Venezuelan Ambassador says too much confusion in D.C. over Venezuelan democracy

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Tuesday, April 22, 2003 By: David Coleman

Venezuelan Ambassador to Washington, Bernardo Alvarez Herrera has issued a statement in support of Foreign Minister (MRE) Roy Chaderton Matos' weekend statements that the US State Department is being fed false information about Venezuela  ... he says "as regards the confusion over the political process in Venezuela, there are many (competing) circles of power in the United States."

Speaking to a group of investors at a special meeting of the Venezuelan American Association of the United States (VAAUS)  in New York this morning, Ambassador Alvarez Herrera referred to articles in the 1999 Constitution which oblige any public official to submit to revocatory referendums.

"This is not an option, nor is it within the gift of the National Executive.  It is in the Constitution that the people, once they have collected a certain number of (verifiable) signatures, may call a referendum to revoke the mandate of any person who has been elected ... all the way from the President to Town Mayors ... there are certain sectors that have a qualified interest to hide this fact!"

Alvarez Herrera added that friends of Venezuelan opposition leaders in the United States should help them to prepare for the electoral defeat that they will suffer in a referendum against President Hugo Chavez Frias.  "Despite all the attacks, among which they have attempted a military coup d'etat and an economic coup, President Chavez Frias remains in power thanks to his thoroughly democratic form of government and significant majority support among the people."

In separate news, Ambassador Alvarez Herrera announced that on May 5, the Venezuelan government will be relaunching its petroleum industry at an international level during trade negotiations at the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas. He says "it will be PDVSA's second debut on the international market and, among others, former OPEC Secretary General Ali Rodriguez Araque (now PDVSA president), Energy & Mines (MEM) Minister Rafael Ramirez and principal Venezuelan petroleum sector executives will be on hand to show Venezuela's new policy developments on oil in the wake of the new Hydrocarbons Law as well as to promote business opportunities with private sector investors.

Our editorial statement reads: VHeadline.com Venezuela is a wholly independent e-publication promoting democracy in its fullest expression and the inalienable right of all Venezuelans to self-determination and the pursuit of sovereign independence without interference. We seek to shed light on nefarious practices and the corruption which for decades has strangled this South American nation's development and progress. Our declared editorial bias is pro-democracy and pro-Venezuela ... which some may wrongly interpret as anti-American. Roy S. Carson, Editor/Publisher Editor@VHeadline.com