IRAQ: VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT CHAVEZ VISIT WRAP

(11 Aug 2000) Spanish/Nat
XFA
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez held talks with Iraqi President Saddam Hussein on Thursday, defying the United States by being the first head of state to go to Iraq since the 1991 Gulf War.
Chavez said he was unconcerned by U-S criticisms over his visit and he denounced what he called "interference in Venezuela's internal affairs".
The red carpet was rolled in Baghdad for the Venezuelan President and President Saddam Hussein was expected to come to greet Hugo Chavez himself.
But Saddam didn't appear and Izzat Ibrahim, Saddam's second in command in the all-powerful Revolutionary Command Council, was Chavez's host.
The Venezuelan leader met Iraq's deputy prime minister, Tariq Aziz, and other senior officials and Iraq portrayed the visit as breach of its isolation and a slap in the face for Washington.
The U-S State Department spokesman has criticised the visit saying it did not think it was "good" for democratically elected leaders to set this kind of precedent.
It questioned why a world leader would develop ties with a dictator who has invaded and occupied neighboring countries and persecuted his own people
But Chavez was unruffled by the criticism and has in the past nurtured ties with other countries also not popular in the United States, including China, Cuba, and Libya.
Speaking at a news conference, Chavez said he didn't take Washington's criticism on board.
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish with Arabic translation following) (rough translation only )
"With regards to the statement made by the United States, I am very sorry for that. This was also said by the (Venezuelan) foreign ministry a few days ago. We are sorry and we denounce any interference in our internal affairs. We reject that interference and will not tolerate it. In the name of the Venezuelan people we reject that.
SUPER CAPTION: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
He said the discussions explored ways of boosting the role of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
SOUNDBITE: (Spanish with Arabic translation following) (rough translation only )
"We came to Iraq to speak with his excellency President Saddam Hussein and his government about many topics. Especially topics concerned with oil and the OPEC issues. We are talking about the necessity of keeping oil prices stable and the necessity of enhancing relations within OPEC. We are pleased to invite President Saddam to come to the OPEC meeting which will be held next month in Caracas. "
SUPER CAPTION: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
Chavez's trip to the Middle East was designed to drum up support for a summit of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries in Caracas on September. 27.
On Thursday, he urged OPEC states to work together to support the price of oil which, he said, contrary to the U-S view, was not too high.
He said that if prices fell again as they did last year, it would be "catastrophic" for a country like Venezuela.
Chavez's tour has taken him to Kuwait, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates this week.
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