VENEZUELA: President Chavez threatens to cut U.S oil exports in speech at supporters rally before referendum

Record ID: 777665

  • Title: VENEZUELA: President Chavez threatens to cut U.S oil exports in speech at supporters rally before referendum
  • Date: 1st December 2007
  • Summary: CHAVEZ ARRIVING ON STAGE WITH HIS GRANDSON IN HIS ARMS CHAVEZ DOLL (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ, SAYING: "The only way that relations with Spain, with the government of Spain, with the Spanish companies that are here-- which are various, I have the list-- the only way that that will be fixed is for the King of Spain to apologize for having insulted the Venezuelan head of state." SUPPORTER HOLDING PRO-CHAVEZ POSTER THAT SHOWS JESUS CHRIST AND READS: 'CHRIST, THE FIRST REVOLUTIONARY' (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ, SAYING: "The Spaniards bought some banks here. It costs me nothing to take those banks back and nationalize them again and put them at the service of the Venezuelan people. It costs me nothing. It costs me nothing." SUPPORTERS RALLYING (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ, SAYING: "Let the United States know that if the so-called 'Operation Pincer' is activated this Sunday, this Monday or whenever, there will not be a single drop of oil for the United States. No oil will leave Venezuela for the United States. And if they want to come and take away our oil, they will have to spend 100 years of war in Venezuela to detain this fatherland again." POSTER IN SUPPORT OF A YES VOTE FOR CHAVEZ (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ, SAYING; "Well, as you know, (Colombian) President (Alvaro) Uribe, following orders of the United States government and of the Bogota oligarchy, decided in a brutal, irresponsible and inhumane way to end without telling me anything even, without even a call or an emissary to tell me that my role was finished, which I consider to be person disrespect, political disrespect and an act of very little courage and worth in a president." CHAVEZ SUPPORTERS RALLYING
  • Embargoed: 16th December 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations,Energy
  • Reuters ID: LVA2U54FG9ZW9NC6ZC5AZOSY3YKY
  • Story Text: Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez threatens to cut ties with Spain and to cut oil exports to U.S. and slams Colombian President Alvaro Uribe as he rallies over 100,000 supporters ahead of his historic referendum.
    Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Friday (November 30) threatened to cut diplomatic ties with Spain and oil exports to U.S. at a rally where he also called Colombian President Alvaro Uribe 'disrespectful.' Chavez spoke to over 100,000 supporters before a weekend referendum on overhauling the oil-producing country's constitution that would expand his powers and allow him to run indefinitely.
    Chavez rode through the crowd of supporters atop a caravan, dressed in his signature red emblazoned with the word "Yes" and banging his fist against his palm.
    Speaking to the crowd, he threatened to cut diplomatic ties with Spain if the former colonial power's king does not apologize for telling him earlier this month to "shut up" at a summit meeting.

    "The only way that relations with Spain, with the government of Spain, with the Spanish companies that are here-- which are various, I have the list-- the only way that that will be fixed is for the King of Spain to apologize for having insulted the Venezuelan head of state," he said.
    He also warned he could start to consider acting against Spanish companies in the OPEC nation if King Juan Carlos fails to meet his demand.

    "The Spaniards bought some banks here. It costs me nothing to take those banks back and nationalize them again and put them at the service of the Venezuelan people," he said. Chavez's threats were an escalation of the spat with Spain and came as he intensified disputes with Colombia and the United States.
    He has already frozen diplomatic ties with Spain over the king's rebuke and threatened to take over some of the multi-billion dollar investments of Spanish companies that operate in the banking, telecommunications and oil sectors.
    Chavez also said he will cut oil sales to the United States if the American government interferes in Sunday's referendum.
    Chavez told supports at a rally that the state oil company will halt sales to the United States on Monday if Washington interferes with the vote on the proposed constitutional reform.

    "Let the United States know that if the so-called 'Operation Pincer' is activated this Sunday, this Monday or whenever, there will not be a single drop of oil for the Untied States," he said. "No oil will leave Venezuela for the United States. And if they want to come and take away our oil, they will have to spend 100 years of war in Venezuela to detain this fatherland again."
    The Venezuelan leader and Cuba ally also said he had ordered the military to protect oil fields and refineries in case of political violence.
    Chavez also criticized Colombian President Alvaro Uribe for removing him as mediator for the release of hostages held by leftist guerillas after Uribe said Chavez broke with protocol by speaking to the head of Colombia's army without permission.

    "Well, as you know, (Colombian) President (Alvaro) Uribe, following orders of the United States government and of the Bogota oligarchy, decided in a brutal, irresponsible and inhumane way to end without telling me anything even, without even a call or an emissary to tell me that my role was finished, which I consider to be person disrespect, political disrespect and an act of very little courage and worth in a president," he said.
    On Tuesday, Chavez recalled the Venezuelan ambassador to Colombia although Uribe kept his envoy in Caracas.
    The crowds cheered throughout the announcement, eager for Sunday's referendum.
    Polls show a technical tie between the "Yes" and "No" votes on the constitutional overhaul that would let Chavez run for re-election indefinitely.
    The reform would also give him direct control over foreign currency reserves while reducing the workday to six hours and expanding social security benefits for informal workers like street vendors.
    Chavez has struggled to sell the changes to many of his own supporters despite strong backing from the nation's poor majority for social programs financed by the OPEC nation's oil industry, which provides some 12 percent of U.S. oil imports.
    His get-out-the-vote machinery could tip the balance against a fractured opposition that has largely pinned its hopes on an untested movement of anti-Chavez university students.
    National Electoral Council President Tibisay Lucena encouraged Venezuelans to vote and accept Sunday's results.

    "All of society's sectors have responsibility to respect the exercise of this right and accept the results as a faithful reflection of the sovereign will of the Venezuelan people. The national armed forces, under instructions of the electoral power since it establishes the national constitution, guarantees secure conditions for everyone. Vote. You decide."
    Opposition leaders have pledged to stage protests if the Chavez-controlled electoral authority tampers with the vote, while government leaders say the opposition is preparing to cry fraud and launch violent demonstrations if the reform passes.
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