United States embassy officials in Tegucigalpa, Honduras believe that Hugo Chavez may have asked the government of that country to meet certain conditions in order to benefit from Petrocaribe, a confidential cable leaked by whistleblower site Wikileaks has revealed.
The alleged conditions stipulates that Honduras should remove the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) from any terrorist lists or publicly acknowledge it as not being a terrorist organization and for Honduras to attend an ALBA summit in Caracas.
This brings into focus what conditions Chavez may have placed on other countries, like Dominica, that have signed to Petrocaribe and ALBA .
According to the cable, which was released on January 29, embassy sources inside Honduras’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that during his January 16, 2008 visit to Tegucigalpa, Chavez asked President Manuel Zelaya to either remove the FARC from any terrorist lists or acknowledge it as not being a terrorist organization.
The cable alleges that Zelaya was in the process of consulting his respective ministries and no consensus was reached when the matter went public via a Honduran newspaper. The newspaper quoted Vice Foreign Minister Enrique Reina as saying that the Honduran government has condemned all terrorist attacks, but that in the case of Colombia, they regard the FARC as an internal matter that the Colombians need to resolve themselves.
Almost immediately after the newspaper publication the Honduran government went on the defensive and denied that Reina’s pronouncements were not made in response to Chavez and stated that it does not have its own list of terrorist organizations, but bases its actions on both the UN and United States Government lists.
Embassy sources also told them that when Chief of Defense Romeo Vasquez Velasquez was asked his opinion on the matter he said that since the FARC does not threaten Honduras’ borders, it is considered an internal threat and not a terrorist organization. However, when approached directly and publicly, Velasquez said that Honduras worked only with the UN terrorist list and the newspaper article only wanted to stir up trouble with the United States, the cable alleges.
Embassy officials also believed that Chavez pressured Zelaya into sending a representative to the Sixth ALBA Summit if he was serious about getting a Petrocaribe deal. The summit was subsequently attended by Honduran Foreign Minister, Milton Jimenez as an observer.
“We doubt it is mere coincidence that Chavez did not sign the draft Petrocaribe deal until the conclusion of the ALBA summit, when he could have signed it during his January 16 visit,” the cable pointed out.
ALBA, in English “Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America” was proposed by Chavez as an alternative to Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and was first signed between Venezuela and Cuba in December 14, 2004. Dominica became a member in January 20, 2008. Currently there are eight member states in the Caribbean and Latin America.
Petrocaribe is a Caribbean oil alliance with Venezuela to purchase oil on conditions of preferential payment and was launched in 2005. Twelve of the fifteen members of CARICOM plus Cuba and the Dominican Republic signed the agreement on 7 September 2005.
FARC is considered a terrorist group by both the US and the UN and is the oldest insurgent group in the Americas. It was established in 1964.
We all know that the crazy leftist Venezuelan dictator Chavez does not provide any help to any country without obtaining something in return.
Being a member of the ALBA, DA is now one of Chavez allies ; what a shame !!
DGF
Have you seen a difference in your gas or any petroleum product prices, since you became a member of ALBA? Nothing much has changed except Chavez has bought you and your country, resulting in Skerrit and his cabal as the profiteers. The Colombian government, the US and UN are on record in naming the FARC a terrorist organization. Who are we to judge when it’s not our people who have been savaged and suffering for decades at the hands of this ruthless organization? We are not privy to the information about the crimes and kidnapping they have committed. Chavez knows very well what they represent. Sooner or later, you will know the implication of the Memo of understanding that Roosevelt signed on your behalf. What I know? I’m just the Lougawoo feeding on crab and calaloo in the Dubic woods.
Dominicans must be told in BOLD that they arent Brilliant in any affairs at all..
It must be Confirmed to them……
The price of ALBA oil going up… let’s face the music. I like flamenco.
So what if Chavez sets down condition for his oil , loans and grants. Whe4re did he learn that from , other than the good old USof A. During the cold war all US aid was dependent on the side we supported was that not something to comment about but yet we accepted their conditions, Even the good old IMF and world bank imposes such poverty inducing measures before they make simple developmental loans and that is world wide. Therefore Chavez has every right to make whatever demands and impose conditions.Even our banks impose strict conditioons before they lend a measly five grand,Any way why is DNO carrying this planted story
it is well known the madman chavez does what he wants. question is; do we have to bow down to his demands and accept his conditions?
Guys these leaks are confidential information shared between high profile people in the US government. This is not the propaganda that they feed to the public. I beleive that they have truth in them. maybe not 100% but at least 90%.
Well what can I say, I never considered FARC as terrorist. The US wants to remove MEK from the list of terrorist list and the are supporting some of the most terrorist countries like IsraHell so I don’t see the problem here. Every country has a agenda, I don’t see why Chevez can’t have one.
All country, as u said has their own agenda..as I can remember, that same Chavez has gas company right here in America..what’s the problem?
Huh? what are you talking about?
I think the only thing Dominica had to bargain with was bird island. Chavez already claimed it and had troops there so how is Dominica meant to go and get it back? You think America would help? The same America who supports israel after they bold facely run the Palestinians off their land? O don’t think so. There is no way we could have secured bird island so if, and that’s a big if. But if that is what we gave up then I say we got a good deal because we cannot war with Chavez. That’s a loss automatically and for all the talk of America saying this and that, they would do nothing about it because there is no benefit for the us.
And this is just m thoughts it’s not motivated by poltics in any way. It’s just how the world works and the larger countries just do what they want while smaller ones have to take it
The condition or Dominica is Bird Island.
One day the truth will come out and somebody will pay for it
Can you please show me in print any documents which list Bird Island as ours?Or Venezuela? Serious ting. It closer to us yes but where is the print so there is more proof that we sold something. It only now hit me I never saw this in any book or atlas.
so why cant we see the MOU in print?
Just google “Petrocaribe and Bird Island”
So… what wrong did Chavez do? I’m not getting it.
If he is asking for the FARC to be removed from a terrorist list by putting certain things in place, where does Dominica come in?
The article was written with a particular intent. And if Chavez placed certain conditions on Dominica it was up to Dominica to say yes or no. No one forced Dominica, St. Vincent or St. Lucia to sign anything, and they had the choice to not to.
The US is just a terrorist like everyone one else on its terrorist list, why right now it is unable to assert any influence on the Egyptian situation right now.
If fight brakes between Venezuela and Dominica who is going the defend us it wouldnt be you and that’s why the U.A.S is kleeping an eye on what is going on at home they giving us a chance to hang ourselves out of greed because they will be the one we will run to so if you feel that Chavez will be fighting our battle you sadly mistaken right now we dont know what is in some of those agreements that the PM signed we are most likely sitting docks, and ask yourself who or how are we going to pay back all those monies
Venezuela and it’s people are going thru struggles their is so much poverty in that country do you as a DOMINICAN believe that things are good in that country you would be kidding yourselves to think so just think when Chavez come bearing gifts ask yourselves where and from whom is he taking if from to bring to Dominica we love so much hand out that we join with the ppl’s who try to convey that he is a good man well doesnt that remind you of someone we all know.Observer said it correctly ” I DONT WANT IT’Te Calyposonians
Go do some research about Venezuela, and compare it to some other countries and find ou
Nobdody arm was twisted herer….
A more effecient public transportation does n’t mean that government has to control it.
We just have to upgrade what we have.Make it less chaotic.The bus operators run “when they
want”..no bus scedules..one can hardly get a bus after 8 pm in dominica
I would like to know what it is that we had to agree to in order to get PetroCaribe. Did we have to sell our dignity, honesty, good governance or soul to Shavez? Have anyone ask themself this question? What is happening to that Isle of beauty?
Lazy Dominicans like Free Lunch Take your Blows, good thing i out.
AMEN TO THAT BROTHER
UNFORTUNATELY, I STILL IN
I SHOULD HAVE STAYED OUT WHEN I WAS STILL OUT
I hope you stay out for the rest of your life. Some who are out are still concerned about their place of birth to which they hope to return some day.
I just come on DNO to see how that island in the same place, and laugh about it. Dominica society is wicked towards their fellow brothers, keep on with all u pace, i will keep on reading about that place, lol lol
And what were hundred’s of thousands of documents from the US reveal about its dealings and manupulations of other countries?
All leaders will try to assert themsleves to their advantage. This is not strange of Chavez and certainly not new to Obama or his predecessors. The hypocricy, of the once mighty USA, is just too amazing.
Has the CIA repented of all its atrocities around the world?
what does dominica owe venezuela?,,,,, or should i say how much does dominica owe petro caribe?
Bird Island we owe them.
They have it already.
News
Wind farm selected in first selection of clean energy projects
11 January 2010
A wind farm in the Caribbean island of Dominica is one of the first three projects to receive US funding under the ‘Energy & Climate Partnership of the Americas’ announced by President Obama at the 2009 Summit of the Americas.
Ha Ha…the devil’s in the deal.
Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense
That being said, I don’t beleive anything America says. They twist the news to please their agenda and Israel only.
In the meantime America imports 15% of its Petro from Venezuela
you can really defend bulls*&^. one day when those secret documents are released i hope you post comments condemming the ones who signed them
Who is America to talk down to people…look who they supported for how many years …Mubarak, Saddam and all thise other dictators only to say something else when it suits them.
Forkit, every country has a sovereign right to its own agenda
Wasn’t America that want to Come after my WIKILEAkS and its operation
And that was after I put all their dirty little secrets outside. Venezuela Secrets are like a VIRGIN compared to America’s
Just for a moment think of it…If the Great USA had only allowed Europe to import just 10% of CARICOM Bananas on preferential treatment and then Europe accepts the other 90% we would never be in bed with Chavez. If only the US had said, I will import some of your soap, we would still have DCP and Refresh soaps across the Caribbean…Instead we have DIAL and PALMOLIVE
Where was America to call Apartheid Terrorist when Nelson Mandella was taking sticks….they sided with Botha and his regime
DOMINICANS STUDY HISTORY PLEASE
Wiki I agree with you. America does nothing for us except import our smart people.
They will lay down with the best of them and worst if it serves their needs.
Emboffs met with private sector representatives August 14, including President of the National Council for Private Enterprise (COHEP), Amilcar Bulnes, Acting President of the Tegucigalpa Chamber of Commerce, Carlos Bueso, and President of the Private Banking Association (AHIBA), Roque Rivera.
These representatives had publicly announced their opposition to ALBA the day after a meeting with President Zelaya. These private sector representatives told Emboffs that membership
in ALBA would define Honduras as a “communist” country, and said it would give the GOH impetus to nationalize private enterprises on a mass scale. Rivera said a growing climate of economic uncertainty over last two years is punctuated by increasing aggression toward foreign banks, changes to the fuel price formula, a flagrantly mismanaged state budget, and an increasing tendency to issue public procurements through no-bid contracts under the guise of “emergencies.” But, he said none of this matches the damage that would be done by ALBA.
Admin note: emboff stands for “embassy officials.”
The question is, simply this:
One Mans Terrorist is another mans Freedom Fighter.
America had its Saboteurs when they were fighting for Independence from the Mother land.
Egypt was Americas friend for over 30 years and that is appearing to change now with new events.
FARC has been fighting for a reason. We are not in their shoes so we can not judge.
The Wikileaks posting or cable comes from what country?
The little red dictator in Venezuela flexing his petroleum muscle to force beggars like Castro and Skerrit to kiss his behind for a few drops of oil.
Dominica has so many sources of alternative energy..Solar,hydro,Geothermal,
wind,and sea swells.We don’t need Chavez and his high sulphur inferior petroleum.
What we need is investment in alternative sources of energy and conservation. We need a
more effecient public transportation system to discourage the use of private vehicles and
petroleum consumption.
Yes I – Well said. I always wonder why could we not have used the petro caribe dollars like Jamaica. Jamaica took the money and extended the Wigton Wind Farm which will generate low cost energy for the next 25 yrs with no green house gas emissions. We should have done the same especially when we call ourselves the Nature Isle – we have wind, solar, goethermal, biomass, etc. I think our decision makers chose not to think when they are negotiating them deals.
You all are always present to label governments who ask for or accept help as beggars.if u get a chance to be pm you will use only your resources?america is big yet they deal with COMMUNIST. CHINA.DIG THIS.those who were mad against against Kadafi now gives him the red carpet.u do not want the gov’t to beg give them money to work.any party in power must look for outside help.stop spitting in your soup.DA we love u. I have no political affiliation.
“We need a more effecient public transportation system to discourage the use of private vehicles and petroleum consumption.”
Been thinking along those lines for a very long time now, until I began asking myself, “What would you do with the large number of private owners of the many mini buses who conduct a productive trade transporting citizens across island daily?”
If for no other reason, these guys – and the service they provide – could be cited as one of the strongest examples of entrepreneurship.
Co-opting them into a public transportation system (if that implies a government-run service) would kill this brand of individual ambition, creativity and drive of seeking economic fortune through one’s own initiative.
However, I support the arguments made in support of moving toward energy independence in Dominica.
You knOw how long I have been saying we can set a trend????? The 1st country in the world to go 100% clean energy it will boost our reputation soooooo high. The nature isle of the Caribbean leading the world and proving we can use clean energy. Think about the free marketing we would get???? I know others are thinking the same it needs to be done we need to inovatd and lead! I belive we can do it bug these guys got too many ppl telling them what to do.