The press review this week is dedicated mainly to the government of Venezuela's decision to cut diplomatic relations with Colombia, seen as an ally of the US. The decision was taken after Colombia brought proof that Venezuela is supporting terrorist groups -- the FARC movement among them -- involved in the ongoing Colombian armed conflict. In the past. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, referring to Colombia, said that he will not allow another "Israel in South America." On March 2, 2008[1] on his weekly program "Alo Presidente," Chavez said: "We shall absolutely not accept that Colombia will become the new Israel in this region. Israel invades Lebanon, bombs, kills and they say that it is in their own legitimate defense. Israel invades the Gaza region, every day they bomb in order to kill a Palestinian leader...and they do not care who is being killed....it is the hand of imperialism against the Arab world, in order to divide it...[Colombian President Alvaro] Uribe, we will not let you install another Israel here in South America."
Contents:
- Cartoon on US and the Jews
- Washington rules out military action against Venezuela
- Chavez warns about likely armed attack against Venezuela and threatens to stop oil shipments to the US
- Venezuela breaks relations with Colombia and orders "maximum alert on the borders"
- Venezuela receives presidents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
- Morales: Colombia and Israel are US colonies that want to dominate revolutionary countries
- Kuwaiti PM visits Cuba; Upcoming opening of a Kuwaiti embassy in Havana
Telesur (Venezuela)
July 26, 2010
Washington rules out military action against Venezuela
The United States rules out any military action against Venezuela, said Virginia Staab, a US State Department spokeswoman, after Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez threatened to cut oil supplies to the US if Washington supports an attack against the South American country.
The US is the main consumer of Venezuelan oil.
El Universal (Venezuela)
July 26, 2010
Chavez warns about likely armed attack against Venezuela and threatens to stop oil shipments to the US
A ceremony to swear in 12,000 members of the election patrols of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) served as a backdrop for Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to announce the suspension of his trip to Cuba, attributing the decision to a likely armed attack against Venezuela.
In a brief speech, threatening once again to suspend oil shipments to the United States, he reminded the opposition that they will suffer the consequences of a foreign military intervention and warned the Venezuelan people that popular sovereignty will be defended even if it involves "eating stones."
Chavez, who on Saturday cited a letter from "a friend in the United States," who warned him against an assassination attempt, stressed that based on "intelligence reports" he could assert that "the possibility of an armed aggression against Venezuelan territory from Colombia was bigger than never before in all these years." "If there is any armed aggression against Venezuela from Colombian territory or anywhere else supported by the Yankee Empire -- Chavez said -- we would stop oil shipments to the United States, even if we had to eat stones. We would not send a drop of oil to the United States."
Chavez even compared his situation with that of Manuel Noriega, the former President of Panama. "The Yankees can do anything. The US invaded Panama with the excuse that Noriega supported drug trafficking and they have been unable to prove that allegation (...) They have just sent a fleet to Costa Rica. The mission of the fleet would be to contain the possible reaction of Cuba and Nicaragua in case of an attack against Venezuela."
El Universal (Venezuela)
July 23, 2010
Venezuela breaks relations with Colombia and orders "maximum alert on the borders"
President Chavez ordered maximum alert on Venezuela's border with Colombia after the Uribe administration claimed that the Chavez government harbors terrorists and terrorist training camps. Colombia before member states of the Organization of American States (OAS) stated that Venezuela is harboring "terrorists" from the Armed Revolutionary Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN) and hosting several "terrorist training camps" near the border region that divides the two nations. After Colombia's presentation before the OAS, President Chavez announced a complete rupture in relations. Chavez also ordered troops to secure all border areas. "I have ordered a maximum alert on our borders. Uribe is a Mafioso and a liar, and is capable of anything".
Correo del Orinoco (Venezuela)
July 23, 2010
Venezuela receives presidents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
Venezuela received the presidents of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, former republics of the Soviet Union, making their first visits to Latin America. In 2009, Venezuela officially recognized Abkhazia and South Ossetia, after they declared their independence from Georgia in 2008. While Russia also recognizes the independence of these two former Soviet republics, the United States and the vast majority of other countries of the world, however, consider both Abkhazia and South Ossetia to be part of Georgia.
July 22, 2010
Morales: Colombia and Israel are US colonies that want to dominate revolutionary countries
The President of Bolivia, Evo Morales, accused Colombia and Israel to be US "colonies" and "foot soldiers" with the only goal to create wars and "dominate revolutionary countries." He added that the US uses a regional control on Colombia to create wars against Venezuela, Nicaragua, Ecuador and Bolivia.
Telesur (Venezuela)
July 20, 2010
Kuwaiti PM visits Cuba; Upcoming opening of a Kuwaiti embassy in Havana
President Raul Castro met with the Prime Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah. The two leaders exchanged views on joint economic projects and on the current situation in the Middle East. Castro and Sheikh Nasser Al-Sabah also welcomed the upcoming opening of a Kuwaiti embassy in Havana.
Granma (Cuba)
[1] Antisemitism worldwide 2008/2009, Tel Aviv University
