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 News from Around the Americas | February 2007 
Chávez Lashes Out at Mexico
 El Universal
| | Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez speaks at a press conference at Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007. Chavez was granted Wednesday by lawmakers free rein to accelerate changes in broad areas of society by presidential decree — a move critics said propels Venezuela toward dictatorship. (AP/Leslie Mazoch) |
On the same day the Calderón administration took steps to ease rocky relations with Venezuela and Cuba, Venezuela´s Hugo Chávez on Thursday hurled personal insults at his Mexican counterpart.
Chávez´s ire was raised as he attacked Calderón for comments the latter made in Davos, Switzerland, last week criticizing countries that "nationalize industries" and "interfere in the market economy."
"He left a bad taste in my mouth, running around the world and talking badly about other countries while trying to present his country as a model," Chávez said.
Calderón used his appearance in Davos to promote Mexico as "a country that is ideal for foreign investment."
As Chávez responded to questions from reporters in Caracas, his anger became more apparent.
"I think that this little gentleman is a big ignoramus," he said, referring to Calderón as a "caballerito."
"Instead of taking shots at Venezuela´s economy, he ought to realize that poverty in Mexico is increasing," Chávez added.
The Venezuelan president then asked rhetorically, "Why do you think the United State wants to build a wall? Because they are determined to keep out the avalanche of desperate poor who want to get in."
Mexico and Venezuela froze their diplomatic relations in December 2005 after Chávez called then-President Vicente Fox "a lapdog of the empire" after Fox championed the U.S.-backed Free Trade Area of the Americas at the Americas Summit in Mar del Plata, Argentina.
The two nations removed their respective ambassadors and Mexico insists relations will not be restored until Chávez apologizes. Caracas has made clear that no apology is forthcoming.
During the presidential campaign last year, Calderón compared his main rival, Andrés Manuel López Obrador to Chávez, calling him "a danger to Mexico."
Before Chávez´s outburst on Thursday, the Foreign Relations Secretariat had removed its travel warning it issued for Mexicans traveling to Venezuela. The warning referred to "political instability" in Venezuela.
Also earlier on Thursday, Foreign Relations Secretary Patricia Espinosa had asserted Mexico´s desire to normalize relations with both Venezuela and Cuba.
Espinosa was in Vienna, meeting with her Austrian counterpart.
Before Chávez unleashed his verbal volley, senators here criticized Calderón for his anti-Venezuela comments while in Davos (although the president did not refer to Venezuela by name, it seemed clear to whom he was referring).
The senators urged the government to put an immediate end to the exchange of criticisms and work through diplomatic channels to restore the bilateral relations. |
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