"The Argentine people have an eternal debt of gratitude with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR)," Rodolfo Gil, the Argentine Ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), said during an OAS session related to the IACHR actions regarding the Caracazo, a wave of riots, protests and looting occurred in February 1989 in the Venezuelan capital, as well as other cases related to Venezuela.

The meeting was held on Wednesday at the OAS Permanent Council, upon the request of the Venezuelan government.

Minutes earlier, Roy Chaderton, the Venezuelan ambassador to the OAS, lambasted the agency responsible for monitoring the situation of the fundamental guarantees in the hemisphere. He claimed that the body remained "silent" in the face of "the worst violation of human rights" recorded ever in Venezuela.

The ambassador stated that the report published last week on the human rights situation in Venezuela and an indictment released by Spanish judge Eloy Velasco, in which the member of the Spanish National Court accused the Venezuelan government of supporting the Colombian guerrillas and the Basque terrorist group ETA, are part of a "plot" to isolate the South American country.

Meanwhile, the Argentine diplomat criticized these statements by saying: "We are convinced that the IACHR is an independent organ." Therefore, he reiterated that his government has "full confidence" in the human rights body.

The position of the representative of Cristina Fernández's administration, with whom President Hugo Chávez has close ties, is consistent with the facts. Note that the IACHR played an important role in denouncing the atrocities committed during the last Argentinean military dictatorship (1976-1982). Some Argentine officials, such as Jorge Taiana, the current Minister of Foreign Affairs, saved their lives despite the military repression thanks to the efforts made by the IACHR.

"We may agree or disagree with these statements (the assertions made in the IACHR reports). If we disagree, we can rationally rebut their arguments. However, we must rule out some options such as exasperation, disqualification, and offense," he added.

Guillermo Cochez, the Panamanian Ambassador to the OAS, said that "insults, obscenities and vile acts" are a smoke screen used by "government officials to try to conceal this report on the situation of democracy and human rights in Venezuela."

Cochez referred to the events of February 27, 1989, and asked his Venezuelan counterpart: Why have you failed to solve the case of the Caracazo, despite the fact that your government took office 11 years ago?"

The Central American diplomat ended his speech with this phrase: "Let's be men about this and take responsibility for our actions as rulers. Let the IACHR pay an on site visit to Venezuela."

This request was supported by the representatives of Canada and the US.

Translated by Gerardo Cárdenas