U.S. increases activity in Venezuela

www.orlandosentinel.com By Edwin Chen | Washington Bureau Posted January 11, 2003

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration has begun playing an active, behind-the-scenes role to help resolve the political unrest in Venezuela, amid growing U.S. concern about an oil shortage if there is war in Iraq.

The U.S. participation in brokering an agreement between Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his opponents was confirmed Friday by the White House.

The 40-day standoff in Caracas, with widespread strikes organized by Chavez's political foes, has crippled Venezuela's economy.

It has halted petroleum exports, including more than 1.5 million barrels of oil to the United States every day -- about 15 percent of the total the United States imports.

In hopes of ending the stalemate and bringing about early elections in Venezuela, U.S. diplomats led by Secretary of State Colin Powell are working with the Organization of American States and its member nations.

OAS Secretary-General Cesar Gaviria has been mediating the talks in Caracas.

Gaviria's goal, which the White House is backing, is to form a "friends of Venezuela" group that can help develop a compromise to the country's conflict.

The growing U.S. role -- first reported Friday by The Washington Post -- signals that President Bush has overcome his reluctance to becoming involved in the South American country.

In April, amid a short-lived coup against Chavez, the United States was accused of encouraging the plotters, reviving memories of a long and controversial history of U.S. involvement in South America.

Chavez's populist, left-leaning ideology and his anti-U.S. rhetoric did not endear him to the Bush administration.

But the White House denied meddling in Venezuela's affairs.

On Friday, though, White House press secretary Ari Fleischer said, "The United States remains deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation in Venezuela.

The severe damage being caused to Venezuela's economy, as well as the increasing likelihood of violence and civil conflict, requires a solution."

Meanwhile, Chavez threatened to send soldiers to seize control of food-production facilities and also fired 700 workers from the state oil monopoly, hoping to break a 40-day-old strike intended to oust him.

Chavez, a former paratroop commander, told soldiers Friday to be ready "to militarily seize the food production plants" that joined the strike.

He asked state governors belonging to his political coalition to be ready to cooperate.

"This is an economic coup. They are trying to deny the people food, medicine and even water," Chavez told thousands of supporters in western Cojedes state. "They won't succeed."

Fleischer described the U.S. overtures as being "in the early stages."

But he emphasized that "an electoral solution is the direction the United States sees."

Wire services were used in this report. Edwin Chen is a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, a Tribune Publishing newspaper.