Carter offers proposals to end Venezuelan strike

www.cnn.com From Diana Muriel CNN Tuesday, January 21, 2003 Posted: 2:20 PM EST (1920 GMT)

A strike in its eighth week is crippling the economy of Venezuela, once the world's fifth-largest exporter of oil. CNN's Diana Muriel reports. (January 21)

CARACAS, Venezuela (CNN) -- Former U.S. President Carter has proposed two alternatives to end a strike that has crippled Venezuela's economy and damaged the world oil market: hold new presidential elections or agree to wait for a binding referendum in August.

Carter has been in Venezuela trying to mediate the crisis between President Hugo Chavez and opposition leaders.

Speaking Tuesday, Carter said the two sides have welcomed the proposals for consideration and "want to reach an agreement."

In its eighth week, the strike has put pressure on Chavez to step down and hold early elections. Opposition leaders accuse him of operating an undemocratic regime that hurts the people.

The presidential term is six years. Under the Venezuelan Constitution, a referendum is held midway through the term. If the president loses, new elections are held. The referendum on Chavez is scheduled for August 19, but opposition leaders have insisted that time frame is too long to wait.

The opposition has pushed for a nonbinding referendum in February, which could help build international pressure for elections sooner. The opposition collected the necessary number of signatures required under Venezuelan law to hold a nonbinding referendum, but the government refused to acknowledge the petition. The opposition then appealed to the Supreme Court, which has yet to rule.

Carter said the strike could come to an end if the two sides agree to either of his proposals.

He did not say how long the presidential term would become if the country's constitution was amended to allow for early general elections.

A student walks past soldiers guarding the palace Tuesday in Caracas.

Carter, last year's winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, often has monitored elections around the world. When asked Tuesday whether he would be willing to monitor elections in Venezuela, Carter said his foundation has been invited to assist and will do what it can. But, he said, the decision belongs to Venezuela's people.

Carter said he would speak Friday with the Group of Friends of Venezuela at a meeting in Washington. The group, which includes the United States, Spain, Portugal, Mexico, Chile and Brazil, was created last week in Quito, Ecuador, at the suggestion of Brazil's new president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Carter also has met with leaders of the Organization of American States, which has been brokering talks.

Carter said that no one thought the strike would last 50 days, and no one wants to see it go on weeks longer.

The strike has crippled oil exports in Venezuela, which was the world's fifth-largest exporter, and cost the country billions of dollars.

Fighting between protesters and government troops has turned violent at times.