U.S. Concerned by Rhetoric of Venezuela's President Chavez

usinfo.state.gov 26 February 2003

(U.S. envoy to OAS says rhetoric adds to "climate of tension") (1040)

Recent "belligerent rhetoric" by President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela has contributed to a "climate of tension" that does not contribute to the search for a peaceful solution to the political stand-off in that Andean nation, says Roger Noriega, U.S. Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS).

In February 26 remarks to a meeting of the OAS Permanent Council, Noriega said the United States "strongly condemns" the February 25 bombings in Caracas of the Spanish Agency for Technical Cooperation and the Colombian Consulate. Noriega said the United States hopes that an "expeditious and thorough investigation into the bombings will be conducted and that those responsible will be held accountable."

Noriega said that pamphlets found at the scene of these bombings "echoed some of the heated rhetoric of Venezuelan government officials from the previous days."

"This very fact," Noriega said, "reinforces why it is important that all sides in the Venezuelan dispute respect a non-violence agreement," signed February 19 by the government of Venezuela and opposition negotiators. That agreement, Noriega said, represents an important step toward improving Venezuela's "troubled political climate."

The U.S. official expressed concern over intemperate comments by Chavez, who on February 23 sharply criticized Spain, Colombia, and the United States, and admonished all countries in the Western Hemisphere to "stop meddling" in Venezuela's internal affairs, as well as telling OAS Secretary General Cesar Gaviria that he was "out of line" for his efforts to bring about a dialogue between the government and the political opposition.

Noriega said Chavez' comments were "surprising in light of the fact that the OAS member states and the OAS secretary general have become involved in Venezuela at the invitation of the government of Venezuela with the express purpose of helping Venezuelans overcome the current polarization" in that country.

Following is the text of Noriega's prepared remarks:

(begin text)

Statement by Ambassador Roger F. Noriega U.S. Permanent Representative to the OAS Statement on Violence and Detentions in Venezuela Meeting of the Permanent Council of the OAS February 26, 2003

Last week on February 18, the Government of Venezuela and opposition negotiators at the OAS dialogue table facilitated by OAS Secretary General Gaviria signed a Non-Violence Agreement that committed both the government and the opposition to:

-- Reject confrontational rhetoric and to moderate the tone, style and content of the public discourse;

-- Denounce all types of violence;

-- Call on the Venezuelan people and authorities to respect the Constitution and the laws;

-- Reject any manifestation of violence and intolerance;

-- Create the conditions for peace;

-- Call on the Venezuelan people to respect human rights and to reject direct or indirect threats of violence; and

-- Respect freedom of expression, as established in the Venezuelan Constitution.

The signing of this Non-Violence Agreement represented a very important step forward toward improving Venezuela's troubled political climate. The accord embodies the political will on both sides to take advantage of the dialogue facilitated by Secretary General Cesar Gaviria. It also represents an important step forward in fulfilling the requirements of Permanent Council resolution 833, calling on Venezuelans to work toward a "peaceful, democratic, constitutional and electoral solution" to that country's political problems.

Immediately in the wake of this very hopeful development, however, emerged a disturbing series of events that raises questions about the Government of Venezuela's commitment to honoring the non-violence agreement:

The following day, February 19, Venezuelan authorities arrested and detained opposition leader Carlos Fernandez, the President of the Venezuelan Chamber of Commerce (FEDECAMERAS), and issued arrest orders for opposition leader Carlos Ortega, the President of the Confederation of Venezuelan Workers (CTV). President Chavez noted that this was a judicial measure, but nonetheless characterized Mr. Fernandez as a "terrorist."

Four days later, on February 23, President Chavez sharply criticized the Governments of Spain, Colombia, and the United States, and admonished all of the countries of this continent to "stop meddling" in Venezuela's internal affairs. President Chavez also used the media to send a message to our Secretary General -- who has spent the past four months arduously and delicately trying to facilitate dialogue in Venezuela's polarized, political environment -- that he was "out of line" and should keep his place.

President Chavez' comments are surprising in light of the fact that the OAS member states and the OAS Secretary General have become involved in Venezuela at the invitation of the Government of Venezuela with the express purpose of helping Venezuelans overcome the current polarization.

Two days after President Chavez' comments, on February 25, bombs exploded at the Spanish Agency for Technical Cooperation and the Colombian Consulate in Caracas. Pamphlets found on the scene of these acts of terrorism echoed some of the heated rhetoric of Venezuelan government officials from the preceding days. This very fact reinforces why it is important that all sides respect the Non-Violence Agreement's call for reducing rhetorical excesses.

In solidarity with the governments of Colombia and Spain, the United States strongly condemns the recent bombings and the use of any form of violence. We hope that an expeditious and thorough investigation into the bombings will be conducted and that those responsible will be held accountable. We note that Venezuelan authorities have pledged such action.

What is of even greater concern is the fact that these attacks on diplomatic missions are only the most recent in a series of deeply disturbing -- and still unexplained -- violent actions. The search for a peaceful, negotiated solution to Venezuela's crisis is made even more difficult when politically motivated violence (including killings) remain unsolved at the same time that political leaders are prosecuted vigorously.

The recent bombings are still being investigated, and it is too early to reach conclusions or assign responsibility.

Nevertheless, there can be little doubt that President Chavez' belligerent rhetoric has contributed to a climate of tension that does not contribute to the search for a peaceful solution.

The United States will continue to work with the Group of Friends of the Secretary General, and we commend the Secretary General's continued commitment to the dialogue process.

We urge other member states to support the full implementation of Permanent Council resolution 833.

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