----- Original Message ----- From: "michael a. lebowitz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, February 21, 2003 12:27 PM Subject: chavez and ftaa
Chavez: Cuba Excluded From FTAA (PL) Venezuela President Hugo Chavez affirmed that Cuba is not participating in the negotiations for the Free Trade Treaty of the Americas (FTAA), because she was excluded. Speaking at a Venezuelan Commission for FTAA negotiations, Chavez declined to firm the treaty because it would mean death for the people. We are in negotiations, and we often feel alone, because Cuba isn't here, because they [the United States] democratically excluded her, the President said ironically, and reviewed the defense of the changes in the US proposal. He noted "someone wants to erase Cuba," and "democratically someone decided that Cuba is not in the Americas." The Head of State recalled that when the first FTAA Summit was held in Miami in December 1994, he was in Havana and discussed this theme. Chavez emphasized that in the discussions of the US treaty, Venezuela has remained practically alone in defense of some positions. "But above all, it is necessary to stay within our Constitution and the Bolivarian project," he stressed. Chavez concluded by saying the FTAA and the Venezuelan Constitution are incompatible. _______________________________________________ Leninist-International mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/leninist-international
