<a href=www.voanews.com>VOA News17 Apr 2003, 16:41 UTC

Colin PowellU.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has called on Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to hold a free and fair a referendum on his presidency later this year.

In an interview Wednesday with Associated Press Television, Mr. Powell said he has "concerns" over Mr. Chavez's commitment to key democratic institutions.

Hugo ChavezBut he said the referendum will be a test for Mr. Chavez to show a commitment to what Mr. Powell called "the correct form of democracy for our hemisphere."

The Organization of American States last week helped broker a deal between Venezuela's government and opposition to pave the way for holding a midterm referendum on Mr. Chavez's rule.

Mr. Chavez has noted Venezuela's constitution requires the opposition to collect 2.5 million voter signatures to hold the referendum. If approved, the vote is expected to take place after August 19.

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Thursday, April 17, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Speaking from Vienna (Austria), Venezuelan Deputy Foreign Minister, Arvelo Mendez Romero reports that the United Nations Anti-Drugs Commission has accepted a Venezuelan proposal to set up an international network of money laundering information exchange. 

• According to Mendez Romero, the Andean Economic Community, Mexico, Turkey and Algeria supported the Venezuela proposition. 

"We have had success in Venezuela with such a network at home and for that reason would like to see it extend internationally ... in fact, such networks exist in all Latin American countries and we would like to swap information." 

Venezuelan Anti-Drugs Czaress, Mildred Camero had highlighted the first proposal earlier on in the week. 

The second Venezuelan proposal against legalizing the consumption of drugs has been given rough passage and Mendez Romero admits that few countries, especially European, are willing to take a hard line on drugs consumption.  

The current session is preparation for a UN meeting of Ministers, which will be held in New York next month.

Forums

Referendum 2003 discuss the pros and cons of a revocatory referendum

President Hugo Chavez Frias express your opinions on the Presidency of Hugo Chavez Frias and his Bolivarian Revolution

Bolivarian Circles Are Bolivarian Circles a Venezuelan form of Neighborhood Watch Committees or violent hordes of pro-Chavez thugs?

Venezuela's Opposition What is it? Is a force to be reckoned with or in complete disarray?

Our editorial statement reads: VHeadline.com Venezuela is a wholly independent e-publication promoting democracy in its fullest expression and the inalienable  right of all Venezuelans to self-determination and the pursuit of sovereign independence without interference. We seek to shed light on nefarious practices and the corruption which for decades has strangled this South American nation's development and progress. Our declared editorial bias is pro-democracy and pro-Venezuela ... which some may wrongly interpret as anti-American. --  Roy S. Carson, Editor/Publisher  Editor@VHeadline.com

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Thursday, April 17, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Preaching at one of the 18 religious services that took place on Wednesday in (Caracas) Santa Teresa Church where the statue of Jesus The Nazarene is venerated, Cardinal Ignacio Velasco has defended the right to life seriously under siege in Venezuela each weekend. 

The weekend homicide figures "show that thieves, muggers, revolutionaries or whoever has the capacity to decide the existence of other persons deny the importance of the supreme gift of life." 

Velasco also asked for the gift of liberty for the Venezuelan people ... "Lord, give us freedom that we can feel free to express our thoughts with happiness because a Venezuelan without freedom isn't Venezuelan ... at least, not the same Venezuelan as normal." 

In his Holy Week message, Venezuelan Episcopal Conference (CEV)  president, Archbishop Baltazar Porras has called on the Venezuelan People not to give in to the political crisis. 

"Don't feel it is a stone tied around our necks and there's nothing we can do to stop ourselves from drowning ... every society has to recur to the great value of affection, or ternura because there is so much hate being sown that we are reaping more poverty and more criminals." 

Porras insists that a national political agreement is essential, if hope is to be restored and that society must uphold the values of liberty and coexistence.

Our editorial statement reads: VHeadline.com Venezuela is a wholly independent e-publication promoting democracy in its fullest expression and the inalienable  right of all Venezuelans to self-determination and the pursuit of sovereign independence without interference. We seek to shed light on nefarious practices and the corruption which for decades has strangled this South American nation's development and progress. Our declared editorial bias is pro-democracy and pro-Venezuela ... which some may wrongly interpret as anti-American. --  Roy S. Carson, Editor/Publisher  Editor@VHeadline.com

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Thursday, April 17, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

A bomb exploded destroying part of the Tachira State Ranchers Association (Asogata) HQ in San Cristobal. No one was hurt in the blast since it took place before 1.00 a.m. and according to police sources, there were no witnesses and little damage done. 

Asogata president, Genaro Mendez blames left-wing elements ... "they left pamphlets and fliers with slogans, such as 'Land for everyone' and 'The Revolution is the only way to success!'" 

Tachira State Governor Captain (ret.) Ronald Blanco La Cruz has condemned the attack warning that it's the wrong way to do politics.

Comparing the Asogata bomb to the more powerful semtex C4 that ripped the entrance of the Caracas Teleport building, Blanco La Cruz says an negotiated agreement has been signed with the government and if people don't like it, there are other means to express their disapproval.

Forums

Referendum 2003 discuss the pros and cons of a revocatory referendum

President Hugo Chavez Frias express your opinions on the Presidency of Hugo Chavez Frias and his Bolivarian Revolution

Bolivarian Circles Are Bolivarian Circles a Venezuelan form of Neighborhood Watch Committees or violent hordes of pro-Chavez thugs?

Venezuela's Opposition What is it? Is a force to be reckoned with or in complete disarray?

Our editorial statement reads: VHeadline.com Venezuela is a wholly independent e-publication promoting democracy in its fullest expression and the inalienable  right of all Venezuelans to self-determination and the pursuit of sovereign independence without interference. We seek to shed light on nefarious practices and the corruption which for decades has strangled this South American nation's development and progress. Our declared editorial bias is pro-democracy and pro-Venezuela ... which some may wrongly interpret as anti-American. --  Roy S. Carson, Editor/Publisher  Editor@VHeadline.com

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Thursday, April 17, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Venezuela has been chosen as Latin American & Caribbean representative on the United Nations (UN) Disarmament Commission Bureau for 2003-2004. A statement from the Venezuelan Foreign Office highlights claims that Venezuela has obtained leadership in the commission over the years for its work on disarmament in general and efforts to seek ways of promoting peace in world.

Venezuela has appointed a member of its United Nations delegation, Mary Cedeño to assume the presidency of the bureau after she received majority support from other bureau members.

• Taking up office, Cedeño will chair the Disarmament Commission, which ends this week. 

The aim of the Commission is "to study the importance of nuclear disarmament for international peace, security and stability and to propose initiatives to establish principles and multilateral norms of disarmament."

Forums

Referendum 2003 discuss the pros and cons of a revocatory referendum

President Hugo Chavez Frias express your opinions on the Presidency of Hugo Chavez Frias and his Bolivarian Revolution

Bolivarian Circles Are Bolivarian Circles a Venezuelan form of Neighborhood Watch Committees or violent hordes of pro-Chavez thugs?

Venezuela's Opposition What is it? Is a force to be reckoned with or in complete disarray?

Our editorial statement reads: VHeadline.com Venezuela is a wholly independent e-publication promoting democracy in its fullest expression and the inalienable  right of all Venezuelans to self-determination and the pursuit of sovereign independence without interference. We seek to shed light on nefarious practices and the corruption which for decades has strangled this South American nation's development and progress. Our declared editorial bias is pro-democracy and pro-Venezuela ... which some may wrongly interpret as anti-American. --  Roy S. Carson, Editor/Publisher  Editor@VHeadline.com