CARACAS, Tuesday April 18, 2006 | Update
Foreign Affairs minister Alí Rodríguez Araque Tuesday
labeled as "nonsense" the claims that Venezuelan stance to
support Iranian nuclear projects for peaceful purposes could
be rewarded in the future with a provision of nuclear missiles,
Efe reported.
Venezuela negotiations to purchase weapons abroad "are completely
transparent and public," and "with Iran we have not reached
any agreement on this subject matter," Rodríguez Araque
told official news agency ABN.
He reminded that the Venezuelan stance on the nuclear issue
is favoring the phase out of all massive destructive weapons
worldwide. Rodríguez Araque underscored that Iran is
the target of "intensive propaganda intended to make it look
like a black beast."
The diplomat argued the United States is sponsoring such
a smear campaign against Iran. Further, he slashed out at
Washington for declining extradition of Venezuelans charged
with terrorist activities before and during Hugo Chávez'
Government.
Rodríguez Araque also rejected recent attacks by pro-government
activists against US ambassador William Brownfield, but accused
the US envoy of provoking such situations, as he visited low-income
areas without prior consultation with Venezuelan authorities.
Additionally, Rodríguez Araque claimed that Mexican
presidential candidates opposed to left-wing hopeful Andrés
Manuel López Obrador, "are stubbornly trying to drag
Venezuela" to their electoral campaign, Efe reported.
"These gentlemen -Rodríguez Araque said referring to
Mexican presidential candidates Felipe Calderón and Roberto
Madrazo, but he did not mention their names- are stubbornly
trying to drag Venezuela to the electoral competence in the
United States of Mexico."
"We have maintained a scrupulous stance regarding electoral
issues in others countries, but every time we are attacked,
we are to respond accordingly," he added.
04:20 PM. Western Hemisphere. Colombian President Álvaro Uribe said on Tuesday that governments should ensure citizens' rights to live on the border, in reference to a political and diplomatic crisis with Venezuela and its effects on border residents.