El Universal, Venezuela
Chavez Laments 'Alcoholic, Dangerous' American President

Translated By Barbara Howe

September 21, 2006
Venezuela - El Universal - Original Article (Spanish)    

Caracas: During the launching of [Venezuela's] heating oil program for poor and indigenous communities of the United States, President Hugo Chavez expressed an interest in establishing an agreement on energy issues with the country.

"I haven't lost hope of [someday] having a President of the United States as a friend, governors as friends and mayors as friends. We are not enemies of the United States. We are friends of the people of the United States and we want to look for avenues of cooperation."

Nevertheless, he described the present chief executive of that country, George Bush, as "an alcoholic, a sick man who suffers from feelings of inadequacy, but a very dangerous man because he has so much power."

He stated that the governments of the world, instead of "making plans for invasion and aggression," must sit down and talk.

"I hope that one day soon - and the sooner the better - they will elect a President with whom one could converse, with whom one could work, with whom one could sit down together and talk to one another as equals" he asked those in attendance.

According to Chavez, Bush, "hasn't the slightest idea of what politics is about; he got where he is simply for being the son of his father."

ASPIRATIONS

"How much I would like to have an agreement on energy cooperation with the United States," he indicated.

He said that in the North American nation's auto sector, more petroleum is consumed than in than in Central America and the Caribbean combined, and he questioned the "waste of energy" in the United States.

"You (Americans) have serious energy problems. The government doesn't speak honestly with you. The government of the United States is deceiving its own people. It regularly deceives them, manipulates information provided to them, and fails to speak plainly."          

BETWEEN TRIPS AND CAMPAIGNING

President Chavez explained to the public the reasons for his [recent] world tour.

"Why do the Venezuelans travel all over the world? Is there a plan to instigate Venezuelan imperialism? No. Just the opposite. We are a modest power but a fundamentally anti-imperialist force."

Alluding to the criticisms of the Venezuelan opposition he added "Some Venezuelans criticize me. In Venezuela, we are in the midst of an election campaign. In two months there will be elections. Some say that I am ignoring the campaign. They complain, but all the while, I have left the field open for them to carry their message to the country!"

"Some say that I should be in the neighborhoods of Caracas ... Others criticize me for giving away to the rest of the world that which belongs to the Venezuelans. Many of those who criticize me, do so in a perverse and egoistic manner."

The chief of state affirmed that many of those who question him are monied interests who have gained their wealth to the detriment of the people.

"Oh to God that [one day] we are liberated from the devil! Sometimes the devil takes the form of a person" he said, in reference to the President of the United States, George W. Bush.

CONQUEST AND COLONIALIZATION

He said to those in attendance that, "Europe came to the Americas and leveled it in one of the most massive genocides ever, although he emphasized that this is rarely discussed.

"It's necessary to remind our European brothers that the development of Europe was based on the massacre of the Americas. And not only of the Americas. The development of Europe also came about on the back of our sister Africa.

He assured the public, "We are not racists: you all [here] are also whites, Indians, mestizos [mixed race]. We are all children of God and we live on the same planet."

For Chavez it is equality that should move the world, "Like Jesus said, let us love one another!"

DIFFICULTIES

"For us it's not easy to come to the United States under such circumstances (to address the U.N. General Assembly). Sometimes we are threatened," he added, referring to the fact that the United States government prevented some members of his retinue entry into New York.

"They are determined to dissuade me from coming," he stated.

He justified the foreign policy that Venezuela promotes with other countries. He asserted that he's not giving away petroleum and emphasized that each one of the agreements established with countries like Uruguay and the U.K., for example, are founded on an exchange of goods and services.

"They have almost suffocated, cut off Cuba. Fidel (Castro) is still recuperating. Even though he is communist and therefore an atheist, the conclusion he has come to is that God helps Chavez and therefore his friends."

He also prayed for Fidel's health.

Chavez referred to the situation in Bolivia and insisted that "the narco-trafficking mafias be struck, and not the Indians who produce the coca."

Finally, he announced the renewal of the program to provide heating oil to the poor and indigenous communities of the United States, and said it would be extended to 18 States of that country.

In addition, he said that there would be an increase from the 40 million gallons this year, to 100 million gallons next year.

He added that rather than 181,000 benefited families, this year 459,000 North American homes would benefit.

Spanish Version Below

Chávez: Me gustaría hacer un convenio de cooperación energética con EEUU

Caracas.- Durante el acto de lanzamiento del programa de combustible de calefacción para las comunidades pobres e indígenas de los Estados Unidos, el mandatario nacional, Hugo Chávez, manifestó su interés de establecer un convenio cooperación en materia de energía con Estados Unidos (EEUU).

"No pierdo la esperanza de tener como amigo a un presidente de Estados unidos. Unos gobernadores amigos, unos alcaldes amigos. Nosotros no somos enemigos de los Estados Unidos. Somos amigos del pueblo estadounidense y queremos buscar los caminos de la cooperación".

"Cuánto me gustaría hacer un convenio de cooperación en materia de energía con Estados Unidos", señaló.

Dijo que en la nación norteamericana, en el sector automotor, se consume más petróleo que en Centroamérica y el Caribe, y cuestionó el "despilfarro" energético de esta nación.

"Ustedes (estadounidenses) tienen problemas de energía graves. El gobierno no les habla claro. El gobierno de Estados Unidos engaña a su pueblo. Normalmente los engaña, les manipula la información, no les habla claro". 

Entre viajes y campaña

El presidente Hugo Chávez explicó al público las razones por las que recorre el mundo.

"¿Por qué andamos por el mundo los venezolanos? ¿Es que hay un plan para instaurar el imperialismo venezolano? No, todo lo contrario. Somos una fuerza modesta pero grandemente antiimperialista".

En alusión a las críticas de la oposición venezolana agregó: "algunos venezolanos me critican. En Venezuela hay una campaña electoral. En dos meses son las elecciones. Algunos dicen que estoy despreciando la campaña electoral. Pero se quejan, y yo les dejo el campo libre para que lleven su mensaje al país".

"Algunos dicen que debería estar en los barrios de Caracas (…) Otros me critican porque estoy por el mundo regalando lo de los venezolanos. Muchos de los que critican lo hacen de manera perversa y egoísta".

El jefe de Estado afirmó que muchos de los que lo cuestionan son adinerados y se enriquecieron en detrimento del pueblo.

"¡Qué Dios nos libre del demonio! A veces el diablo toma forma de persona", dijo en referencia al presidente de Estados Unidos, George Bush.

Conquista y colonización

Dijo a los asistentes que "Europa se vino sobre la América" y la "arrasó" en un genocidio de los más grandes que se haya conocido, aunque destacó que casi "no se habla de eso".

"A nuestros hermanos europeos de hoy hay que recordarles que el desarrollo de la Europa se afincó sobre la masacre de la América. Y no sólo de la América. El desarrollo de Europa ocurrió también sobre la hermana África Negra".

Aseguró al público: "como no somos racistas: también están ustedes los blancos. Los indios, los mestizos, todos somos hijos de Dios y vivimos sobre esta tierra".

Para Chávez es la igualdad la que debe mover al mundo. "¡Cómo dijo Jesús, amaos los unos a los otros!".

Dificultades

"Para nosotros no es fácil, venir a los Estados Unidos sólo en esta circunstancia (a propósito de la Asamblea General de la Organización de Naciones Unidas). A veces amenazados", agregó al referirse al hecho de que el gobierno de Estados Unidos le impidió la entrada a Nueva York a algunos miembros de su comitiva.

"Son intentos de disuadirme para no venir", sentenció.

Justificó la política de internacional que Venezuela adelanta con otra naciones. Aseguró que no está regalando petróleo y ejemplificó que cada uno de los convenios establecidos con Uruguay e Inglaterra, por ejemplo se fundamentan en intercambio de bienes y servicios.

"A Cuba la tenían ahogada, la tenían cercada. Fidel (Castro, presidente de Cuba) sigue recuperándose. Aunque él es comunista, por ende ateo. La conclusión que ha sacado es que Dios ayuda a Chávez y por ende a sus amigos".

También pidió a Dios por la salud de Fidel.

Chávez se refirió a la situación de Bolivia, e instó a "golpear a las grandes mafias del narcotráfico, no a los indígenas que producen coca."