Opposition negotiator: If Chavez Frias loses the recall referendum, he must leave Venezuela

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Tuesday, May 06, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Opposition negotiator, Americo Martin has criticized what he says is President Hugo Chavez Frias' decision not to sign the recall referendum agreement reached between government and opposition representatives.  "Both sides must comply with the recall referendum ... the President himself proposed it to avoid the formula of early elections." 

One-time guerrilla Martin says the government will pay a high political price if they leave the table of negotiations. "The President was a year making the offer and now when he has been taken at his word, he refuses to sign the document." 

The opposition has no qualms about accepting defeat, Martin claims, adding a puzzling conclusion that if Chavez Frias loses, then he (the President) will have to leave the country. The lawyer did not explain why he thought that Chavez Frias would have to abandon Venezuela. 

The government has indeed decided to continue the dialog but through the "proper channels, namely" the National Assembly (AN). Government spokesman Omar Meza says negotiations were placed on the backburner after the bomb attempt on negotiations HQ and changes to the agreement text proposed by the government. 

The government position comes as the six-nation Group of Friends prepares to meet in Caracas this week.  Movimiento Quinta Republica (MVR) leader, Tarek William Saab has proposed the recall of the Peace & reconciliation Committee set up after April 11, 2002 to complement negotiations in parliament. Venezuelan Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), Jorge Valero says the situation is normal and there is no longer any crisis.