Category: World Service
Date: 21.10.2005
Printable version
The President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, has accused the United States of plotting to invade his country to gain control of its oil.
Ìý
He told the 91Èȱ¬ World Service: "We have got proof - evidence of military studies for a supposed invasion of Venezuela which we are sure is never going to happen. But we have to reveal this and warn the world.
Ìý
"And what is it they want? Our oil as they did in Iraq. The invasion of Iraq was about oil... and the threats against Venezuela are all about oil."
Ìý
President Chavez said Venezuela had the biggest oil reserves in the world - 330 billion barrels - while the US had only 20 billion barrels and used 20 million barrels every day.
Ìý
He believed the scale of consumption of oil in the US was a "horrible thing" and added: "It's this imperialist mission of the Bush administration - it's this madness that drove them to the invasion of Iraq."
Ìý
In an exclusive interview for the Talking Point programme on 91Èȱ¬ World Service and 91Èȱ¬ World Television to be broadcast on Sunday (23 October 2005), he also accused "some of the most radical on the extreme right in North America" of "dreaming of invading" his country.
Ìý
Asked by interviewer Robin Lustig whether President George W Bush should "fear Hugo Chavez", he said: "No, no, no - there's no need.
Ìý
"If he is afraid, it's because of his own complexes, a dark ghost in his sub-conscious. He's somewhat confused mentally and he doesn't understand humanity.
Ìý
"We need a new President in the US - a President who understands humanity and will be human."
Ìý
He had tried to have good relations with President Bush - recalling when they'd met at an Americas summit in Canada shortly after the US presidential election.
Ìý
"We shook hands... I said, in my bad English, with great sincerity 'I want to be your friend' and he said 'me too'. But it wasn't possible then and it hasn't been possible - and I think it's impossible."
Ìý
President Chavez added that Venezuela wanted "open relations with the whole world. We want a world where everyone talks to each other, we want full integration, but with respect. We're not a threat to anyone, absolutely no-one."
Ìý
Questioned about what he believed was a "reasonable" price for crude oil, he said: "We don't want oil prices to keep going up. We are calling on the world - esecially the big consumers - to take measures to deal with this problem."
Ìý
Asked about concern in the United States and Europe about the possibility of Iran developing nuclear weapons, he said: "No-one should have nuclear weapons, they're horrific."
Ìý
But he added: "Who can deny a country that has the technology the right to develop nuclear technology for peaceful means? For medical purposes and to generate electricity?
Ìý
"It's the right of every country and even Venezuela would like to be able to do it."
Ìý
Asked if putting the toppled Iraqi leader, Saddan Hussein, on trial accused of murder was the "right way to proceed", he said: "Justice always has to prevail. No-one should tamper with due process.
Ìý
"If he is guilty, then he should be punished like everyone else. Justice is the basis for peace, there is no peace without justice."
Ìý
