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U.S. Stance Against Venezuela Has Dangers
(Nick Wadhams, Forbes.com, July 19, 2006)
The United States is lobbying hard to block Venezuela's bid for a seat on the U.N. Security Council, fearful that Hugo Chavez, its fiercely anti-American president, will disrupt the body as it confronts hot issues such as Iran and Sudan. . . . But interviews with some 15 diplomats of member states reveal substantial wariness about the U.S. effort, with the critics warning it could boomerang against the U.S. choice, Guatemala, when the General Assembly votes in October. . . . A European diplomat, refusing to be identified further saying he didn't want to anger the Americans, said lobbying against Venezuela would only gain it votes. . . . Normally, the Latin American group would fill the council seat with its own choice. But this year, because both Guatemala and Venezuela want the seat, the vote will be by secret ballot. That means governments can promise one thing, and vote otherwise. Guatemala and Venezuela both say they have a majority in the 192-state assembly. . . . Chavez has campaigned energetically to raise Venezuela's profile and counter what he calls U.S. hegemony. The countries he plans to visit this summer include Iran and Belarus, which are sharply at odds with the West, and Cardenas, the Venezuelan ambassador, said a trip to North Korea is also in the works. . . . Chavez pushed his Security Council bid at a summit of African leaders early this month, and Venezuela has won observer status in the Arab League, which has expressed support for its council bid. . . . Venezuela denies it will be a spoiler in the council, but promises to stand up for poor countries. . . . "We are trying to look for a balance between the powers around the world," said Cardenas. "We are not only good for south countries, we are also good for those countries that do not want "X" country to impose its views on them."

posted by LoZo 3:41 PM