Aziz: Mexico, Venezuela could be next US targets

news.xinhuanet.com Xinhuanet 2003-03-04 11:31:13

°°°°MEXICO CITY, March 3 (Xinhuanet) -- Visiting Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz warned on Monday that if his country falls, so could Venezuela and Mexico as they also have petroleum.

°°°°"If (US President) George W. Bush succeeds in removing the Government of Iraq, it would not be the only one to fall. Like Iraq, Mexico and Venezuela also have oil," Aziz told the Mexican daily La Jornada.

°°°°The United States imports 15 percent of its oil consumption from each of the four countries, Mexico, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Canada.

°°°°Aziz hoped Chile and Mexico, both non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, would remain firm on their opposition to a US-led attack on Iraq. Otherwise, he stressed, "Venezuela could be militarily threatened."

°°°°Aziz said Mexico is a friendly country to Iraq and there is no reason for it to take a negative stance on the Iraq issue.

°°°°Iraq met a Saturday deadline to begin destroying its Al-Samoud 2 missiles, banned because its range may be slightly longer than allowed under UN resolutions.

°°°°Iraq agreed to destroy the missiles because it wants to cooperate with governments such as those of France and Mexico, which are aware that it is necessary to stop the United States from launching a war, Aziz said.

°°°°Reiterating that the Iraqis do not want war, Aziz said that if Iraq and all those groups all over the world that oppose war could coordinate their positions, they might stop a possible attack on his country. Enditem