moved aggressively to consolidate power over the legislature, courts and other sectors of society, at times struggling with independent media.
Saturday, Chavez said that in Venezuela "there is so much free expression that some times it goes too far, (Brazilian President Luiz Inacio) Lula (da Silva) once told me so."
And he lashed out at a Brazilian correspondent with O Globo television who gave a report Chavez saw as critical, saying to the journalist: "You are meddling with something that is sacred: our country's sovereignty."
Meanwhile, Chavez also charged that there were new plans to assassinate him, although he did not identify the plotters.
"There are four or five maniacs who continue working to kill Hugo Chavez," he said.
"There are assassination plans being prepared, one of which has deepened in the last few days and months."
AFP 24 2305 GMT 02 07
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