International

According to former Attorney General Isaias Rodriguez, the so-called “final offensive” against Venezuela is being planned presumably from Colombia, and would be executed by that country’s army, according to agreements between Colombian President Álvaro Uribe and US Ambassador William Brownfield.

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro proposed that Latin American countries create a food bank to counter food supply problems and that oil profits of the region go towards a new food fund. Maduro made the proposal during the Food summit held in Nicaragua on Wednesday.

Venezuela will not recognize the results of an autonomy referendum, marred by fraud, abstention, and violence in Bolivia’s richest state, Santa Cruz on Sunday, Venezuelan representative to the Organisation of American States (OAS), Jorge Valero assured Sunday night.

The Venezuelan government reaffirmed its support for the territorial integrity of Bolivia and the government of Evo Morales in the face of moves by rightwing oppositionists in the state of Santa Cruz, to hold an unconstitutional referendum on autonomy this Sunday, May 4.

Venezuela’s Ambassador to the U.S., Bernardo Alvarez Herrera, told CNN yesterday that the just released U.S. State Department report on terrorism is "mostly motivated by political disagreements" with Venezuela.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez met with New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson to discuss a proposal for the release of three U.S. citizens held by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), at Miraflores President Palace on Saturday.

The libertarian, U.S.-based Cato Institute awarded the $500,000 Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty to Venezuelan opposition student leader Yon Goicoechea for his leadership in recent student protests. Critics say the award is a new source of opposition funding.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez convened an extraordinary meeting of member nations of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA) in Caracas early Wednesday morning to discuss the world food crisis and the political crisis in eastern Bolivia.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez congratulated Paraguay's President-elect, the progressive former bishop, Fernando Lugo, on his historic victory on Sunday night. Chavez also denied accusations of Venezuelan interference in the election, calling these expressions of fear.

A South American defense council to mediate regional conflicts and defend South America from foreign intervention could be concretized this year, the Brazilian Defense Minister Nelson Jobim said after meeting with President Hugo Chávez in Caracas Monday.