www.vheadline.com Posted: Thursday, February 13, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Accion Democratica (AD) general secretary Rafael Marin has thrown down the gauntlet and says he will not resign, despite a letter from 22 of 25 regional secretaries. Instead, Marin has asked them to resign for “acting like Chavists.”

Marin has lashed out at his colleagues during a press conference, challenging them to hold internal elections to see who is the real leader. “I’m sure that if we held a signature campaign in the party, I would win … I was elected by party grassroots.” His opponents, Marin claims, are nothing but party gravediggers, promoting his political assassination.

It has been learned that AD executive committee (CEN) has postponed a meeting to decide the future of Marin, who has ignored the party line of seeking a political solution to the crisis. Marin says he prefers fighting the government on the streets with AD “shock troops,” which he is said to have commanded for several years.

• The national executive must obtain two-thirds majority to shed Marin of his post.

Marin says he intends to restore AD to its former glory and rescue its image internationally … "we cannot and should not sit down for talks with anyone from this government." Criticizing party president Henry Ramos Allup, Marin says he would never have met Brazilian President Lula da Silva’s envoy like Ramos Allup did.

sg.biz.yahoo.com Friday February 14, 11:46 PM

CARACAS -(Dow Jones)- Unemployment in Venezuela will rise as high as 27% as more businesses cut production of goods subject to price controls the government has recently introduced, Lope Mendoza, president of the country's biggest federation of industry chambers, Conindustria, said Friday.

"Without any doubt, the price controls will lead to shortages and, more seriously, increased unemployment," Mendoza said on local radio.

Unemployment currently stands at about 17%, according to the government. Private estimates put it closer to 20%.

As reported, the government last week introduced price controls on essentials along with restrictions on foreign currency purchases.

With the price controls, the increasingly unpopular President Hugo Chavez's government is trying to hold down the costs of basic goods which would otherwise shoot up as a result of the currency controls.

That's because Venezuela imports more than 60% of everything it consumes, and the currency restrictions make it harder to buy goods overseas, increasing costs.

But analysts have said the strategy will fail because businesses won't sell anything unprofitable, and that will only lead to shortages of price-controlled goods, and a thriving black market for those who can afford to pay for imports.

(MORE) Dow Jones Newswires

02-14-03 1009ET

Local manufacturers are also seen similarly affected.

Quoting a survey of 35 suppliers of price-controlled essentials, Luis Leon, director of local pollster Datanalisis, said Friday on local radio that manufacturers plan to cut production by an average of a third due to the price controls.

This will lead to a 50% decline in sales, according to the poll.

That in turn is seen likely to further affect gross domestic product, which is estimated to contract more than 30% this year.

-By Jehan Senaratna, Dow Jones Newswires; 58 212 564 1339; jehan.senaratna@dowjones.com

www.forbes.com Reuters, 02.14.03, 5:44 PM ET CARACAS, Venezuela, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Venezuela signed deals with international energy firms on Friday to develop two offshore natural gas fields in a bid to diversify its strike-hit oil reliant economy. U.S. oil major ChevronTexaco (nyse: CVX - news - people) and Norway's Statoil <STL.OL> signed agreements to explore and produce Blocks 2 and 4 in waters in the northeastern Deltana region, bordering fields in gas rich Trinidad and Tobago. The deals come as the world's No. 5 crude exporter struggles to restart its oil industry, which normally provides half of state revenue. The oil sector has been crippled by a 10-week strike against President Hugo Chavez by employees of state oil firm Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), wreaking havoc on the already troubled economy. OPEC member Venezuela is seeking to lessen its dependence on oil by building a 4.7 million tonne per year liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal, to be fed in part by Deltana gas. Neighboring Trinidad's LNG project is one of the biggest in the Atlantic basin. "For Venezuela, this act... is a sign of victory," Chavez said at the signing ceremony on Friday. Venezuela could begin exporting LNG by 2008, oil minister Rafael Ramirez has said. Analysts say production of Deltana must begin quickly if the nation is to capture natural gas demand in its targeted market, the United States. Chevron offered a bonus of $19 million for Block 2, while Statoil will pay $32 million for Block 4. British oil major BP <BP.L> is negotiating separately for Deltana's Block 1. All firms will partner with PDVSA. The energy ministry rejected a $100,000 bid by French TotalFinaElf <TOTF.PA> for Deltana's Block 3, as the government said the offer did not satisfy "expectations".

www.vheadline.com Posted: Friday, February 14, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

Pressure is mounting on President Hugo Chavez Frias to cut the mustard and come up with proposals that would lead Venezuela out of the political crisis. Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorin kicked off the offensive two days ago, calling on Venezuelan Foreign Minister Roy Chaderton Matos to show some results.

According to one Brazilian newspaper, the Brazilian delegation attending the first Group of Friends meeting in Caracas is unhappy with the lack of results, especially the government’s failure to draw up an electoral timetable.

Chaderton Matos has told reporters that he is waiting for the President Hugo Chavez Frias’ approval before announcing a formal commitment.

Meanwhile in Spain, Basque Nationalist Party spokesman, Inaki Anasagasti (born in Venezuela) has urged Spain to adopt a more aggressive attitude and insist on a gesture from the government.

Organization of American States (OAS) general secretary Cesar Gaviria has added his voice to the growing chorus urging both sides to agree to a pact of non-aggression with corresponding mechanisms to enforce the agreement.

It now appears that the opposition has opted for a recall referendum in August as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution.

www.vheadline.com Posted: Friday, February 14, 2003 By: Helena Russell

Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 09:52:38 -0500 From: Helena Russell hrussell@alimentausa.com To: Editor@VHeadline.com Subject: I can't believe you are so blind.

Dear Dr. West: I can't believe you are so blind. I am a Venezuelan living in the US because I wanted a better life for my children and now married to an American.

I will admit that the US and the Americans are not perfect, but this is still the best place in the world to live in and raise a family.

I will also admit that many Americans don't know what they have here and how things are in the rest of the world.  But instead of belittling them, I am educating them so they can appreciate the American way of life and the possibilities and advantages they have here.

If you think that the Chavez family is genuinely sincere you have been blindfolded.  He is the biggest egotist and selfish person (only after Castro and many other dictators).

I will admit that many of the Venezuelan Presidents before him also leeched Venezuela, but he is doing it a hundred times worse.

With the situation as it is in Venezuela, he is leaving for Asia on his multimillion airplane and several cronies with their families instead of remaining in Venezuela to take care of business!  He cares very little for Venezuela or the Venezuelans; he is only interested in what he personally can gain.

If you understand enough Spanish (which I don't know if you do), you can see beyond his spoken words and would not be deceived, as you have no doubt been.

Sincerely, Helena (Montes) Russell hrussell@alimentausa.com