Venezuela condones Hondura´s debt

<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Caracas, Tuesday, January 15, 2008. During his Central American tour, Venezuelan President, Hugo Chavez said his country condoned Hondura an old debt for US$ 30 million. He also invited Honduran President Manuel Celaya to join 16-member Petro Caribe, an oil regional cooperation scheme. Since 2005 and under the Petro Caribe scheme, Venezuela sells 200 thousand oil barrel a day to the 15 Caribbean countries. They can pay 60% of their Venezuelan oil imports within 90 days. The remaining 40% is to be paid within 25 years at a 1% annual interest rate. Honduran Parliament will discuss a bill to join Petro Caribe on Monday. At Tegucigalpa, Chavez asked social movements to promote a united Central America

Chavez visited Honduras after attending  the inaugural ceremony of President of Guatemala, Alvaro Colom, on Monday This evening, he travelled to Mangua for a bilateral working visit. Upon arrival, Chavez attended a final baseball game in Nicaragua.

Sources: Telesur,  El Universal, Globovision, VTV, RNV,