Chairman of the European Commission José Manuel Durao Barroso and Mexican President Felipe Calderón Monday argued that Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez's criticism of German Prime Minister Angela Merkel do not favor the European Union-Latin American integration.

"Any statements against European leaders, against any personality like Merkel, are negative and do not favor (...) our intended friendly cooperation with Latin America," Barroso stressed during a two-day official visit to Mexico, Efe quoted.

Chávez Sunday in his weekly radio and television show "Aló, Presidente" claimed that Merkel was a member of a conservative-style party that is "the same right wing that supported (Adolf) Hitler and fascism."

"I am her (Merkel's) friend. She is a great German woman, a great European woman, a great Democrat," said the EC chairman, adding that the German Prime Minister "was born in the former East Germany, when liberal democracy did not exist, which gives her principles a significant value." "Such values are not negotiable for us."

"I do regret and reject that dialogue between two countries that should respect each other is based once again on discredit or accusations," said Calderón.

He added that such statements "simply do not favor understanding or the solution of problems" facing the region.