<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Editorials Express Your Opinion Posted: Sunday, April 20, 2003 By: Alvaro Sanchez

USA-based commentarist Alvaro Sanchez writes: At times, some Venezuelans, as well as non-Venezuelans, seem to forget the real promises made by current President Hugo Chavez when he was a candidate running for office. Unlike previous Presidents, Chavez did not promise to make a millionaire out of each citizen.

On the contrary, Chavez announced time and again that there would be obstacles along the way in order to fully make, implement, and enforce sound policies directed towards the eradication of poverty and the construction of an egalitarian society.

Indeed, Chavez' political platform included the following points: the restructuring of the Venezuelan political system, participation of the State in state-related matters, fair distribution of income, the fight against corruption, and perhaps the most importantly, accountability of lower levels of government as well as active grassroots political participation for community improvements. Both the Venezuelan and international media did a poor job of presenting the true meaning of these grassroots organizations.

These grassroots movements are known as Bolivarian Circles, after Venezuela's forefather: Simon Bolivar. Endorsed by the Venezuelan president and supported by the majority of the population, Bolivarian Circles grouped community leaders and neighbors alike. They worked hand in hand in order to make ends meet at various shantytowns, neighborhoods, and villages across Venezuela.

For instance, instead of waiting for the President, or another high authority or power of the government, to arrive at Barrio La Palomera, near Baruta, Miranda State, neighbors and community leaders, mostly women, went ahead and organized themselves to secure a badly-needed medical supply dispensary. In addition, they worked together on the beautification and clean up of La Palomera.

By the same token, Bolivarian Circles across Venezuela began an extensive social and political activism intended to aid the usual disenfranchised population of Venezuela. Other Bolivarian Circles, for example, concentrated their work and efforts on feeding the hungry, providing after school care for poor children, securing resources for small businesses, etc.

President Chavez did his best to provide the means and resources necessary for these Bolivarian Circles to be able to help themselves. Thus, the Venezuelan National Assembly, with the support of the President, passed legislation and appropriated funds for the creation of a line of credit available for small businesses, particularly those owned by low-income Venezuelans, women, Native Americans (Indians), and other minorities.

Along with the Bolivarian Circles, President Chavez implemented Plan Bolivar 2000. The plan allowed President Chavez to mobilize the Venezuelan Armed Forces in poor areas of the country with the goal of providing health care, subsidized food, construction equipment, school tutoring, and logistical organization to those who needed it most: the poor in the shantytowns of Caracas and other large cities of Venezuela.

All of this, on its own, represented a major achievement, especially in a country like Venezuela, where unfortunately most of the people were not used to grassroots community organization and development.

Moreover, President Chavez also suggested that Bolivarian Circle members had to carry on a civic duty as well.

By this, President Chavez meant that members were in charge of learning and teaching their constitutional rights and responsibilities. Members of Bolivarian Circles thereby became the common defenders of the Venezuelan Constitution. Even though the Venezuelan Constitution was ratified and voted on, and for, by almost 80% of the voting population in the National Referendum of 1999, this Constitution was outlawed by the 48-hour government that presided Venezuela after the April 11th military-civilian coup.

Venezuela's Bolivarian Circle members then put into practice all the civic and community training they had obtained in previous years and implemented an active demonstration that ultimately allowed, not only President Chavez back in office, but also the Venezuelan Constitution to freely reign in a country meant to be free by its brave people.

The immediate reaction of the Venezuelan opposition was to demonize the Bolivarian Circles.

After all, the Bolivarian Circles were the ones that rescued and guaranteed democracy in Venezuela. Opposition leaders and followers accused Bolivarian Circles of being armed and practitioners of terrorism. The Venezuelan and international media, major allies of the Venezuelan opposition, did their job by conveying such false messages through newspapers, radio, and television broadcasts. In the end, these poor grassroots Bolivarian Circles, with their limited resources and inefficient public relations, had to compete for public approval against major media corporations worldwide.

This was a remake of David and Goliath, Venezuelan style.

What makes such media reaction even more irrational, if not laughable, is that in neighboring Colombia a somewhat similar program was created, yet television, radio, and newspapers said nothing to criticize it. Indeed, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe also encouraged Colombian citizens to organize themselves at a community level. However, contrary to Chavez' community improvement and civics-oriented call, Uribe's own Red de Informantes (Informants Network) pretended to align, engulf, and engage poor Colombian peasants into a war with no end in sight.

As a matter of fact, while governor of Colombia's Antioquia State, Uribe developed a similar program, CONVIVIR, and its results were disastrous for poor countryside people. Indeed, Colombian and international human rights activists condemned CONVIVIR as nothing less than an institutionalized program for the "paramilitarization" of civilians. According to these human rights groups, Uribe's CONVIVIR did absolutely nothing positive for the improvement of the needy.

Where was the international media when it was time to criticize Uribe's Red de Informantes?

Why were the Bolivarian Circles evaluated by different standards than the Red de Informantes?

International media needs to answer these questions, for otherwise its credibility will suffer tremendously. Also, Colombian citizens should confront and oppose President Uribe's aggressive programs, as well as Colombian and international media, for looking the other way, thereby allowing such climate of confrontation to take place in Colombia.

In Venezuela, on the other hand, Bolivarian Circles have not been given the opportunity to show their true meaning.

The Venezuelan opposition as well as the Venezuelan and international media have stopped the Bolivarian Circles from presenting their humanitarian character.

• Nonetheless, with or without Chavez in office, Bolivarian Circles will continue their quest to improve conditions in Venezuela at a community level.

President Chavez did fulfill his campaign promise of providing the tools for self-help and political awareness ... he planted the seeds ... and future generations, as well as history, will one day appreciate such generous actions.

Alvaro Sanchez was born in Venezuela and is a middle school teacher in Miami. He is a graduate of the State University of New York – Albany. He is currently working on his Master’s Degree in Latin American history.  You may email him at a2000@rocketmail.com

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  

<a href=www.falkland-malvinas.com>MercoPress News Agency Mercosur Falklands-Malvinas Friday, 18 April

The Venezuelan Government and opposition reached an agreement for the Calling of a revocatory referendum sometime after August 19 when President Hugo Chávez will have completed half of his six year term, announced Mr. Fernando Jaramillo head of the Organization of American States, OAS, delegation that is mediating in the extended civil and political conflict.

United States praised the agreement and said it was confident that Venezuela, --one of its main oil suppliers--, would soon overcome the political crisis going to the polls.

The agreement opens the way for a “voting” solution to the almost chaotic situation that Venezuela is confronting for over a year following the frustrated coup attempt (April11/02) that triggered street fighting with 19 dead and over 300 wounded when pro-government mobs opened fire on an opposition protest march.

However even when the OAS delegate was announcing the terms of agreement, President Chavez in a press conference with foreign correspondents in Government House was saying he wanted a “true dialogue with authentic political leaders”.

“Let’s hope these negotiations advance, because they actually didn’t start well. Those sitting at the table are representatives of coup sponsors and not political figures of relevance”, said Mr. Chavez.

The Venezuelan president was also critical of the “Friends of Venezuela” group that was created at the beginning of the year to support OAS mediation efforts. The group is formed by United States, Mexico, Spain, Brazil, Chile and Portugal.

“I’d say the group has failed, but at least they’ve tried and now they know which is Venezuela’s president”, stressed Mr. Chavez who is accused by the opposition of promoting class division and attempting to impose a Cuban style regime.

The August referendum solution is the second agreement reached between government and opposition delegates. At the beginning of the year both sides signed a document condemning violence and favoring peace.

Mr. Jaramillo said both sides are committed to the participation in the revocatory referendum next August.

However according to the Venezuelan constitution a mid term referendum on the Executive can only take place if 20% of the Electoral roll agrees and supports the initiative. That is 2,5 million of the 11 million Venezuelan voters.

Both sides also agreed to the naming of an “impartial” National Electoral Council as soon as possible to guarantee the transparency of the whole signatures collection effort and the August voting. Ruling legislators that have majority in Congress anticipated they would not impede the process.

The opposition is confident about reaching the required number of signatures since last February it managed to collect “four million signatures”.

Overall the agreement is a victory for Mr. Chavez and his followers who all the time argued that no referendum could be convened until after the president’s mid term. The opposition had unsuccessfully insisted that elections had to be held before August 2003.

Venezuela’s major business organizations and trade unions organized a strike that extended from last December to February in an attempt to force president Chavez resignation and new elections. They failed but the economy suffered greatly with the stoppage of oil production, (the country’s main source of income), and Venezuela was left in the verge of defaulting.

MERCOPRESS is a news agency concentrating in Mercosur countries which operates from Montevideo, Uruguay, and includes in its area of influence the South Atlantic and insular territories.

E-mail: merco@mercopress.com - Web technical help: webmaster@mercopress.com

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Tuesday, April 15, 2003 By: Bob Dang

VHeadline.com reader Bob Dang writes: Hi, I'm a Canadian University student, who just wanted to say that i think your President Hugo Chavez is a great man.

I just watched an Irish documentary called: Chavez inside the coup.

If you have not seen this documentary, I highly recommend it, for in it lies the truth.

I was wondering if you could recommend it to be played on the state-owned channel in Venezuela (channel 8). I really hope that Venezuelans come to realize that Chavez is for the people ... he wants to distribute the wealth back to where it belongs: you.

These social reforms require a vast amount of capital ... capital that can only be gained with the new hydrocarbon bill coming into effect (i.e. the dismantling of PDVSA).

• I hope your country finds the stability, security and riches that it's people deserve.

Have a good day and thank-you for reading my e-mail.

Bob Dang freshjive112@rogers.com

Forums

Referendum 2003 discuss the pros and cons of a revocatory referendum

President Hugo Chavez Frias express your opinions on the Presidency of Hugo Chavez Frias and his Bolivarian Revolution

Bolivarian Circles Are Bolivarian Circles a Venezuelan form of Neighborhood Watch Committees or violent hordes of pro-Chavez thugs?

Venezuela's Opposition What is it? Is a force to be reckoned with or in complete disarray?

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

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Sunday, April 13, 2003 By: David Coleman

President Hugo Chavez Frias has promised to reconcile a deeply divided Venezuelan population as he celebrated the first anniversary of his return to power after the brief and unsuccessful opposition coup d'etat in April 2002 which served as a prelude to bitter feuding and an equally unsuccessful two-month labor-business stoppage aimed at forcing his democratically-elected government out of power.

The celebration came amid heightened tensions after a bomb blast at the central Caracas venue where government and opposition have just concluded final phases in protracted negotiations on legal procedures leading up to a revocatory referendum which may be launched mid-August with the election itself perhaps as early as December.

Chavez Frias had presided over the closing ceremony of an international forum supporting his Bolivarian Revolution with thousands of supporters thronging the streets outside. Speaking to international wire service reporters, one of the President's supporters described the events of last April 11 as "terrible for the country ... thank God that it was possible to restore democracy just two days later!"

Chavez Frias had been taken prisoner by right-wing extremist military officers who had had the support of the United States of America to install business leader Pedro Carmona as a "transitional" President of the Republic.  Once he was sworn in, however, Carmona Estanga proceeded to take upon himself dictatorial powers and immediately decreed the dissolution of  the National Assembly, Supreme Court and the nation's 1999 Constitution.

Although privately-owned TV channels had implemented a news black-out as the inevitable reversal of Carmona Estanga's fortunes came, hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans converged on the Miraflores Presidential Palace demanding Chavez Frias' return ... they were told he had resigned and was being flown to Cuba ... but he was quickly located to an offshore military base at La Orchila and flew back home by helicopter to retake the Presidency in the early hours of April 14.

Carmona Estanga has since evaded trial for his part in the failed coup d'etat, escaping from house arrest to flee to the Colombian embassy from whence he was afforded asylum in Bogota.  Another coup leader, Trade Unions boss Carlos Ortega recently went fugitive before holing up at the Costa Rica embassy in Caracas to gain asylum in San Jose, and Carmona Estanga's replacement at the head of the Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce & Industry (Fedecamaras) has flown to the United States on the pretext of needing urgent medical attention for high blood pressure...

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the Organization of American States (OAS) had announced, Friday, that agreement had been reached to "pave the way for a midterm referendum" on Chavez' Presidential mandate which had been on the table since the nation's 1999 Constitution was ratified in a national referendum, December 1998.  OAS Secretary General Cesar Gaviria says an agreement is to be signed after Easter, although Executive Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel says the agreement must first pass the formality of Executive approval.

Chavez Frias was elected to a 6-year term in 2000, accusing traditional elitists of opposing his plans to equitably distribute Venezuela's oil riches to millions of Venezuelans who have been held in abject poverty through more than 40 years of politically and economically mis-managed pseudo-democracy since the overthrow of the last military dictatorship.

Disenfranchised business and labor mafia leaders have accused Chavez Frias of imposing an authoritarian regime where they must pay regular taxes and agree to a series of judicial, land and labor reforms that would be considered self-evident elsewhere.

The main thrust of the OAS document, forced the disloyal opposition to play by Constitutional rules they have ignored with impunity for the last four years, while Chavez Frias will accept the fact that if the democratic will of the people is that he should leave office, he will do so, handing over to a democratically elected successor as prescribed in Constitutional regulations ... "I'm sure that we will win any referendum, but if the people choose that I should go, I have no other option but to obey the people," Chavez Frias has said.

Meanwhile the privately-owned opposition media is unrelenting in its anti-government propaganda hyping up theories that Saturday's bombing, which destroyed three floors of the Teleport building at Plaza Venezuela was intended to intimidate the opposition while, for its part, government sources were claiming that blame should be apportioned to "coup-plotting sectors of the opposition."

Referendum 2003 discuss the pros and cons of a revocatory referendum

President Hugo Chavez Frias express your opinions on the Presidency of Hugo Chavez Frias and his Bolivarian Revolution

Bolivarian Circles Are Bolivarian Circles a Venezuelan form of Neighborhood Watch Committees or violent hordes of pro-Chavez thugs?

Venezuela's Opposition What is it? Is a force to be reckoned with or in complete disarray?

1. Los suscritos miembros de la Mesa de Negociación y Acuerdos, representantes del Gobierno Nacional y de las fuerzas políticas y sociales que lo apoyan, así como de las organizaciones políticas y de la sociedad civil que conforman la Coordinadora Democrática, suscribimos el presente acuerdo con el espíritu de encontrar el camino de la concordia para el desarrollo del país. Para ello reiteramos los principios que nos trajeron a esta mesa entre los cuales queremos destacar la voluntad que ambas partes tenemos para que los problemas de Venezuela puedan ser resueltos por los Venezolanos, y nuestra convicción de la necesidad de encontrar una solución constitucional, pacífica, democrática y electoral.

2. Ambas partes expresamos nuestra total adhesión y respeto a la Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela. En su respeto, y al régimen legal que la desarrolla, se basa la prevalencia del Estado de Derecho. La Constitución contempla un conjunto de valores y normas para expresar los principios fundamentales de convivencia social y política, y establece los mecanismos de solución de diferencias. Cualquier cambio para atender las experiencias del proceso político que se ha vivido debe ser hecho dentro de sus normas y de una manera preferentemente consensuada por los actores y protagonistas políticos de la vida pública venezolana, respetando los principios de pluralidad y proporcionalidad en la participación de las fuerzas políticas.

3. Ambas partes somos conscientes de que en el momento histórico que vivimos es necesario ponerse de acuerdo sobre lo fundamental para garantizar una democracia pluralista y vigorosa donde continuemos teniendo espacio para todos y donde la justicia social, la tolerancia, la igualdad de oportunidades, el estado de derecho y la convivencia democrática sean los valores esenciales. Tenemos conciencia de que hay que colocar esos valores más allá de la controversia política y partidista. Muy especialmente estimamos que tales valores deben redefinirse y profundizarse en una serie de políticas públicas que se dirijan a áreas concretas como salud, educación, seguridad ciudadana, administración de justicia, seguridad social, desarrollo económico, empleo y vivienda.

4. En la presente circunstancia queremos expresar que estamos convencidos de que Venezuela y el pueblo venezolano continuarán transitando el camino democrático con sentido de hermandad, respeto por las convicciones de cada venezolano y voluntad de reconciliación.

5. Somos conscientes de que es necesario consolidar en nuestra sociedad una modalidad de pluralismo en la que sea posible el ejercicio de la política por todos los actores de la vida nacional. Venezuela necesita el concurso de todos para continuar su camino en paz y en democracia, de modo que cada quien exprese sus ideas, asuma sus posiciones y tome decisión entre las distintas opciones que políticamente se le ofrecen.

6. El Gobierno y las Fuerzas Políticas y sociales que lo apoyan, y las organizaciones políticas y de la sociedad civil representadas por la Coordinadora Democrática expresan su adhesión a los principios consagrados en la Carta Democrática Interamericana, que declara el derecho de los pueblos a vivir en democracia y la obligación de los Gobiernos y todos los ciudadanos de promoverla y defenderla. Ambos sectores comparten los valores allí consignados, como aquellos según los cuales al poder no puede accederse sino con sujeción al estado de derecho; la celebración de elecciones libres justas y transparentes; y la separación e independencia de los poderes públicos; la democracia representativa que se refuerza y enriquece con la participación permanente, ética y responsable de la ciudadanía, en un marco de legalidad; el estricto respeto a los derechos humanos, a los derechos de los trabajadores, a la libertad de expresión, de información y de prensa, a la eliminación de todas las formas de discriminación e intolerancia. Ambas partes también reconocen las estrechas relaciones entre la democracia y la lucha contra la pobreza, entre la democracia y el desarrollo, y entre la democracia y la prevalencia de los derechos humanos.

7. Ambas partes manifestamos nuestra adhesión a los principios de la Carta de la OEA; al derecho internacional como norma de conducta de los estados en sus relaciones reciprocas; al respeto a la soberanía y a la no-intervención; a la autodeterminación de los pueblos; a la igualdad jurídica de todos los estados; y a la solución pacífica de las controversias.

8. Las partes signatarias de este Acuerdo ratificamos la vigencia y nuestra plena adhesión y compromiso con la “Declaración contra la Violencia por la Paz y la Democracia’’ suscrita el 18 de Febrero del 2003, la cual debe considerarse como parte integrante de este Acuerdo.

9. Ambas partes coincidimos plenamente en que el monopolio del uso de la fuerza por parte de la Fuerza Armada Nacional, y policías metropolitanas, estadales y municipales, es una prerrogativa fundamental e indeclinable en la lucha contra la violencia y en la de asegurar la esencia de un Estado democrático. La función de los órganos policiales será dirigida por las autoridades civiles que ejercen su mando conforme lo disponen la Constitución y la Ley, para lo cual se deberá dar cabal cumplimiento a las disposiciones legales y a las decisiones judiciales que regulan las labores de Coordinación de Seguridad Ciudadana. En todo caso los cuerpos de policía y cualquier otro organismo de seguridad con competencias nacionales, estadales o municipales, no deberán utilizarse como instrumentos de represión arbitraria o desproporcionada, así como tampoco para ejecutar acciones que impliquen intolerancia política.

10. Las partes nos comprometemos a adelantar, con el apoyo de las instituciones del Grupo Tripartito Internacional, una vigorosa campaña de desarme efectivo de la población civil, basada en la ley aprobada en la Asamblea Nacional, y con el apoyo y la observación de instituciones internacionales, sin menoscabo de nuestra soberanía nacional. Las partes seguiremos las conclusiones de la Mesa de Diálogo realizada por la Asamblea Nacional para un diseño concertado sobre el desarme de la Población Civil.

11. Exhortamos a las fracciones políticas representadas en la Asamblea Nacional a concluir la Ley para la conformación de la Comisión de la Verdad, a fin de que la misma coadyuve en el esclarecimiento de los sucesos de Abril de 2002 y coopere con los órganos judiciales para que se establezcan las debidas responsabilidades y se sancione a los culpables.

12. En la búsqueda de una salida electoral a la situación política que ha vivido el país y como lo señala la síntesis operativa, las partes después de una discusión profunda sobre el tema, hemos avanzado en el presente acuerdo en que, tal y como lo expresa la Constitución de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela, se prevé la eventual celebración de un referendo revocatorio del mandato del Presidente de la República, si así se solicita por el número exigido de electores y se aprueba por el nuevo Consejo Nacional Electoral, una vez que se establezca que se han cumplido los requerimientos constitucionales y legales. Para este propósito, hemos estimado importante aclarar algunos aspectos para que el mecanismo contenido en el Art. 72 de la Constitución pueda ser aplicado de la manera más transparente y eficaz posible, sin perturbaciones o interferencias de ningún sector, sea del Gobierno o de la oposición.

13. Ambas partes asumimos que tal y como lo decidió el Tribunal Supremo de Justicia, por medio de su Sala Constitucional en sentencia del día 13 de febrero de 2003, la mitad del período presidencial se cumple el 19 de agosto de 2003.

14. Las dos partes coincidimos en que resulta indispensable contar a la brevedad posible con un árbitro electoral a ser designado en la forma prevista en la Constitución, sin menoscabo de las decisiones judiciales, que ofrezca garantías de imparcialidad y transparencia en cualquier proceso electoral y referendario. En ese sentido, se considera muy importante el trabajo que se está adelantando en la Asamblea Nacional. Las dos Partes manifestamos nuestra disposición a coadyuvar como factor de entendimiento en todo lo referente a la conformación y operatividad del Árbitro Electoral, sin interferir en el proceso normal que se está llevando a cabo por el poder legislativo nacional. Se dispuso mantener una vinculación estrecha con el proceso de designación de la nueva Directiva del CNE y prestar el apoyo y la asistencia que se consideren necesarios, con el objeto de agilizar todas las instancias operativas del órgano electoral.

15. Desde el comienzo de la Mesa de Negociación y Acuerdos las dos Partes hemos manifestado, en reiteradas oportunidades, nuestra inquietud por la necesidad de crear un clima político y electoral apropiado. Las partes hemos decidido que en las presentes circunstancias la manera más eficiente de contribuir a mejorar el clima político y electoral es a través de acuerdos en la Mesa.

16. Las dos partes estamos comprometidas con la libertad de expresión, tal como esta consagrada en nuestras normas constitucionales, legales y en la Carta Democrática Interamericana. Las dos partes nos proponemos trabajar con los medios de comunicación públicos y privados, para promover su identificación con los propósitos enunciados en este documento y en la Declaración contra la violencia y por la paz y la democracia, particularmente en lo que hace relación a la desactivación de la violencia y sobre su papel de informar a los ciudadanos sobre las opciones políticas con un sentido de equidad e imparcialidad.

17. En lo referente a la financiación por parte del Estado de los referendos revocatorios, los representantes del Gobierno han manifestado el compromiso de éste de disponer de todos los recursos necesarios para que los mismos se lleven a cabo oportunamente, siempre y cuando se cumpla con todos los requisitos legales que las normas establecen. En lo referente al Plan República, igualmente se hace énfasis en que si todo el procedimiento se ajusta al ordenamiento legal, los órganos competentes del Estado estarán en disposición de activar dicho plan ante la solicitud de las autoridades electorales, en los mismos términos y condiciones en que habitualmente ha sido ejecutado en procesos electorales anteriores. Los miembros de la Mesa elaborarán una comunicación formal conjunta dirigida a las autoridades que correspondiera, haciendo referencia a este punto de una manera clara una vez el CNE haga las solicitudes correspondientes.

18. La OEA, el Centro Carter y las Naciones Unidas, han manifestado su disposición para prestar la asistencia técnica que les sea requerida por el Poder Electoral de la República Bolivariana de Venezuela para la realización de cualquier tipo de consulta electoral. Esta asistencia técnica podría incluir desde las actividades preparatorias o preelectorales hasta las actividades propias de observación electoral. En lo referente al apoyo directo que se le puede prestar al CNE, es importante resaltar la voluntad de colaboración, tanto con recursos humanos como materiales, que estas tres organizaciones han ofrecido.

19. Se acuerda entrar en relación inmediata con la Directiva del CNE competente, dentro del propósito que asiste a esta Mesa, cual es fortalecer el Sistema Electoral venezolano, coadyuvando en la identificación de las áreas en las que se requeriría apoyo internacional.

20. La fecha en la que debería realizarse el eventual referendo revocatorio del mandato del Presidente de la República, una vez cumplidos los requisitos legales y constitucionales pertinentes, la determinará el CNE en los plazos correspondientes según las previsiones del artículo 184 de la Ley del Sufragio y Participación Política, sin ningún tipo de demora que afecte su realización. En tal sentido ambas partes aceptamos que dicha ley regirá la realización del mencionado referendo y la misma no será modificada en las normas que regulan los procesos referendarios.

21. Las partes convienen en que la Mesa de Negociación y Acuerdos seguirá tratando una serie de temas aun no resueltos, los cuales son inherentes o conexos con los aquí tratados, así como también continuará haciendo el seguimiento operativo y la instrumentación de los puntos contenidos en este segundo acuerdo, a los fines de lograr su concreción.

22. La OEA, el Centro Carter y el PNUD, conforme a sus respectivos mandatos, y con base en lo estipulado en la síntesis operativa desarrollarán un papel de garantes del presente acuerdo. El facilitador estará a disposición de las partes para apoyarlas en el desarrollo de los acuerdos o para dilucidar cualquier diferencia que pueda surgir para su cabal cumplimiento.