Prospects Look Good for Venezuelan Referendum, says OAS Chief

<a href=www.voanews.com>VOA News 29 May 2003, 12:52 UTC

Cesar GaviriaThe head of the Organization of American States (OAS) says there is a good chance a referendum on Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's rule could be held later this year if all parties honor a recent accord.

OAS Secretary-General Cesar Gaviria told reporters in the capital, Caracas, late Wednesday that he believed a referendum could be held as soon as November. Mr. Gaviria mediated at least six months of talks between the government and Venezuelan opposition parties.

Mr. Gaviria said he believed the resulting agreement, to be signed Thursday - will not solve all of Venezuela's problems. But he says it does offer a peaceful, democratic and constitutional solution to the political standoff that has crippled the nation's economy.

Opposition parties staged a two-month workers strike that ended earlier this year in an effort to force a vote on Mr. Chavez's term in office.

The president had been elected to a second six-year term in 2000. Venezuela's constitution does not allow for a referendum before a president has served half his term,which would be on August 19 for Mr. Chavez

Venezuela's Central Bank says the country's economy fell 29 percent in the first quarter of 2003.