Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said yesterday that Venezuela would vote against the declaration of the Summit of the Americas in a gesture of protest against the US.
The summit, which began yesterday, brings together all 34 members of the Organization of American States (OAS). But Chavez said it reinforces a US foreign policy that treats the rest of Latin America as subservient to Washington’s interests.
The socialist leader criticized a clause in the draft declaration of the Americas Summit referring to democracy, saying such language should not be used to exclude Cuba.
“Where is there more democracy, in the United States or in Cuba?” he said. “I have no doubt — there’s more democracy in Cuba.”
Chavez said a new hemispheric group that does not give the US such power should be created to replace the OAS, and he suggested this weekend’s summit in Trinidad “should be the last of its kind.”
The fiery Venezuelan leader is unlikely to soften his tone at the Americas Summit — even as he seeks improved relations with Washington, said analyst Michael Shifter of the Inter-American Dialogue in Washington.
“Chavez would be wise to lay low, but he may not be able to help himself,” Shifter said. “He will want to remind the region, and the world, that he is still a leading figure who deserves to be taken very seriously.”
The US pays more than 70 percent of the OAS budget, which affords it certain privileges in the organization. All decisions by the OAS are by consensus.
Chavez’s defense of Cuba came as he welcomed his closest Latin American allies for talks aimed at demonstrating a united front ahead of their first encounter with US President Barack Obama at the summit.
“Why does Cuba continue to be mistreated?” Chavez said after warmly greeting Cuban President Raul Castro at the airport, condemning the US trade embargo against the island.
Venezuela and other members of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Nations of Our America also plan to lessen reliance on the US dollar by establishing a common currency, the sucre, for trade purposes.
The leaders signed an agreement creating what Chavez said will be a “virtual currency” for trade.
BACKLASH: The National Party quit its decades-long partnership with the Liberal Party after their election loss to center-left Labor, which won a historic third term Australia’s National Party has split from its conservative coalition partner of more than 60 years, the Liberal Party, citing policy differences over renewable energy and after a resounding loss at a national election this month. “Its time to have a break,” Nationals leader David Littleproud told reporters yesterday. The split shows the pressure on Australia’s conservative parties after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s center-left Labor party won a historic second term in the May 3 election, powered by a voter backlash against US President Donald Trump’s policies. Under the long-standing partnership in state and federal politics, the Liberal and National coalition had shared power
CONTROVERSY: During the performance of Israel’s entrant Yuval Raphael’s song ‘New Day Will Rise,’ loud whistles were heard and two people tried to get on stage Austria’s JJ yesterday won the Eurovision Song Contest, with his operatic song Wasted Love triumphing at the world’s biggest live music television event. After votes from national juries around Europe and viewers from across the continent and beyond, JJ gave Austria its first victory since bearded drag performer Conchita Wurst’s 2014 triumph. After the nail-biting drama as the votes were revealed running into yesterday morning, Austria finished with 436 points, ahead of Israel — whose participation drew protests — on 357 and Estonia on 356. “Thank you to you, Europe, for making my dreams come true,” 24-year-old countertenor JJ, whose
NO EXCUSES: Marcos said his administration was acting on voters’ demands, but an academic said the move was emotionally motivated after a poor midterm showing Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr yesterday sought the resignation of all his Cabinet secretaries, in a move seen as an attempt to reset the political agenda and assert his authority over the second half of his single six-year term. The order came after the president’s allies failed to win a majority of Senate seats contested in the 12 polls on Monday last week, leaving Marcos facing a divided political and legislative landscape that could thwart his attempts to have an ally succeed him in 2028. “He’s talking to the people, trying to salvage whatever political capital he has left. I think it’s
A documentary whose main subject, 25-year-old photojournalist Fatima Hassouna, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza weeks before it premiered at Cannes stunned viewers into silence at the festival on Thursday. As the cinema lights came back on, filmmaker Sepideh Farsi held up an image of the young Palestinian woman killed with younger siblings on April 16, and encouraged the audience to stand up and clap to pay tribute. “To kill a child, to kill a photographer is unacceptable,” Farsi said. “There are still children to save. It must be done fast,” the exiled Iranian filmmaker added. With Israel