Venezuela Receives Ahmadinejad As Iran Wins Regional Backing
By Darcy Crowe, Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
CARACAS -(Dow Jones)- Iran continued to make diplomatic headway in South
America as President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad entered the last leg of a regional
tour, meeting with one of his fiercest allies, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.
The meeting Wednesday comes after Ahmadinejad made stops earlier this week in
Brazil and Bolivia. The tour became an instant success for the Iranian leader
after Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva Monday called for the
international community to engage with Iran and defended Iran's development of
nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
"Meeting with Chavez is just an added benefit. Iran knows that it can always
count on Chavez to defend its case," said Anibal Romero, a Caracas-based
independent consultant and political analyst.
Bolivian President Evo Morales also endorsed Iran's nuclear-energy ambitions
and signed an agreement to boost Iran's role in research for the development of
Bolivia's lithium reserves, which represent about half the world's stockpiles of
the mineral.
Venezuela has served as an entry point for Ahmadinejad to court South American
leaders. Both leaders are fierce opponents of U.S. foreign policy. This is the
fourth official visit by Ahmadinejad to Venezuela.
Ahmadinejad is a "gladiator of the anti-imperialist struggle. He's an example
of strength and perseverance for the freedom of his country," Chavez said as he
welcomed the Iranian leader to the Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas.
In September, Chavez said that Iran was aiding Venezuela in its exploration
for uranium.
The close ties between Venezuela and Iran have come under increased scrutiny
by the U.S. government. Earlier that month, Manhattan District Attorney Robert
Morgenthau warned of the growing relationship between the two. He urged U.S.
authorities to track the relationship more carefully and said his office's
investigations revealed that Iran is using Venezuelan banks to dodge
international sanctions and acquire the materials needed for its nuclear
program.
The two countries have as many as 70 projects under way, which include a joint
mining company that could develop some recent gold and zinc discoveries. Chavez
and Ahmadinejad also are planning a joint development bank with $200 million in
start-up capital.
During their last round of bilateral meetings, Iran and Venezuela agreed that
state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PdVSA) would supply 20,000 barrels of
gasoline to Iran and that the two countries would jointly develop a natural gas
field in Iran.
Under Chavez, Venezuela has sought to build close relations with Iran in many
areas, particularly on the economic front. Both governments have set up an
automobile assembly plant in Venezuela, as well as a tractor factory and bicycle
plant. A host of other projects are pending.
-By Darcy Crowe, Dow Jones Newswires; (58) 414-249-6821; darcy.crowe@
dowjones.com
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
11-25-091654ET
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