Venezuela News

“We'll be happy to receive the French foreign minister next February 20 to talk about this issue”

President Hugo Chavez said Friday he spoke with French President Nicolas Sarkozy about the hostage crisis in Colombia, and that French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner would visit Caracas next month for more ... via The Tocqueville Connection

“This decision is truly worrisome, as it can effect international relations, our country's food supply, and therefore, the lives of our nation in crucial areas, such as the food supply.”

AMERICA AMERICA/VENEZUELA Extraordinary Assembly of Bishops to address food supply crisis, increased violence, and the relations between Colombia and Venezuela Caracas The crisis of food supply which comes as a ... via Fides News

“He's very prudent. He walks through life as if he were walking through a mine field, very cautiously. He doesn't stumble”

Retired Gen. Raul Baduel weighs his words carefully even in closed-door meetings. These days, he says he is regularly followed by intelligence agents, and he is convinced that President Hugo Chavez watches his every move.

But Baduel, once a member of Chavez's inner circle, speaks without a trace of uneasiness as he accuses his commander-in-chief of abandoning the democratic ideals they once shared.

The leftist Chavez, who argues that Latin America has long suffered from U.S. domination, has spread his government's booming oil revenues to socialist allies in the region and used Venezuela's wealth to finance a slew of populist initiatives at home. But he has also been accused of pursuing a more autocratic rule. Read more

“I don't care if my family is in the hands of the FARC, or the ELN, or of common criminals”

In the past couple of months, Venezuela's populist President Hugo Chavez has spent an extraordinary amount of time and energy negotiating the release of high-profile hostages held by leftist rebels in neighboring Colombia.

His ideological kinship to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) played a key role in last month's release of Clara Rojas, an aide to former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt, and former congresswoman Consuelo Gonzalez. Both had been held for more than five years, and it was the most important hostage release in the Colombian conflict since 2001. Read more

“This government needs to tighten the screws”

M rida, February 13, 2008 - Venezuelan President Hugo Ch vez threatened to nationalize the milk factories of Nestle and Parmalat, accusing the transnational food companies of bribing producers and leaving the ... via Hands Off Venezuela

“All our resources are deployed, and we'll have it back up as soon as possible”

On reports of declines in retail and predictions of continued slowdowns in the housing market, U.S. markets perked up gamely in New York Friday morning. via Political Gateway

More than 80 performers and other celebrities have signed a statement supporting Grammy-winning Spanish singer Alejandro Sanz after two Venezuelan concerts were canceled because of his criticism of Hugo Chavez. via Rapid City Journal

Venezuela's state oil company halts oil sales to Exxon Mobil CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuela's state oil company said Tuesday that it has stopped selling crude to Exxon Mobil Corp. via Peak Oil

“We are giving a significant amount, but it's not enough”

Venezuelan-owned CITGO Petroleum donated heating assistance By Andrea J. Cook, Journal staff Friday, February 08, 2008 The nuances of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez' stormy relationship with the United States ... via Rapid City Journal

Colombia: Uribe mobilises for war Kiraz Janicke, Caracas 7 February 2008 On February 4, a series of massive ostensibly "non-political" "peace" demonstrations against the left-wing guerrilla group the ... via Green Left Weekly

Economic war will take oil to $200, Ch vez warns CARACAS, February 10. - If Exxon Mobil succeeds in freezing $12 billion in funds belonging to Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA , the country will suspend its ... via Pan-African News Wire

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, center, speaks with journalists upon arrival for a meeting with the relatives of three Colombian hostages kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC, in ... via The South Mississippi Sun Herald

“I can guarantee that the United States government has no intention, no plan and absolutely no expectation of invading, attacking or interfering in the affairs of any other country in the region”

February 8th 2008, by James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis.com National Assembly Member Carlos Escarr M ©rida, February 7, 2008 -- The administration of Venezuelan President Hugo Ch vez is part of a "small ... via IntelliBriefs

Three associates of Luis Posada Carriles were each sentenced to less than a year in prison Friday for refusing to testify against the anti-Castro Cuban militant. via PR-inside.com

“We are not going to back down, we are going to beat them in this battle.”

Venezuela said on Friday its oil exports, operations and cash flow were unaffected by Exxon Mobil Corp's "terrorist" move that won court orders freezing up to $12 billion of the major U.S. supplier's energy ... via Reuters RSS Reuters.com

“We live in two countries, one inhabited by officials who think they can alter reality by sending soldiers to intimidate citizens. The other country is where the rest of us live in fear of being killed or kidnapped or of our businesses being seized.”

CARACAS, Venezuela - These should be the best of times for Venezuela, blessed with the largest conventional oil reserves outside the Middle East and oil prices near record highs. via New York Times

“The current political ambiance created by a populist government with its emphasis on nationalism has made Santeria more visible”

The man says he is possessed by a god. He shouts, his body trembles and he lifts a sacrificed lamb to his lips, drinking its blood from the jugular. via Lansing State Journal

“Worldwide, we adhere to a strict understanding with the Peace Corps that their volunteers are not permitted to act in any sort of intelligence capacity”

An American scholar said Friday that an official at the U.S. Embassy asked him to keep tabs on Venezuelan and Cuban workers in Bolivia. Washington said that any such request would be an error and against U.S. policy.

'I was shocked,' Fulbright scholar Alex van Schaick told The Associated Press. 'I mean, this man's asking me to spy for the U.S. government.' Van Schaick is one of six Fulbright scholars doing research in the country.

The U.S. Embassy in La Paz issued a statement Friday saying that 'some routine information sessions about security given to certain American citizens included incorrect information. As soon as this was brought to our attention, appropriate measures were taken to assure that these errors would not be repeated.' Read more