Chávez Set Back on Expanding Mediation Group

www.nytimes.com By TONY SMITH

RASÍLIA, Jan. 18 — President Hugo Chávez of Venezuela failed today to win backing from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil to include Russia, France and other "friendly" nations in a United States-sponsored mediation effort to restore peace to Venezuela.

Mr. Chávez, who is facing growing demands from opponents at home to resign as Venezuela's economy buckles under a seven-week-long strike, said here today that he was "grateful for the good faith and will to help" shown by other nations. But he insisted that the mediation group formed by the United States, Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Portugal and Chile be broadened. Advertisement

"We see this group as a preconfiguration," he said on arrival at a military base here for talks with his major regional ally.

But after two hours of talks with Mr. da Silva, he told reporters that he had "agreed to give my vote of confidence to the group so it can function properly and contribute toward a solution." He said the group could be broadened at a later date.

The Brazilian foreign minister, Celso Amorim, said the Brazilians had emphasized to Mr. Chávez that "the balance found in the group is a delicate balance" that "represents various points of view."

"He probably still has his personal doubts," Mr. Amorim said, but adding, "I think he understood."

Mr. Chávez said earlier that Russia had shown interest in joining the group and that Venezuela had approached France. He also said Fidel Castro of Cuba and Prime Minister Percival J. Patterson of Jamaica should not be left out.

A State Department official said on Friday that the United States and other nations involved in the initiative were satisfied that the mediation group had already been formed.

Using his usual fiery rhetoric, Mr. Chávez said he believed that Brazil and other countries "will not simply align themselves with any old position" proposed by the United States. "What's at stake in Venezuela is the construction of an alternative to neo-liberalism," he said. Neo-liberalism is the term he and other leftist leaders use to describe a gamut of United States-inspired free-market policies that many contend have failed to deliver economic growth with social justice in the developing world.