CARACAS, Monday January 12, 2009 | Update
Politics
Former Spanish head of government José María Aznar
denounced on Monday in Chile the "increasing proximity" among
the presidents of Venezuela, Russia and Iran, which, in his
opinion, try "to enter into alliances to combat what they
view as their common foe, that is, free nations."
(Venezuelan President Hugo) "Chávez, (Russian president
Dmitri) Medvedev and the Ayatollahs' system" are political
models of "nations where freedoms have dramatically moved
backward and they try to get united against free nations based
on democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights,"
said Aznar, Efe quoted.
Aznar made these remarks before students and scholars at
the University of Chile during the opening of the Program
of Chilean Young Leaders. The event, to be held until Wednesday,
gathers 60 Latin American young people.
The chair of the Foundation for Analysis and Social Studies
(FAES) noted that there is in Latin America "a political project
based on an ideological renewed edition of the hardest-core
Marxism intended to dismantle liberal democracy."
01:11 PM.
Economy.
Domestic inflation rate in Venezuela was 1.7 percent in January, at the same rate as in December 2009, despite currency devaluation at the start of the year decreed by President Hugo Chávez, a senior government source told Reuters on Tuesday.