February 4th
Address to the nation

* During a commemoration ceremony of February 4th, 1992, President Hugo Chávez noted that date split the Venezuelan history into two. "It was like a thunderbolt that enlightened the darkness. Venezuela was sinking."

* He paraphrased his Cuban counterpart Fidel Castro, "the history will absolve us" for the failed coup led by him on February 4th, 1992. "People will absolve us, let us come true the dream of the people for the events to be worthwhile."

* Chávez claimed that in the military parade on Sunday a "quite different" army was displayed, compared with the armed forces 30 years ago. "It is a united army, an army full of patriotic vocation, that has retaken vigorously (Liberator Simón) Bolívar's flag, Bolívar's concept, Bolívar's project."
 
* He insisted on pointing to the armed forces commitment to the project led by him. "He, who has eyes, let him see; he, who has ears, let him listen. We, Venezuelan soldiers, are committed to building of the 21st Century socialism. It is the only way to help our homeland most sublime dream come true -the dream of Bolivarian socialism, Christian socialism, Native-American socialism. We are going in that direction."

* "Revolution is peaceful, yet not disarmed." The head of state addressed to the military march in Los Próceres promenade: "These weapons are in your hands, patriots, to enforce the people's mandate, which is heading for the 21st Century Socialism."

* The events of "these 15 years are just the prelude of what will happen in Venezuela, where a true revolution has just started. Socialism is the only way. Greater things will happen with the course of time. Hence, I call to reinforce unity in the armed forces, the people and all nationalist trends. Unity, unity, unity! This should be our motto!"