Interview with Adan Chavez, Venezuelan Ambassador
to Cuba
By Juan Diego Nusa Penalver
AIN Special Service
Still reeling from a series of
crushing electoral defeats the Venezuelan opposition is also
mourning the third anniversary of its failed coup against President
Hugo Chavez on Monday.
According to Ambassador Adan Chavez, White House
involvement in the coup and its previous and subsequent
destabilization tactics have less to do with the Venezuelan
government's popular social programs than with the White House
thirst to control the South American nation's oil and gas reserves.
Washington's no holds barred assault on the Chavez
administration has included media campaigns, work stoppages at the
oil industry, as well as the classical April 11, 2002 coup in the
style of those executed to install military dictatorships throughout
the region in the 1960s and 1970s.
In an exclusive interview with AIN News Agency, the
Venezuelan ambassador to Havana gives readers an inside look at
those event:
AIN: What experience or lessons did the Bolivarian
Revolution (the struggle of the Venezuelan people for true
independence and self-determination) learned from the failed April
11, 2002 coup staged against President Hugo Chavez?
Ambassador Chavez: Firstly, we must admit that we
were taken by surprise. We have learned our lesson and the
Venezuelan people are organized in such a manner that, three years
after those regrettable events, the government is stronger and the
process of social change underway has picked up considerable
momentum. Such strength is part of our readiness to face any similar
actions, or the recently denounced assassination plots against the
Venezuelan president.
Our people are well aware that defending the
Bolivarian Revolution means being prepared for any type of US
intervention, since it is no secret that the Venezuelan opposition
had the direct support of Washington in the planning and financing
of the April 11, 2002 coup. We want to maintain our relations with
the Bush administration, but we demand respect for the fundamental
principle of self-determination of all nations.
AIN-: For many journalists the April 11 coup took
on a fascist nature...
Ambassador Chavez-: Have no doubts about it; it was
an action by far right circles as evidenced by their behavior during
the few hours they were in power. They persecuted the
constitutional government's leaders and representatives of the
forces that were leading the changes taking place in the country.
Just recall the kidnapping of the minister of Interior and Justice,
Congressman Tarek William Saab, and how they murdered innocent
people. Then they unleashed repressive actions when the people took
to the streets to demand the return of their kidnapped president.
The first decree announced by self-proclaimed president Mr. Pedro
Carmona was to wipe out all constitutional rights. In one fell swoop
they tried to wipe out a democratic state.
The Venezuelan Revolution has touched upon
important US interests, since it opposes neo-liberal economic
policies and has fought and will continue to fight for the country's
sovereignty, the authentic freedom of nations and for a multi-polar
world. These goals run contrary to the objectives of the superpower
which intends to keep Latin America and the Caribbean as its own
backyard.
AIN: The Bush administration believes it has the
right to question Caracas'sovereign decision to purchase military
equipment from Russia for its national defense.
Ambassador Chavez-: They do not have the moral
authority to speak of a supposed arms buildup by the Venezuelan
Government, which has made it clear that it has not the slightest
intention in that regards.
However, as part of the rights of all governments,
we are replacing obsolete weapons with modern military equipment,
and that explains the purchase from Russia (some 100,000 AKM
rifles), which are needed by our Armed Forces.
Venezuela wants peace, it does not want war with
anyone, and we want to keep good relations with the US and all
governments in the world. However, we will not allow anybody to step
on us and take us by surprise as happened in April 2002. We maintain
excellent relations with all our neighbors and have no intention to
attack anybody. Nonetheless, our people and the country's armed
forces are ready to repel any attack whatever the source.
AIN-: What is the current state of the changes
occurring in Venezuela?
Ambassador Chavez-: Venezuela is living at a
highpoint. There's still a long way to go, but I do not have the
slightest doubt that we are on the right path. You can see the
support of the Venezuelan people for their national government, a
support that grows stronger every day. You can also see our
achievements in social areas by the implementation of programs which
we call missions. These have been designed to pay off the huge
social debt that accumulated under previous administrations.
In concluding, I would like to take advantage of
this interview to thank then Cuban people and their government for
their support, since they have played a vital role in our
achievements in public health, education and sports; achievements we
can already show the
world.
