Bolivarian Government of Venezuela
Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs
Vol. 3: Issue 41, 11th October, 2017
Embassies of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in the World
Weekly Newsletter Venezuela’s Governors elections 2017 The Venezuelan Government and the opposition negotiated and will sign an agreement of coexistence after the elections.
Inside This Issue 1. Venezuela’s Governors elections 2017 2. A multipolar world: Impact of President Nicolas Maduro’s trip to Algeria, Belarus, Russia and Turkey
The head of the presidential commission for dialogue, Jorge Rodriguez, informed that after 15th October elections the Venezuelan Government and the opposition will establish an agreement of coexistence. Rodriguez did not confirm details of the coexistence agreement but indicated that both parties will sit together after the elections to seal the final terms. The announcement confirms the ones issued by the government of Dominican Republic, venue of the negotiations that since September have been held between the Venezuelan government and the opposition. Mr Rodriguez affirmed that the signing of the agreement will be soon but a spokesperson of the opposition coalition denied that possibility. The president of the foreign policies commission of the national assembly Luis Florido, denied the possibility of signing that agreement and he reiterated that they will not attend the meetings in Dominican Republic until certain conditions are given. Opposition approved 23 audits of voting machines The National Electoral Council informed that the electoral material will be installed on Wednesday in the voting centers that will be activated for the regional elections. More than 13 thousand electoral centers will be activated for Sunday's elections, when the Venezuelans will elect the authorities of 23 of the country's 24 regions. The Electoral Council convened more than 18 million Venezuelans registered in the Permanent Electoral Registry to vote. Angorous deployment of security was activated on Monday and clas- ses were suspended in the schools that will serve as voting centers. The National Electoral Council infomed that 23 audits were performed on the automated systen will be the elections and said that the results were approved by the all the political parties, including the ones of the oppostion. 1
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3. Remembering Che Guevara 4. Humanitarian aid to the people of Puerto Rico is not arriving 5. As Afghan War Turns 16: Taliban Says It Will 'Break the Horns' of 'Imperialist' US 6.Venezuelan President thanks hostile Trump for making him 'famous' 7.Venezuela successfully launches its third satellite 8. CS Amina Mohamed Named among advisors of President of UN General Assembly
A multipolar world:
Impact of President Nicolas Maduro’s trip to Algeria, Belarus, Russia and Turkey
During his tour of the European countries and Africa, the Venezuelan president ratified his call to the oil producing countries to work together thus achieve the stability of the oil market.
In addition, he participated at the Russian Energy Week Forum 2017, where he highlighted the compliance of 116 percent of the cut-off agreement of 1.8 million barrels of daily crude subscribed by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and 11 external producers.
The international tour by Venezuelan President NicolĂĄs Maduro to Algeria, Russia, Belarus and Turkey, has strengthened alliances for shared development and bilateral cooperation in various areas.
New comprehensive cooperation agreements with Belarus
In the framework of the working meetings with his respective international counterparts, important agreements were signed by the South American nation in the energy, agroindustry, tourism, military, scientific, technological, commercial, financial and industrial sectors.
The Venezuelan president signed a set of new agreements with his Belarusian partner Aleksandr Lukashenko, mainly in cooperation in energy, agroindustry, infrastructure, science and technology. It was also agreed that a meeting of the Venezuela-Belarus Joint Commission will be held in November, which will approve a road map to boost economic development and evaluate the strengthening of Local Supply and Production Committees (CLAPs).
In Algeria, ties of friendship and cooperation were strengthened The agenda of the Venezuelan president began last Tuesday 3rd of October in Algeria, where he held a meeting with the President of the Council of the Nation, Abdelkader Bensalah, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdelkader Messahel. The head of state said that this visit sought to strengthen "the strong ties of friendship and cooperation that have been established during these years and that are projected into the future in the consolidation of bilateral relations."
Five bilateral cooperation agreements with Turkey Together with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip ErdoÄ&#x;an, President Maduro presided over the signing of five new bilateral cooperation agreements to strengthen the development of the Turkey-Venezuela Joint Commission. At the close of the First Turkey-Venezuela Business Forum, held in Ankara (capital), the Venezuelan head of government said that his country has large mineral reserves and guaranteed that it has business opportunities for foreign companies wishing to invest.
Strengthening strategic relations with Russia During a meeting on Wednesday 4th October between the Venezuelan and Russian delegations in the Kremlin, President Maduro thanked the support given by his counterpart Vladimir Putin and reinforced diplomatic ties to strengthen the strategic relations of both countries. 2
Venezuela is not alone However, in the twenty-first century, geopolitical and geo-economic change is evident. Earnings. Before Interest and Taxes is almost as powerful as the International Monetary Fund; the BRICS group is just as dynamic as the G7. The silk route has a potential more relevant than that of other traditional spaces. Whatever you look at, the unipolarity is over. This must be taken into account whenever it is affirmed that Venezuela is internationally isolated. Rather, on the contrary, the Caribbean country is perfectly located on the new world map. And the best demonstration has been the recent tour of President Nicolas Maduro. Alliances with Russia and Turkey should draw attention because these are countries of great importance in the world order.
it visited a month ago); and has begun to sell oil to India as trade between both countries is increasing. With China, the great international actor, Venezuela has been consolidating for more than a decade a strategic alliance in very different economic and political dimensions.
Russia belongs to the UN Security Council. And has also a strong role in the international economic system: 1.) It has high international reserves in its power worth (400 billion dollars) 2.) It has a solid financial structure that is even in the process of having an international payment system (SPF) 3.) It has a high influence in the global oil policy due to its high production (10.9 million barrels per day). 4.) It has become an agricultural power according to FAO itself, and in addition, 5.) Russia is determined to make a significant leap in the technological and digital economy. This therefore makes this country a strategic ally for the next decade. Venezuela knows this and for that reason it increasingly strengthens its ties to it in multiple economic, political and military dimensions.
If Trump's executive order had been there two decades ago, the situation would be insurmountable. But in this current context, despite the difficulties there are real possibilities to face successfully the blockade attempt by him thanks to the diversification of economic relations that Venezuela possesses. The de-dollarization of the Venezuelan economy will be possible to the extent that it has the capacity to strengthen relations with this new anti-hegemonic field. Although the use of new financial mechanisms will be even more decisive. Using other currencies in oil marketing as well as in imports also becomes an urgent task. Equally imminent is the creation of accounts in other latitudes to avoid the current financial boycott. The restructuring of foreign debt, other than default, is another mandatory issue because Trump has violated legal certainty for holders with his last executive order.
Maduro's meeting with Erdogan also has a high significance in geopolitical and geo-economic terms. Turkey is not just any country on the global stage. It has a much-desired growth economy in Europe. It consumes a lot of oil (almost 1 million barrels per day) because of its strong domestic demand, which requires a safe supply that is not subject to possible pressure from the United States and the European Union. Venezuela has that capacity also. It is really an ideal partner to build a great exchange map based on economic complementarity. Win-win is the basic premise of this new relationship that is growing every day in very different sectors of (agriculture, technology, finance, mining, tourism, transport, security).
There are many challenges facing Venezuela in this external storm. It would have been easy to solve it by aligning itself with the dominant axis as always. However, the trick is to do it from the other side. Venezuela has decided that there is an alternative to the trap of the old. As long as Maduro continues to shake hands with Putin, Erdogan, Rohani or Xi Jinping, Venezuela is not alone.
To make matters worse, we sometimes forget that Venezuela presides over the movement of non-aligned countries and is an essential part of Petrocaribe and ALBA. Venezuela also has very close relations with Iran (a country
www.actualidad.rt.com www.telesurtv.net www.abcnews.go.com The views and opinions expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Embassy
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REMEMBERING CHE GUEVARA Nearly 50 years after the death of Guevara, Latin America in particular has experienced a 21st century-rooted in the same kind of ideas that he represented: justice, equality and the liberation of the oppressed. Che was Argentine by birth but was a committed internationalist. He was born to a middle-class family who frequently relocated in order to alleviate the severe asthma that afflicted the young Guevara. As a young man, he studied to become a doctor, interrupting his studies to travel throughout the region. It was on these travels that his political consciousness and commitment was awakened. Guevara was struck by the plight of the peasants, working class and poor of the Americas. His experience in Guatemala, witnessing the coup against the democratically-elected reformist President Jacobo Arbenz, led him to conclude that the forces of imperialism would not tolerate peaceful change. Guevara eventually met Fidel Castro in Mexico City. The two formed a bond and a partnership that would lead them to fight side-by-side in a guerrilla campaign to oust the U.S.-backed Fulgencio Batista dictatorship in Cuba. Che was an enthusiastic fighter who earned the rank of comandante and played an important role in the victory of the Cuban Revolution, leading a column of fighters in the pivotal battle of Santa Clara. Eventually he became an important figure on the international scene, representing Cuba in delegations that visited many socialist and Soviet-aligned countries. Although Cuba was in the sphere of influence of the Soviet Union, Guevara was independent-minded and was not afraid to criticize the policies of Cuba's most important ally. Guevara never abandoned his internationalist convictions, eventually leaving Cuba and his posts there to support the national liberation struggles of the African continent. Frustrated by a lack of success with the situation in the Congo, he left Africa for Latin America. Determined to spread the revolution to other parts of Latin America, he created a guerrilla army in Bolivia where he attempted to implement the foco theory of guerrilla struggle. The guerrillas suffered a number of debilitating setbacks and defeats at the hands of the U.S.-trained and supported Bolivian army, which culminated in his capture and subsequent execution. The political situation in Latin America has changed in many regards since Guevara took up armed struggle and many parties and movements have found electoral success in the political arena. On the streets of Latin America young and old alike wave flags with the famous image of Guevara, a symbol of resistance, determination and hope for a better world. Barrientos and his ilk hoped that the ideals of Guevara would die along with him but his execution only served to further fuel his almost-mythical legacy. 4
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Humanitarian aid to the people of Puerto Rico is not arriving The donations made by countries of the region to the population of Puerto Rico affected by the natural disaster caused by Hurricane Maria two weeks ago were confiscated at the port by the United States and have not been distributed to the collection centers, reported on Wednesday 4th October 2017, the Puerto Rican journalist Marisela Robles.
In that sense, she explained that the Puerto Rican authorities moved Trump to one of the richest areas of the island, "but they did not really show the majority of rural areas devastated by the hurricane." "We continue to work to help ourselves, we know that we cannot expect much from the US Government," Robles said.
"We are shocked because they do not allow us to rise as a country, but we continue to struggle despite the help from the neighbors to get out of this situation since the government is not acting on the streets," Robles said during a telephone call in the radio station La Radio del Sur .
Donald Trump’s visit is rejected The Front of the Convention Center, an area that the island set up as the command center to deal with the emergency, brought together victims to repudiate the visit of the US president and demand the decolonization of the Caribbean island by the United States.
She clarified that only 5% of the population of the island has electricity, in addition they do not have drinking water, this has generated serious problems of public health. "There are many people who are dying for not having access to water and to hospitals, the aid is just not in the streets".
Those affected by the hurricane are still waiting for humanitarian aid that goes beyond a couple of bottles of water. Maria de Lourdes GuzmĂĄn, representative of the social movements, emphasized that for 119 years Puerto Rico has been living in political subordination as a territorial annex of the United States, a reason that has made it difficult for the Puerto Rican people to receive humanitarian aid from others countries, as US federal laws prohibit ships from other nations from docking in the ports of the Caribbean island.
She said that in the Puerto Rican nation there have been increase in prices. "The supermarkets are empty, we have to queue for gas, we are at a very difficult time as a people, since there is no work." The Puerto Rican said that after the arrival of US President Donald Trump to Puerto Rico, "the island has not changed at all, we still have serious problems." In that sense, Robles explained that the streets on the island were militarized by the arrival of the US president. "All day citizens could not move to hospitals or do errands."
"The need is urgent and the worst is that we cannot receive help from other countries like Mexico, Venezuela and Argentina because the Federal Government does not allow it being that Puerto Ricco is a US colony," he said. US President Donald Trump during his visit Trump distributed rolls of sanitary paper among other items in order to "minimize" the impact of Hurricane Maria. At least 16 people died on the island because of the cyclone, a figure that may increase because of the crisis that crosses the island. The report of people affected by the hurricane exceeds one million people.
"Trump's visit does not respond to the real solutions presented by the people of Puerto Rico, rather it was a waste of time," she added. Likewise, she rejected the visit and the delayed response that the US Government has given the to the island. "Trump is blaming us for altering the US budget, when this catastrophe could have been prepared much better to avoid damage to human infrastructures and losses," she said. She affirmed that the US Government along with the Governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo RossellĂł Nevares are minimizing the death toll that Hurricane Maria left and the people who continue to die because of lack of aid in hospitals.
The situation on the island after the hurricane is not encouraging. 90% of the buildings were without light and it is expected that the service replenishment will take more than six months. The Department of Defense also reported that almost half of the 3.4 million people do not have access to safe drinking water.
"We reject Trump's statements where she expressed the decrease in the number of deaths on the island, not all deaths are being reported as a result of Maria and drugs that are not reaching the population, such as insulin," she said.
www.nytimes.com www.laradiodelsur.com.ve edition.cnn.com
The views and opinions expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Embassy
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As Afghan War Turns 16: Taliban Says It Will 'Break the Horns' of 'Imperialist' US
"U.S. leaders thought that Afghanistan was a bite-sized meal which can readily be devoured and added to their list of colonies,” the Taliban said. As the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan reached its 16-year anniversary, the Taliban has reiterated its opposition to “America's arrogant politics and evil policy,” noting that it is “not tired nor will it feel fatigue” in its ongoing war to expel occupying forces from the country.
and to renounce the use of violence as a political tool, but the group has derided U.S.-allied Kabul as “repulsive sellouts.” Ghani has repeatedly asked the group to join peace efforts in the past, but a statement two months ago noted that “talks about peace during the presence of invaders will not yield results and are meaningless.”
“The political analysts and inexperienced generals of U.S. leaders thought that Afghanistan was a bite-sized meal which can readily be devoured and added to their list of colonies” on October 7, 2001, when Occupation Enduring Freedom was launched, the Taliban said on its English-language website. “However, they were unaware that this valiant nation has broken the horns of every invading force and thrown them into the sinkhole of history.”
Since the war's start, the United States has adopted a number of strategies under the successive administrations of Presidents George W. Bush, Barack Obama and now, Donald Trump. The U.S. is deploying over 3,000 troops to the South Asian nation in hopes of breaking the ongoing stalemate, which has seen NATO forces and the beleaguered Afghan National Army face an insurgency that continues to extend its rule across the country.
The comments come as the U.S. quietly marked the grim milestone of the war entering its 17th year, with little progress to show for it, as the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to extricate itself from the longest-running war in United States history.
“The American invaders have killed and injured more than a hundred thousand Afghans over the past sixteen years, displaced hundreds of thousands more, thrown them in prisons and beat and tortured them but the only thing the sixteen years have proven are the anti-occupation sensitivity of the Afghans, their unbreakable determination and their unwavering resolve and endurance,” the Taliban said, noting that their religious devotion and will to fight back will continue “ with complete firmness without feeling any sense of fatigue whatsoever.”
The conflict was launched to retaliate against al-Qaida, which was blamed for plotting the 9/11 attacks from their bases in Afghanistan while under the protection of the former Taliban government. The Taliban continue to deny any involvement in the attacks, which sparked the ongoing “Global War on Terror.” Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has called on the Taliban to opt for “ballots instead of bullets” 6
www.washingtonpost.com www.telesurtv.net The views and opinions expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Embassy
Venezuelan President thanks hostile Trump for making him 'famous' Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro baited U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday by thanking him for a barrage of criticism that had made him famous worldwide.
Maduro said he had a one-and-half hour meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin where, among other subjects, he discussed the possibility of trading Venezuelan oil in rubles because of the U.S. financial sanctions.
“It’s an honor that the head of the empire mentions me every day,” said the 54-year-old president, just back in Venezuela from a trip to Russia, Belarus and Turkey.
“A whole new world is opening up for Venezuela thanks to Trump’s sanctions,” said Maduro, who has also said he hopes to move Venezuela’s commercial transactions to euros, yen and rupees.
“That means I‘m doing something right!” Maduro laughed during his weekly program on state TV. By Trump saying that Venezuela has become a corrupt and repressive dictatorship, the U.S. government has widened individual sanctions on top officials including Maduro and also prohibited new debt dealings with Caracas.
On Oct. 15, Maduro’s government faces off with Venezuela’s opposition in elections for state governors. Appearing next to him on TV, Vice President Tareck el Aissami said that an opposition-linked activist had been arrested for an explosion that injured seven policemen during anti-Maduro protests earlier this year.
Businessman-turned-president Trump has repeatedly criticized Maduro and his Socialist Party in public and at meetings with other heads of state. “Donald Trump has become the head of the Venezuelan opposition,” said Maduro, who has ruled the OPEC member since 2013 but seen his popularity plummet during an economic crisis.
www.reuters.com The views and opinions expressed in this article are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Embassy
“He has made me famous around the world. Every time he mentions me, they love me more,” Maduro added, saying he had been acclaimed by people abroad on his visit to nations who have all had frayed relations with Washington.
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Venezuela successfully launches its third satellite
Venezuela successfully launched into orbit from the Jiuquan Launch Center in the northwestern Chinese province of Gansu the Satellite VRSS-2, which has been named "Antonio José de Sucre’’, which joins the two other satellites" Simón Bolivar (VENESAT-1) and the Francisco de Miranda (VRSSS-1). This is part of the bilateral cooperation agreements between Venezuela and China in the technological area. The satellite was launched at midnight local time. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said the new satellite will benefit the following economic, productive and social activities: Mining, Oil, Agriculture, Urban Development, Industrial Planning, Hydroelectric Development, Risk Management, Land Survey, Security and Territorial Defense. The highly sophisticated device is equipped with both high definition and infrared cameras and will monitor regions photographing particular areas every four days. Officials believe this feature will be articularly helpful in controlling criminal activity. The Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said the new Antonio Jose de Sucre satellite “will be sovereign, independent, and so we will go to the fourth, fifth, sixth satellite and the development of the highest technology in Venezuela.” www.telesurtv.net www.news.cgtn.com 8
CS Amina Mohamed
Named among advisors of President of UN General Assembly Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed has been named among the advisers of the President of the United Nations General Assembly. The CS was picked alongside 14 other eminent personalities from all the UN’s regional working groups to be part of a team of external advisers to Miroslav Lajčák, the President of the UN General Assembly. According to a press statement released on the 3rd October, the role of the CS and her team will be to advise Mr Lajčák on how best to advance his priorities for the General Assembly’s 72nd session. The priorities include mediation, conflict prevention and sustaining peace; migration; implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement on climate change. Others are human rights and human dignity, and the future and reform of the United Nations. “The first meeting of the Team of External Advisors will take place in New York on October 6,” read the press release. www.standardmedia.co.ke www.un.org
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