Chavez Frias invites US Democrats to visit Venezuela to see for themselves

www.vheadline.com Posted: Wednesday, March 12, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Snubbing Florida Republican congressmen calling for the application of Organization of American States (OAS) Democratic Charter against his administration, President Hugo Chavez Frias has invited a group of US Democrat congressmen to visit Venezuela to see democratic advances in Venezuela for themselves.

Venezuelan Ambassador to Washington, Bernardo Alvarez has passed a letter from President Chavez Frias to the congressmen, answering accusations that the government is hell-bent on persecuting political opponents.

The letter includes details of charges against the leaders of the failed national stoppage and a copy of the Attorney General’s Office about the arrest of Federation of Chambers of Industry & Commerce (Fedecamaras) president Carlos Fernandez.

Ambassador Alvarez admits that President Hugo Chavez Frias has asked the visitors to refrain from commenting on Venezuela’s domestic political affairs, but insists that they can talk to whomsoever they please.