Venezuelan President Due In Tehran Friday

[Ryan Ruck]

Venezuelan President Due In Tehran Friday

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, heading a high-ranking delegation, is to arrive in Tehran Friday evening on a three-day official visit, IRNA reported.

According to a report released by the presidential press bureau, President Chavez is to meet his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad during his stay in Tehran.

The two presidents, in their upcoming meeting, will discuss bilateral cooperation and issues of mutual interest, as well as the latest regional and international developments.

Several memoranda of understanding will be inked by the two countries officials, the report said adding that the two presidents will also attend a joint press conference.

The Venezuelan president is also to attend Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Mines to address the Iranian traders and businessmen.

[Ryan Ruck]

Venezuela's Chavez, Iran's Ahmadinejad Pledge Mutual Support

Anti-U.S. leaders Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met in Tehran on Saturday, pledging mutual support for one another, state media reported.

Chavez' two-day visit came as Iran faces renewed international criticism for its nuclear program and as a backer of Hezbollah guerrillas, engaged in fighting with Israel since they captured two Israeli soldiers July 12.

The five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council on Friday reached a deal on a resolution that would give Iran until the end of August to suspend uranium enrichment or face the threat of economic and diplomatic sanctions.

Following talks, Chavez pledged that his country would "stay by Iran at any time and under any condition," state television reported.

Ahmadinejad said he saw in Chavez a kindred spirit.

"I feel I have met a brother and trench mate after meeting Chavez," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying by state-run television. "We think Iran and Venezuela should share all experiences of each other, stay by each other and they have to be supporters of each other."

The Venezuelan leader has been on a trip that included a visit to Belarus where he met with authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko, who is dubbed "Europe's last dictator" by Washington and shares Chavez's strong anti-U.S. views.

Earlier this week he secured an arms agreement with Russia in Moscow that prompted the U.S. criticism.

While in Qatar on Friday, Chavez said it meant Venezuela could eventually export guns and ammunition to Bolivia and other allies once it opens a factory to make Russian-developed Kalashnikov rifles under license.

Chavez accused the United States of "threatening" to stop supplying replacement parts for the weapons to leftist Bolivian President Evo Morales' government. If the U.S. follows through, Chavez said, "we could supply Bolivia... and other friendly countries that also require a minimal level of defense."

"Maybe in the future we'll become an [arms] exporting country," Chavez said.

Bilateral trade last year between Iran and Venezuela was valued at approximately US$1 billion. Iranian investment in Venezuela includes a production line for tractors and several housing projects.

During his visit, Chavez was to inaugurate the new Venezuelan embassy in Tehran and meet Iranian business leaders. He was also to tour Iran-Khodro, Iran's giant public sector automobile manufacturer. The leaders and top officials were expected to sign memorandums of understanding in various fields.

Iranian state television reported that Chavez was also to meet Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

"We do not have any limitation in cooperation," Ahmadinejad was quoted as saying. "Iran and Venezuela are next to each other and supporters of each other. Chavez is a source of a progressive and revolutionary current in South America and his stance in restricting imperialism is tangible."

[Jag]

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationwo...orld-headlines

AP World News Venezuela Recalls Ambassador From Israel By Associated Press August 3, 2006, 8:14 PM EDT CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said Thursday he has withdrawn his country's ambassador from Israel to show his "indignation" over the military offensive in Lebanon. "We have ordered the withdrawal of our ambassador in Israel," Chavez said in a televised speech, calling Israeli attacks in Lebanon "genocide."

The leftist leader has repeatedly criticized Israel's offensive aimed at Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon, noting mounting civilian deaths and saying the United Nations should act to halt the violence.

"It really causes indignation to see how the state of Israel continues bombing, killing ... with all of the power they have, with the support of the United States," Chavez said after a military parade in the northwestern state of Falcon.

The Venezuelan leader, a close ally and protege of Cuban President Fidel Castro, spoke after returning from an international tour that included Iran. While there, Chavez called the Israeli offensive in Lebanon a "fascist outrage."

"The Israeli elite repeatedly criticize Hitler's actions against the Jews, and indeed Hitler's actions must be criticized, not just against the Jews but against the world," Chavez said during his visit to Iran, adding: "It's also fascism what Israel is doing to the Palestinian people ... terrorism and fascism."

Some in Venezuela have protested against the fighting in Lebanon, including one group that burned an Israeli flag outside the Israeli embassy last month.

Jag

[American Patriot]

I keep hearing how "this war won't go beyond what it is today" and yet, all the SIGNS of World War II are rearing their ugly heads.

Why is it that people can not learn from history.