October 8

* Venezuelan ambassador to Bolivia Julio Montes said his country is ready to defend Bolivian President Evo Morales' revolution with blood.

"If for any reason the beautiful Bolivian revolution was endangered and we were asked to give our blood and lives, we would," Montes said during an event with coca growers, La Paz-based La Razón newspapers said, as quoted by DPA.
 
The diplomat added that Venezuela is "ready to do what it takes in order to fight against the hypocrites of the United States."

"We are determined to fight drug traffic and drug addiction," he ensured. Montes made reference to the fact that the US is the world's largest drug consumer.

He ratified President Hugo Chávez' intention to help Bolivia in the industrialization of coca leaves.

"We have funds available. I think we should undertake the commitment to begin producing coca tea in December, and we will buy it all," Montes vowed.

October 9
* Venezuela and Bolivia initialed an agreement under which Caracas is helping La Paz to build some 20 military bases on its borders, but such a deal could hinder a likely Bolivian exit to the sea, Luis Gonzales Posada, the head of the Peruvian Congress Defense Committee, said in Lima.

Gonzales Posada told El Comercio newspaper that the Bolivia-Venezuela pact, initialed last May, "undermines the spirit of integration, is to cause suspicions and will affect Bolivia's exit to the sea," AFP reported.

"To say the least, this is an unusual atypical case in Latin America. Most cooperation agreements deal with economic support and promotion of development. But we had never heard of this kind of pact in the field of defense," he asserted.

"From the very moment this agreement was initialed, the Peruvian Foreign Affairs Ministry should have asked from the Bolivian Foreign Affairs Ministry information on this issue," he added.

The agreement "involves a clear interference of Venezuela in Bolivia," the parliamentarian underscored.

This issue has caused concern in Bolivia's neighbor countries. In fact, the Paraguayan Government asked for an explanation on the planned military bases. Bolivian President Evo Morales claimed that such premises are intended for the protection of natural resources.

The move "does not intend to offend, invade or bother anyone. We just want to defend our natural resources," which are subject to smuggling, Morales said in September.

* A military cooperation agreement entered into by Bolivia and Venezuela on the establishment of a base at the border between Bolivia and Chile put the Chilean Foreign Affairs Committee, Chamber of Deputies on the alert. They summoned both the Defense minister and the Foreign minister to brief on the impact of such move, AP reported.

An extensive report October 8 in daily El Mercurio shows the agreement executed last May 26th by Bolivian President Evo Morales and his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chávez. According to the story, the agreement provides for the establishment of military bases at the border between Bolivia and Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Chile.

The agreement sets forth improvement and upgrade of defense capabilities of the parties, organization of the armed forces, crisis management and disarmament and arms control.

The deal, a copy of which was gotten by AP ending September, was a matter of concern for Paraguay and Peru. For its part, the Chilean Government just refrained from issuing an opinion about Bolivia's dealings within its borders.

Nonetheless, the Foreign Affairs Committee, Chamber of Deputies, summoned for October 10th, Defense Minister Vivianne Blanlot and Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley.

Voting Venezuela would be "unthinkable"
Gutenberg Martínez, Alvear's husband and the chair of the American Christian Democrat Organization (ODCA), viewed as "unconceivable" that President Michelle Bachelet can vote Venezuela's for a temporary seat at the United Nations (UN) Security Council.

"I trust in Ms. President's wisdom. I think that all the arguments have been laid, and the rationale for voting against President Chávez is unbeatable," said Martínez during an interview released on October 8 by daily La Tercera.

* The major opposition force in Bolivia, Podemos, of rightwing ex President Jorge Quiroga, is to ask the Bolivian Government to declare Venezuelan ambassador to La Paz Julio Montes persona non grata for meddling into the country's internal affairs.

"If for any reason the beautiful Bolivian revolution were endangered and we were asked to give our blood and lives, we would," Montes said during an event with coca growers, AFP quoted.

The Venezuelan diplomat was in solidarity with leftist Bolivian President Evo Morales, who posit in the coca region of Chapare, "cato (an agrarian measure of 1,600 square meters) of coca or death. We will defend it here."

The ruler reacted in this way to the US request for Bolivia to get rid of the policy concerning "cato of coca" per family in Chapare and reduce to 5,000 hectares the area of coca by the end of this current year.

* Peruvian President Alan García, on visit to Washington, talked on October 9 about Venezuela, but he denied that his US counterpart George W. Bush asked him to lead a Latin American or South American front against Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez.

"No, because I would not accept it. We have not talked particularly about Venezuela or Mr. Hugo Chávez," he stressed.

García made this remark during a press conference when asked whether Bush had proposed him to join Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and Mexican-elect Felipe Calderón in a front against Chávez.

"This is a South American decision, a substantial issue that should be addressed in South America and Peru, not during a meeting in the Oval Office or before US reporters," he said during the press conference held in the Peruvian embassy.

October 10
* Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Nicolás Maduro called to stop an alleged smear campaign against Venezuela by sectors willing to undermine relations among the South American peoples and governments.

Maduro made his statements in reply to press reports claiming that some Chilean sectors were concerned about a military cooperation agreement between Venezuela and Bolivia.

In Maduro's view, "this campaign against Venezuela is funded and conducted by sectors in the United States Government. They are using intrigue, evil speaking, wickedness, and manipulation to provoke clashes among our peoples," the official news agency ABN quoted.

"The Chilean people and Government know that the Venezuelan Government is a friendly government," Maduro ensured.

He added that Venezuela has a very clear stance regarding its relations with other governments.

"With Bolivia, we are making efforts for development, for the peace of both peoples."

He ratified that "Venezuela is a country with an integrationist, pacifist tradition."

* Peru, like Chile, is worried about a military alliance between Venezuela and Bolivia. The Peruvian Congress summoned Foreign Minister José García Belaúnde to brief on the extent of such an agreement that has prompted "suspicions and mistrust," authorities in Lima said.

The Foreign Minister is to appear at the Parliament on October 10 in order to talk about the reports that were requested from Bolivia about a military alliance made with Venezuela last May, AFP quoted.

On his official visit to Bolivia last week, the Peruvian Foreign Minister discussed the matter with his Bolivian counterpart David Choquehuanca. Defense Minister Allan Wagner did the same with his Bolivian counterpart Walker San Miguel, during the Meeting of Defense Ministers of the Americas held recently in Nicaragua.

This agreement "is a matter of concern and has given rise to suspicions and mistrust," Luis Gonzales Posada, the chair of the Peruvian Congress Defense Committee, stated.

The lawmaker was worried about an agreement entered into by Venezuela and Bolivia on deployment under the Venezuelan aegis of 24 military bases at the border among Bolivia, Peru and Chile.

* Chilean President Michelle Bachelet said that a recent military pact entered into by Bolivia and Venezuela is within what is considered normal, but added that such a treaty should be known by neighboring countries.

Although the military agreement includes the building of about 20 military bases on Bolivian border with five South American countries, Bachelet said that it does not represent any threat to Chile's security.

"I do believe that these things should be clear, and that we should talk about them, because there is a large number of neighboring countries willing to know what it is about," Bachelet added.

* Sandinist dissident candidate running for Nicaraguan president Edmundo Jarquín accused Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez of "unacceptable" meddling in Nicaraguan elections in favor of candidate Daniel Ortega.

However, Jarquín acknowledged during a press conference Chávez' willingness to help lessen the impact of rising oil prices on the Nicaraguan economy.

In a letter addressed to the head of state last October 4th and disseminated on October 10 during the press conference, Jarquín made reference to the import of 80,000 gallons of diesel from Venezuela arriving last October 8 in Nicaragua, Efe quoted.

The sale of Venezuelan diesel at lower prices "is viewed as an operation of electoral propaganda on behalf of the Sandinist National Liberation Front (FSLN)," promoting Ortega's nomination.

* The major opposition force in Bolivia, Podemos, thinks that interference of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez endangers national democracy due to his continued comments about a potential coup, and fears that the move is laying the foundations for a "self-coup."

Podemos leader and speaker José Aruquipa said that government officials and aides to Bolivian President Evo Morales have echoed the recent claims of the Venezuelan ruler.

Last October 10, presidential speaker Alex Contreras stated during a press conference that the Bolivian Government was in possession of some reports in this regard.

"We have claimed from the very beginning of our administration, based on intelligence reports from the high military command, that the country was undergoing a process of conspiracy. Such conspiracy was funded by a multinational and supported by some business sectors. And we announced this on due time," Contreras explained.

"Chávez and Morales' claims of a coup are unacceptable. I expect such an insistence will be not a smokescreen to engage in a self-coup against democracy," Aruquipa told AP.

October 11
* Peruvian President Alan García warned that Bolivia's announced plans to build military bases on its border with Peru is an "unfriendly" move that is "offensive and causes discomfort," and branded as "grave" the fact that Venezuela is endorsing such Bolivian project.

García said that such a move would involve "a shift in our situation, a demonstration of distrust and, consequently, an unfriendly gesture," towards Peru, a country that has had historically close ties with Bolivia, the Peruvian ruler stressed, as reported by AFP.
 
He reasoned that "from Venezuela, we can expect anything under the current circumstances." Reference was made to the Venezuela-Bolivia military agreement under which Bolivia is to build a number of border military bases.

October 12
* Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Nicolás Maduro paid a working visit to Ecuador only four days ahead of the presidential election that is expected to be won by leftist Rafael Correa, a friend and follower of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, AFP reported.

Maduro met with his colleague Francisco Carrión to review their bilateral agenda, but his presence in Quito is causing great expectations because of the close links between Correa and Chávez. Such closeness has been a repeated issue in Correa's electoral campaign.

"We do not have to ask permission from anybody to seek rapprochement with a brother country such as Venezuela, and we will seek closer ties with all of the countries in the region, in the same spirit as (Liberator Simón) Bolívar," Correa said in a debate recently.

* Venezuelan Minister of Defense Raúl Baduel claimed that a cooperation agreement initialed with Bolivia, under which Caracas is to help La Paz build a number of military bases on the Bolivian borders, "is an instrument of mutual understanding" and "does not represent any danger for any neighbor country."

In a press release, Baduel clarified that such a military alliance intends to seek peace and stability in the hemisphere.  He stressed that the bilateral pact provides for "the construction of a fluvial port at the town of Puerto Quijarro." While he did not rule out the possibility to build a military base in Riberalta, north Bolivia, Baduel explained that such premises "are to accommodate Bolivian troops only."

* Foreign Affairs Minister Nicolás Maduro denied Venezuela is funding or backing the electoral campaign of any candidate for president, as some people have stated in Ecuador, reported on October 12 the local press.

"Our political process, lead by commander Hugo Chávez, is very respectful of every country's right to self-government because we have waged a war for sovereignty," stated Maduro to TV channel 2.

Critics of left-wing candidate Rafael Correa, who is leading polls, denounced without any evidence that the money to fund his campaign comes from Venezuela.

* Salvadorian President Antonio Saca said they would investigate if the Venezuelan Government is funding the opposition party of former guerrillas.

President Saca added that if any "meddling into political affairs" is confirmed, he would take diplomatic actions.

"It would be very serious for the country the fact that a foreign government is funding a political party," said Saca in a press conference.

"What is clear is that there is a direct link between the Venezuelan Government and mayoralties ruled by the left-wing Frente Farabundo Martí para la  Liberación Nacional (FMLN)" in trade issues, which is completely legal," Saca said.

* Nicaraguan presidential candidate Edmundo Jarquín warned that Venezuela President Hugo Chávez could help to commit an "electoral offense" by giving oil and fertilizers to the political campaign of his rival, Daniel Ortega, reported DPA.

In a press conference, Jarquín said that Ortega, the Frente Sandinista candidate, does not report the help sent from Venezuela as contributions to his campaign. And not reporting this assistance is an "electoral offense," he added.

"I sent a letter to Chávez, but I have not received yet any response," said Jarquín. 

The Venezuelan president has sent oil and other supplies to some Sandinist mayoralties.

* Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Nicolás Maduro arrived in Venezuela from Bolivia and is expected to submit a report to President Hugo Chávez, who once again claimed that "there is a coup d'etat in progress" in Bolivia.

"I have instructed my Foreign Minister, our Foreign Minister Nicolás Maduro to leave (Ecuador) and go to Bolivia. He was in Bolivia last night (October 11). He is scheduled to arrive (in Venezuela) today (October 12) and bring me a report" about an alleged uprising in Bolivia. For the second time in 12 hours, Chávez vowed to face any revolt in Bolivia by using "any mechanism."

"If the Latin American oligarchy, on its knees before the US empire, breaks the rules of the game and disavows the sovereign rights of the peoples, Venezuela will not fold its arms before aggression," Chávez said in a TV address.

"Evo, my brother, resist! May God and the Aimara and Quechan gods take care of you! We are with you! We are with Bolivia!"

Chávez insisted he has evidence to say "that a plan to overthrow the Government of our brother Evo Morales is in progress."

"If anything happens to my brother Evo Morales, the culprit is the President of the US (George W. Bush), the aggressor of our peoples."

October 13
* Brazilians, Bolivians, Colombians, Cubans, Chileans, Ecuadorians, Mexicans, Nicaraguans, Peruvians, Salvadorans, and Venezuelans living in the United States are to protest against "the interventionism of President Hugo Chávez and his aggressions against national institutions."
 
Robert Carmona-Borjas, president of Centro Arcadia, said the march against Chávez' "interference" in the affairs of Latin American nations would take place on October 13 outside the headquarters of the Organization of American States. "We are going to demonstrate outside this regional body that is becoming increasingly inefficient and ask for the enforcement of the Inter-American Democratic Charter."

He added that "the crisis Venezuela is unleashing is contaminating the whole region. The role of the (OAS) Secretary General has to be redefined. The governments have to take on their responsibility to foster democracy and values, without subterfuges or interests," the group said in a press release.

"Chávez' imperialist aspirations are mirrored by his policy to expand his autocratic, neo-communist project, which is threatening Latin American stability and has destroyed both the economy and the democratic institutions in Venezuela," said Gustavo Coronel, a spokesman of the International Venezuelan Council for Democracy (IVCD).

Bolivian opposition says Bolivia is not a "colony" of Chávez
* Bolivian opposition group Podemos Friday rejected the "interference" of President Hugo Chávez in Bolivia's domestic affairs, as over the last days, the Venezuelan ruler has repeatedly claimed that a coup d'etat is in progress in Bolivia.

Podemos even warned that "if the (Bolivian) Government does not take any action regarding relations with Venezuela," they are to call Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca to appear before the Peruvian Senate.

Oscar Ortiz, a senator for Podemos, told AP that "Bolivia is not a colony of anyone," adding that it was unacceptable that Chávez threatens to intervene in Bolivia if, according to him, any revolt takes places.

US Ambassador rebuts President Chávez' claims about coup in Bolivia
* Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez' claims that Washington is plotting a coup in Bolivia is false, US Ambassador to Bolivia Philip Goldberg said, as quoted by AP.

"The United States here is trying to promote democracy, prosperity, the rule of law, and freedom of the press, to help Bolivians create their own democracy;" the diplomat answered when questioned about Chávez' comments.

"I can say that it is a false statement," he noted during a press conference in La Paz presidential palace, after submitting his credentials to Bolivian President Evo Morales.

President Morales does not want to harm anybody
* A defense agreement entered into by Bolivia and Venezuela is not intended to insult or invade anybody, Bolivian President Evo Morales said Friday in reply to the concern voiced by his counterparts of Peru, Paraguay and Chile.

In accordance with an agreement executed last May by Morales and Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, Venezuela is to sponsor the building of a river port in Puerto Quijarro, to the southeast of Bolivia, bordering Brazil.

The parties are pondering also on a military base in the city of Riberalta and possibly two army deployments at the border with Chile and another one 200 kilometers to the border with Paraguay, AFP disclosed.

"Defense agreements with Argentina, China, Venezuela, any country, between armed forces, are for integration purposes," Morales clarified.