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Chávez urges acceleration of real
Latin American integration
PANAMA, June 23 (PL).— Setting all protocol aside
and visibly enthusiastic, Venezuelan President Hugo
Chávez today urged the peoples of Latin American to
fight for true integration and open the road to the
development of their countries.
In the midst of fervent expressions of solidarity,
students, teachers, trade union leaders and
representatives of indigenous communities listened
attentively to his speech, which went on past
midnight, at the University of Panama (UP).
About 2,000 people filled the university’s
audirorium, but the number of people who came to
show their support for Chávez exceeded expectations,
and a giant TV screen had to be set up on the
university esplanade.
The Venezuelan president feelingly recounted
Bolívar’s last days and death, marked by frustration
and sadness in the belief that his sacrifices had
been futile.
“If it were possible, something that would give me
enormous pleasure would be to embrace the Liberator
and tell him that his battles opened the road in a
visionary way, they showed the strategy for
achieving the supreme goal of giving independence,
sovereignty and development to the nations of Our
America,” he affirmed.
“Another world is possible; let us remove ourselves
from our differences, forge consciousness and
determination to struggle; let us be active
spectators of our reality, to make Latin America a
prosperous and happy region,” he urged.
The leader of the Bolivarian Revolution reiterated
his willingness to cooperate dynamically with the
Panamanian government in the construction of a
refinery and modernization of the country’s oil
pipeline.
Likewise, he said that a good possibility exists for
including Panama as part of the undersea gas
pipeline soon to be built by Venezuela and Colombia
from Cartagena de Indias.
“We also talked to Torrijos about creating a joint
enterprise for supplying fuel at preferential
prices, which would require new legislation here. We
are not going to give gasoline to the transnationals
so that they can get richer,” he noted.
Chávez explained that for historical reasons and his
eternal admiration for the deceased General Omar
Torrijos, architect of the recovery of sovereignty
over the Panama Canal, his desire is to boost
bilateral ties more than ever.
As the most recent examples, he noted the furious
attacks by three U.S. Congress members and
Representatives, talking nonsense about his person,
and mentioned the announcement of a video game that
is soon to be put on the market in the northern
giant.
“They say unconcernedly that the video game is about
invading Venezuela, overthrowing the dictator (me of
course), and securing its oil. It is clearly a
maneuver to create a climate for invading my
country,” he said.
“They are going to be sweeping up our ashes, because
we know how to confront military aggression, just as
we have said that if they touch Cuba there will be
Venezuelan blood defending our projects,” he
affirmed.
The Venezuelan leader is carrying out an intense
work schedule, including a private meeting with
Torrijos, the laying of a floral wreath at a statue
of the Liberator, and the signing of memorandums of
understanding for bilateral trade, with predominance
in the energy sector.
Also during his visit, he spoke at Bolívar Palace,
which houses the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; in the
National Assembly, and at the Hotel Caesar Park,
with business owners.
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