Honduras President Manuel Zelaya expressed gratitude for the initiative of his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chávez to offer Honduras fuel at preferential prices to face a potential energy crisis, despite criticism by his foes who consider that the initiative could cause political troubles to the country, news agency AP reported.

"I appreciate President Chávez' words," Zelaya said, after the Venezuelan ruler praised his "courage."

"We have to make a recognition for his courage, because he has been saying that it is necessary to thank Venezuela's willingness to support poor peoples in Central America," Chávez said while making reference to other presidents who "made lousy, dirty, disgusting remarks. They say that I am buying the will with a checkbook. This is disrespect for peoples. We simply support the underprivileged."

Both presidents met las week in Austria after participating in the summit of the European Union and Latin America and the Caribbean.