Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : HOWARD DEAN -THE NEXT PRESIDENT? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Hope Praytochange who wrote (1765)	1/10/2004 10:00:43 PM
From: Ann Corrigan	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 3079

Another opponent of free trade: Hugo Chavez Tells U.S. Not to Medddle Saturday, 10-Jan-2004 4:20PM Story from AP / CHRISTOPHER TOOTHAKER, Associated Press Writer Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press (via ClariNet) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Following a week of tense exchanges with Washington, President Hugo Chavez on Saturday said American officials should not "stick their noses" in Venezuela's affairs. U.S. National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said Friday that Chavez should show "that he believes in democratic processes" by allowing the recall referendum on his rule to take place. The comments followed a week of back-and-forth comments that began when U.S. officials accused Venezuela and Cuba of cooperating to undermine democratic governments in the region. On Saturday, Chavez said the United States was wrong to comment on Venezuela's internal affairs. "It is not up to them to stick their noses here in Venezuela," Chavez said. "What occurs in Venezuela only concerns Venezuelans." "Venezuela is a free, sovereign and independent country," said Chavez, one of Latin America's most outspoken critics of the Bush administration's foreign policy. Caracas' ties with Washington have been strained over Chavez's friendly relations with Castro and his opposition to a U.S.-backed hemispheric free trade zone. Washington was also slow to condemn a 2002 coup that briefly ousted Chavez. Venezuela's National Elections Council must verify 3.4 million signatures that Chavez opponents submitted on petitions seeking the recall election. Chavez, whose six-year term ends in 2007, insists opponents resorted to fraud to collect the signatures and has said the elections council must persuade him "signature by signature" that there is a legal basis for the vote. Ezequiel Zamora, vice president of the elections council, said the vote -- if approved -- would be held before August as opposition groups have planned. Opposition leaders argue Chavez, a former paratrooper elected in 1998 and re-elected in 2000, would be able to continue governing from behind the scenes if one of his confidants finishes his term. A fierce critic of alleged U.S. hegemony in world affairs, Chavez praised Latin American leaders like Argentine President Nestor Kirchner, Brazil's Luiz Ignacio Lula Da Silva and his close Cuban ally Fidel Castro for standing up to Washington. Venezuela is a major oil supplier to the United States, but relations have been strained under Chavez.