I can't understand its role, it seems to be an interventionist factor, says the Cuban president
Fidel Castro: The enemies of Chavez prevail among the "Group of Friends"
The Venezuelan leader has become stronger in battle; "He's a tough bone to gnaw", Fidel points out
GERARDO ARREOLA
La Jornada Correspondent
Havana, 1/19/03.
President Fidel Castro today criticized the recently formed group of Friends of Venezuela as an interventionist factor in which the "enemies (of the Venezuelan president) prevail". Castro also expressed disagreement with Hugo Chavez's "excessive generosity" with the opposition.
He answered questions from the press in Santiago de Cuba where he was casting his vote on Sunday in Cuba's provincial and national parliamentary elections.
When asked about the diplomatic group announced last week, Castro answered: "the results that we have so far indicate that it is a group where the enemies of the Venezuelan revolutionary process prevail, under the baton of the chief, the superpower of the unipolar world".
"Spain is an unconditional ally of the U.S.", said Castro. In regards to Mexico, you may recall that they forbid me from traveling to Mexico", he added in reference to a conflict regarding his presence at the Monterrey Summit in March of last year.
"In reality, some countries in the group, in case you didn't know, supported the April 11 coup" which briefly deposed Chavez 9 months ago.
The Cuban leader said that he is opposed, in principle, to foreign intervention. "They show up with different mediating titles, and what not, and end up as real proconsuls".
Those who understand what is going on know that the gentlemen from the north are going to use that instrument. The OAS (Organization of American States that sponsors an internal dialogue in Venezuela) is an organization that we do not respect" said Castro as he recalled the hostility of the hemispheric entity towards his country in the sixties.
Insisting on the Group of Friends, Castro pointed out: "They place themselves over the sovereignty of nations, they go there pretending to fix problems but instead provide belligerency, recognition and encouragement to the coup-mongers and fascists".
"I can't understand the role of that so-called Group of Friends", he added. The Cuban leader said that the eventual participation of his country in multilateral discussions on Venezuela would depend on a request by Chavez and he would have to think about it.
Regarding the Venezuelan leader he said: "If I have something to regret, it's his excessive generosity and kindness".
"In what country could there be a coup and then have all the perpetrators meet in a plaza to spend 50 days agitating through television networks, proposing another coup?", asked Castro. "Not in any country in the world. I believe that there is not a more democratic, more law abiding, more tolerant, more generous man than Hugo Chavez."
Nevertheless, Castro remains convinced that Chavez will emerge victorious from the crisis. "He's a tough bone to gnaw...in the midst of the battle he has become stronger", he added. Regarding the opposition, he mentioned that "although not totally, they are being defeated on all fronts by the government and constitutionalists forces".
Translation: Luis Martin
Boletin Latino
www.latinamericabulletin.cafeprogressive.com/index.html
Quality, not quantity of news for the political activist
Fidel Castro: The enemies of Chavez prevail among the "Group of Friends"
The Venezuelan leader has become stronger in battle; "He's a tough bone to gnaw", Fidel points out
GERARDO ARREOLA
La Jornada Correspondent
Havana, 1/19/03.
President Fidel Castro today criticized the recently formed group of Friends of Venezuela as an interventionist factor in which the "enemies (of the Venezuelan president) prevail". Castro also expressed disagreement with Hugo Chavez's "excessive generosity" with the opposition.
He answered questions from the press in Santiago de Cuba where he was casting his vote on Sunday in Cuba's provincial and national parliamentary elections.
When asked about the diplomatic group announced last week, Castro answered: "the results that we have so far indicate that it is a group where the enemies of the Venezuelan revolutionary process prevail, under the baton of the chief, the superpower of the unipolar world".
"Spain is an unconditional ally of the U.S.", said Castro. In regards to Mexico, you may recall that they forbid me from traveling to Mexico", he added in reference to a conflict regarding his presence at the Monterrey Summit in March of last year.
"In reality, some countries in the group, in case you didn't know, supported the April 11 coup" which briefly deposed Chavez 9 months ago.
The Cuban leader said that he is opposed, in principle, to foreign intervention. "They show up with different mediating titles, and what not, and end up as real proconsuls".
Those who understand what is going on know that the gentlemen from the north are going to use that instrument. The OAS (Organization of American States that sponsors an internal dialogue in Venezuela) is an organization that we do not respect" said Castro as he recalled the hostility of the hemispheric entity towards his country in the sixties.
Insisting on the Group of Friends, Castro pointed out: "They place themselves over the sovereignty of nations, they go there pretending to fix problems but instead provide belligerency, recognition and encouragement to the coup-mongers and fascists".
"I can't understand the role of that so-called Group of Friends", he added. The Cuban leader said that the eventual participation of his country in multilateral discussions on Venezuela would depend on a request by Chavez and he would have to think about it.
Regarding the Venezuelan leader he said: "If I have something to regret, it's his excessive generosity and kindness".
"In what country could there be a coup and then have all the perpetrators meet in a plaza to spend 50 days agitating through television networks, proposing another coup?", asked Castro. "Not in any country in the world. I believe that there is not a more democratic, more law abiding, more tolerant, more generous man than Hugo Chavez."
Nevertheless, Castro remains convinced that Chavez will emerge victorious from the crisis. "He's a tough bone to gnaw...in the midst of the battle he has become stronger", he added. Regarding the opposition, he mentioned that "although not totally, they are being defeated on all fronts by the government and constitutionalists forces".
Translation: Luis Martin
Boletin Latino
www.latinamericabulletin.cafeprogressive.com/index.html
Quality, not quantity of news for the political activist
