Carter offers two ideas to solve Venezuela crisis

www.iht.com The Associated Press The Associated Press Wednesday, January 22, 2003 Aim is to end strike and call early election   CARACAS Former President Jimmy Carter said Tuesday he drafted two proposals to lead Venezuela toward elections and end a 51-day strike intended to force President Hugo Chavez from office.

Carter made his proposals after attending negotiations between the government and opposition and meeting separately with Chavez and strike leaders. His Atlanta-based Carter Center, the Organization of American States and the United Nations are sponsoring the talks.

One proposal would amend Venezuela's constitution to allow for early general elections and to cut terms in office, Carter said. The amendment would have to be approved by Congress and voters. Venezuela's opposition would call off the strike and, in return, the government - which has a majority in Congress - would agree to move quickly to adopt the amendment and organize early elections, Carter said.

Carter's second proposal calls for both sides to wait for a recall referendum on Chavez's rule, which the constitution says can happen halfway into the president's six-year term. In Chavez's case, that is August.

Carter, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, said before leaving Venezuela that the government and opposition would receive his proposals later Tuesday.

"We've been pleased with the reception we've had from both the government and the opposition," Carter said. "My opinion is that both sides want to end an impasse that is destroying the economy."

Business leaders, labor unions and opposition parties launched the strike Dec. 2 to demand that Chavez resign or call early elections.

Chavez said Tuesday he told Carter he would abide by any constitutional changes.

The strike has crippled Venezuela's oil industry, which was the world's fifth-largest exporter and a major supplier to the United States.

The strike has slashed production by more than two-thirds and caused domestic shortages of gasoline, food and drinking water. It has cost Venezuela $4 billion, according to the government, and contributed to the plummeting of the bolivar currency.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries said it will be difficult to make up for shortages of Venezuelan oil in the United States because many U.S. refineries are geared to process heavier Venezuelan crude.

After an early surge Tuesday, European Brent crude fell to $30 a barrel after Venezuelan tanker pilots announced they would resume work - which could convince foreign tanker companies to dock at Venezuelan ports. Foreign companies refused to do so during the strike for security and insurance reasons.

At least six people have died in political violence since the strike began, including a man killed Monday in clashes between Chavez supporters and opposition marchers. The violence in Charallave, 32 kilometers (20 miles) south of Caracas, also injured dozens.

Six countries - Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Portugal, Spain and the United States - have begun an initiative called "Friends of Venezuela" to help end the crisis. Diplomats from the six nations will meet at OAS headquarters in Washington on Friday.