Chavez: Venezuela does not recognise Kosovo

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Chavez: Venezuela does not recognise Kosovo

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Caracas, Venezuela, 21 February 2008. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias has today rejected the unilateral statehood of Kosovo as "it is the result of US pressure".  Chavez also fustigated the UN for allowing such statehood declaration within its own mandate. He then call for a revision of this independence declaration at UN and the EU. After warning of similar moves against Latin American Countries such as Bolivia, Chavez called the unilateral declaration of Independence of Kosovo a very bad precedent.

Venezuelan diplomatic stand on this thorny issue coincides with Russia, Spain and China. However, it was also worded after some remarks made by the local opposition. Two days ago and during a televised show on Globovision, its prominent opposition presenter and ex political appointee Ambassador, Julio César Pineda, equated Kosovo independence with a "similar call" made by Venezuelan western region of Zulia.  However, such separatist asseveration has no historical or real backing. Zulia state collides with Colombia and has provided major oil revenues to Venezuela. It is currently under the local government of opposition governor Manuel Rosales. Thus, Pineda´s remark are interpreted as a move to ignite pre electoral campaigns for local authorities. Local elections are expected by the end of this year.

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