Tiana Perez, NewsMax.com June 2003 Editor's note: Tiana Perez, NewsMax's Venezuelan correspondent, will offer dispatches on the turmoil in this crucial and often-overlooked part of the world. See her previous articles.

Chavez Targets Argentina

June 4: Hugo Chavez's international agenda rekindled a few weeks ago with the meetings held with Lula on Brazilian-Venezuelan business cooperation and Colombian President Uribe on easing of relations between the two countries due to guerrilla control of the border.

The Venezuelan president’s latest visit was to Nestor Kirchner, recently elected president of Argentina. Kirchner, of Swiss and Croatian ascent, skipped the second round after Menem, who on April 24 surpassed Kirchner in the first round of presidential elections by 2 percent, retired from the race with 24 percent.

Chavez attended the inaugural ceremony and praised the president-elect’s aim of improving Argentines’ living standard through economic and not social policies.

Kirchner, veteran of the Peronist Party's (Partido Justicialista) center-left wing, announced in his inauguration speech that he would work to combat poverty and hunger.

Kirchner keeps close ties with Brazilian President Inacio “Lula” da Silva, who has also promised to make the fight against hunger his priority.

Argentina and Brazil are partners in the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) talks and have promised to enforce regional cooperation and negotiate trade tariffs as a regional block, Mercosur, to counter the U.S. on the elimination of agricultural subsidies.

Chavez, the only president opposing free trade in Latin American, has sided politically with Lula and now with Kirchner based on their stated goal of combating hunger. His revolutionary plan being in full swing, he does not give up his attempt to spread the bad seeds around Latin America.

The Wall Street Journal, in an article published the day after Chavez had extended his support to Kirchner, told of a Chavez-led underground movement in Argentina that follows communist ideals.

Chavez came accompanied by a cabinet member who represents the indigenes of Venezuela, in a move possibly meant to symbolize his support for Argentina’s population whose deposits have not yet been given back by the banks. Ecuadoran President Lucio Gutierrez named a representative of the indigenes movement as head of the deposit payback entity to assure his indigene support base that, if worse comes to worse, it would be one of their speakers who will take charge of sensitive measures.

Foreseeing the crossroad of Argentina, which had partially liberalized frozen deposits through a Supreme Court order in March but has not yet established the payback method, the Venezuelan president practically warned that his voice was going to be heard if the Argentine government did not do the right thing.

Neither banks nor the state own enough foreign currency in Argentina to pay back deposits at the rate at which they were acquired before the devaluation of the peso. The currency devalued 70 percent since former President Duhalde ended the peg to the dollar in 2002.

It is possible that five- to 10-year dollar-denominated bonds are issued by the state to ease banks facing the public’s demands. Unfortunately, the decreased credibility in Argentina might prove the bond issue expensive and risky. Argentina still holds a US$141 billion public debt, significantly above its estimated $100 billion GDP. The country strongly depends on the deals that it will be able to reach with the IMF, which allowed Duhalde to put payments on hold, and international investors.

Kirchner’s lack of support by the majority of Argentina’s population will possibly urge him to satisfy depositors’ demands as local elections could otherwise turn to the advantage of populist governors who oppose his proposed austerity measures and commitment to reforms.

PHILIPSBURG--The Daily Herald-United Telecommunication Services (UTS) signed an agreement with Ericsson yesterday that guarantees delivery and installation in St. Maarten by the internationally known cellular service provider of a GSM switch and nine radio base stations worth NAf. 10 million that will give the island full GSM cellular service coverage.

UTS announced that its service would be launched by the third quarter of this year, giving not only coverage throughout the 37-square-mile island, but also international roaming possibilities and Caribbean-wide coverage, with a spectacular customer care package that would separate UTS from the rest.

The signing ceremony was held at Captain Oliver's Restaurant in Oyster Pond as a symbol of the joining of the French and Dutch sides in an endeavour to provide island-wide cellular service.

Present at the signing ceremony were UTS Windward Islands General Manager Glen Carty, UTS President Julio Constansia, Ericsson Netherlands Antilles Office Director Bengt Bergvall and UTS Manager of Networks Provision Michael Gaari.

During the ceremony Carty donated a cheque of NAf. 5,000 to Emilio Wilson Park Foundation to be used to improve the facilities and aid in its efforts to preserve the island's history.

Present to accept the cheque for the foundation was board member Julius Lambert, who said, "The cheque will be used for education and preservation of the history of St. Maarten." He also thanked Carty for his innovative drive to always ensure that UTS is one step ahead in telecommunications for the benefit of all people living in St. Maarten.

Constansia said, "Today we not only want to reaffirm our responsibility towards the community of the Windward Islands, but we also want to offer St. Maarten and the other islands of the Windward Islands an alternative with regard to their telecommunications needs."

He noted that UTS was also signing a roaming agreement with the French cellular service provider Orange Caraib as its strategic partner in the launch of the GSM service.

According to Constansia, "Customers will also be able to roam in Curacao, Venezuela, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium and soon in the Dominican Republic, the USA, Portugal, India and Aruba."

Carty said, "Today it goes to show that properly structured and controlled competition is definitely working to the benefit of the inhabitants of St. Maarten."

He stated, "Several things had to be looked at before getting to this stage: first the need for the service, the obtaining of a licence, along with the planning phase and the civil work which is now in progress."

He also took the opportunity to thank key players in the company for their input in the preparation stages of the GSM service.

He said, "Because of the lack of a 100 per cent cellular service on the island, we felt that the need was there."

"Because of the launch of UTS' GSM mobile service, just as in the past with the lowering of international rates and the introduction of our broadband Internet service, our competitors are forced to upgrade their service and adjust their rates," he added.

Constansia said, "We are convinced that UTS' services will position St. Maarten as a technologically progressive island in the eyes of all the investors and tourists who come here."

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Wednesday, June 04, 2003 By: Elio Cequea

Date: Wed, 04 Jun 2003 10:46:38 -0500 From: Elio Cequea Feico57@aol.com To: Editor@VHeadline.com Subject: I still don't see your problem with Jack Kemp

Dear Editor: I still don't see Gustavo Coronel's problem with Jack Kemp. According to Marc Lifsher, Mr. Kemp seems to be helping Venezuela to get some extra business. This might help to recuperate some of the losses caused by the "experts" strike.

An extra $1 billion in business over a three-year period paying only $50 million in commissions does not sound like a bad deal to me. But, do not quote me ... Coronel is the expert on matters of petroleum.

Going back to my original point: Why is it that we in Venezuela automatically consider anything from abroad better, clever and more credible? Let's see who is Marc Lifsher and what he has to say.

Marc Lifsher is The Wall Street Journal main man in Venezuela. In his writing he tends to follow the same type of reporting as many journalists who are sympathetic towards the opposition. He starts by stating: "Deal involving Jack Kemp and the Strategic Reserve worries some in industry." This is just part of the headline ... to support his argument that "some" are worried, Lifsher quotes somebody named Susan Jagger who he says is "an independent oil consultant in Connecticut."

Yes! That will give her credibility! She is quoted saying that the process to close the deal "is not as transparent as it should be." She is also quoted asking "why are there not more open negotiations between PDVSA and the market place?"

These comments leave no doubts in my mind that she must be a genius!

Nevertheless, what I want to point out is the fact that Lifsher contradicts himself trying to make his case. He indicates that the marketing relationship between Free Market Petroleum LLC and PDVSA has "raised eyebrows among oil executives because it introduces third-party intermediaries into commercial transactions that previously took placed directly between PDVSA and its buyers."

He forgot that he wrote only two paragraphs before that the US Strategic Petroleum Reserve "doesn't buy crude directly from producers."

How does he get to write for WSJ? A third party is the only way you can do business with the Reserve! Why bother to read the rest? ...I did though.

OK, enough of that!  I also took the time to check Coronel's source "Reporte Diario de la Economia" at www.reporte.com.ve with regard to Free Market Petroleum LLC being staffed with young inexperienced brokers ... "one of them rumored to be associated with Mark Rich."

Those reports, articles, opinions or news, whatever you want to call it, are NOT even signed!

Let me ask you a non-rhetorical question, where did you get the information that Rafael Ramirez ... with the silent participation of Ali Rodriguez ... formed Free Market Petroleum LLC?

I hope it was not Marta Colomina, Mr. Coronel.

If you keep using El Nacional as a source of information, what can I tell you? Those people sometimes "report from a report reported in a report that was reported by another newspaper." Do you see my point? I apologize if I sound condescending. but I know you are smarter than that.

More than a privilege, it is a responsibility to be able to write anything and get published. People use this information to make up their own criteria ... I am sure you can do a much better job than that,

Elio Cequea Feico57@aol.com

<a href=www.hispanicbusiness.com>HISPANIC BUSINESS - PR Newswire

FORT WORTH, Texas, June 4 /PRNewswire/ -- American Airlines Cargo division announces that it will expand its newest express cargo product, Expeditefs, making it available from all of its cargo locations in Central America, Mexico, and Venezuela beginning June 9, 2003. The Expeditefs product provides an express, flight-specific, guaranteed service for freight throughout American's worldwide cargo network. Now, freight from San Jose, Caracas, Belize City, Cancun, Mexico City, Guadalajara, Guatemala City, Panama City, San Salvador, San Pedro Sula, Tegucigalpa and Managua, and can make faster transfers at American's gateways, saving up to a day in international transit.

"The Expeditefs product offers higher boarding priority and faster transit time," said Mark Najarian, vice president-Sales and Marketing for American Airlines Cargo division. "In addition to faster transit time, customers can now track and trace their shipments on AACargo.com for instant access to all their shipment information."

With the focus on speed and reliability, the Expeditefs product provides time-critical freight shipments with high levels of service quality. American's cargo products are built on the core feature of flight-specific service for exceptional speed and reliability. American takes a distinctive approach with its flight-specific offering, compared to competitors who provide time-definite services.

"American's product mix allows for effective management of various shipment time-and-weight requirements," said Najarian. "Our goal is to provide our core customers with reliable solutions."

Additional information on American's cargo products can be found at www.aacargo.com .

About American Airlines Cargo

American Airlines Cargo, a division of American Airlines, Inc., provides more than 100 million pounds of weekly cargo lift capacity to major cities in the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Latin America and Asia. With new products, automation and handling processes to streamline our service, American Airlines Cargo continues to be responsive to the needs of our shippers. For more information visit www.aacargo.com .

Current AMR Corp. news releases can be accessed via the Internet. American Airlines, Inc.

CONTACT: Corporate Communications of American Airlines, Inc.,+1-817-967-1577, or corp.comm@aa.com

Web site: www.amrcorp.com

Source: PR Newswire

By Art Jacobson

Marriott’s Villas at Doral offers timeshare ownership and the amenities of the adjacent Doral Golf Resort and Spa. (Photo by Ed Raduns When you combine a world famous resort with an innovative idea and one of the world’s best-known hospitality companies, the results can be quite spectacular. That’s what happened when Marriott’s Vacation Club International opened the Villas at Doral.

The upscale timeshare resort on NW 87th Avenue, directly across from the main entrance to the Doral Golf Resort and Spa, offers lavishly decorated two-bedroom/two-bath villas for purchase in intervals of one week or more. Sixty-eight of the planned 252 units have already been completed.

“So far, we’ve sold approximately 2,000 weeks,” said Villas at Doral project director Lisa Dusart. “About half of our owners are from the United States, mostly the northeast, and the rest are from all over the word, primarily Latin America and the Caribbean — Venezuela, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Brazil and the Cayman Islands. We also have some European clients as well. Our owners are from the same places as the tourists who visit Greater Miami. When you consider what we have to offer, you can readily understand why so many people have purchased a timeshare here.”

In addition to the outdoor pool, whirlpool spa and exercise room at the Villas at Doral, timeshare owners have access to the amenities of the Doral Golf Resort and Spa. These include five golf courses, the Jim McLean Golf School, the Arthur Ashe Tennis Center with both hard surface and clay courts, the Blue Lagoon water aquatic playground featuring four pools and a 125 foot water slide; beach and boardwalk areas; recreational area bar and grill; jogging trails; an award-winning spa with 52 treatment rooms; fine and casual dining; plus the exclusive shops and boutiques within the resort.

“Each 1,208-square-foot villa can accommodate up to eight people comfortably,” said Dusart. “Each has two bedrooms and two baths, either a golf or a lake view, a soaking tub in the master bath, a private balcony, a fully-equipped kitchen with service for eight, comfortable living and dining areas, three television sets — one equipped with a VCR — plus a utility room with a washer and dryer. They are indeed a home away from home.”

Timesharing, sometimes called vacation or interval ownership, is a rapidly growing concept where vacationers purchase accommodations for the periods of the year when they expect to use them. Since they own their vacation accommodations, timeshare owners do not have to worry about future rate increases and can sell their timeshare, rent it to other people, exchange it for comparable accommodations at resorts all over the world or leave it to their heirs. “One of the most important differences between the Villas at Doral and other timeshare properties is that it is a part of Marriott’s Vacation Club International,” said Ray Mason, director of sales. “Not only is Marriott one of the largest, most knowledgeable and most highly respected organizations in the hospitality industry, it has the experience and the resources to create customer benefit programs which greatly enhance the value of owning a timeshare at the Villas at Doral.”

He said that Villas at Doral timeshare owners may use their villas during the week in the season they purchased, split the week into two mini-vacations, trade it through membership in Interval International — a separate company — for time at another Marriott Vacation Club International resort or at approximately 2,000 similar resorts in 75 countries all over the world. They may also exchange their week every other year for Marriott Rewards points, which are redeemable for worldwide Marriott accommodations, airfare, cruises and car rentals.

Villas at Doral timeshare owners also receive special privileges when arranging stays in the four other Marriott Vacation Club International resorts known as the Florida Club — Ocean Pointe at Palm Beach Shores, Beach Place Towers in Ft. Lauderdale, Grande Vista in Orlando and Legends Edge at Bay Point near Panama City.

Meantime, Dusart extended an invitation to local residents to come and take a look at the new Doral resort.

“We would like to invite the people who live in Doral to be our guest for a visit to the Villas at Doral so that they can see what is available to them right here and at our other resorts both within Florida and around the world. For more information, call 305-629-3323.