Chávez touts new gas cartel, walks red carpet with Oliver Stone
One day after being feted in Venice, the Venezuelan leader visits Belarus today to discuss trade deals, including a new gas cartel similar to OPEC.
By Matthew Clark | Latin America editor 09.08.09
Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez – who meets today with “Europe’s last dictator” to discuss the formation of a gas cartel akin to OPEC – was all smiles yesterday during his surprise VIP appearance at the star-studded Venice Film Festival.
He threw a flower to the crowd, touched his heart, and even grabbed a photographer’s camera to take a photo of himself as he strolled the red carpet with American filmmaker Oliver Stone. Mr. Chávez was on hand to be feted for the premier of Mr. Stone’s new documentary “South of the Border,” which aims to portray Chávez and other Latin American leftist leaders in a positive light. (Next up for Stone? A documentary about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.)
“South of the Border” slams US media for demonizing Chávez. “You can’t get a fair hearing for Chávez. It’s an outrageous caricature they’ve drawn of him in the Western press,” Stone told Variety.
‘Democratizing’ Venezuela’s airwaves
Apparently, Chávez also can’t get a fair shake in his own country either.
“Venezuelan officials moved forward on Tuesday with efforts to ‘democratize’ the country’s airwaves by closing nearly 30 more radio stations, a month after 34 media outlets were shuttered for ‘abusing’ free speech,” reports Agence France-Presse. “We are democratizing the communication media and ensuring true freedom of expression,” said Chávez last month.
A new gas cartel?
Meanwhile, Chávez continued what he has jokingly called his 11-day “evil axis” tour by paying a visit to Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko. The two were expected to discuss trade deals including the inclusion of Belarus in a forum of natural gas exporters similar to OPEC.
The visit to Belarus comes one day after Chávez invited Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov to join the fledgling cartel, which Chavez hopes will counterbalance Western political and economic clout. And it comes two days after Chávez struck a deal with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to import fuel to the country at a time when the West is considering sanctions against Iran.
“Venezuela has agreed to export 20,000 barrels of petrol daily to Iran from October in a deal worth $800 millon,” Chávez was quoted as saying by Iranian media. The arrangement could be key for Iran, which imports some 40 percent of its fuel. It could offset sanctions the US and Europe have threatened to impose on Iran if more progress is not made in efforts to resolve questions over Iran’s nuclear program.
An olive branch to Obama?
Despite the deals struck on his trip to some of the least US-friendly countries on the planet, Chávez – who famously called former US President George W. Bush “the devil” – says he hopes he can work with President Obama.
“I have no reason to call him [Obama] the devil, and I hope that I am right,” Chavez told reporters in Venice. “With Obama we can talk, we are almost from the same generation, one can’t deny that Obama is different [from Bush]. He’s intelligent, he has good intentions and we have to help him.”
<< Germany’s Merkel under siege after Afghanistan airstrike | MainComments
2. donald | 09.08.09
Erik Higa,
Oliver will never move from the US because he will be incarcerated immediately if he does! He is smart in that mode but such an idiot in others! He should thank, on bended knees, for the US and its freedoms! But he will never do so because he is a socialist and not deserving of America!!!
4. donald | 09.08.09
CSM esercise censorship to the ultimeate degree. I have submitted many responses but most are not posted! CSM censors!
5. reXoZONE | 09.08.09
If this page indicates the kind of view this publication is airing it’s obvious it is neither Christian nor Scientific.
Get the facts from Venezuelanalysis.com instead.
6. richard potter | 09.08.09
If the United States is to lead the free world we must free the world from being hostage to illegal cartels that support repressive regimes and undue the work of legitimate governments around the world.
7. Alejandro Arraiz | 09.08.09
I agree with oliver if CNN would have had supported a coup against the United States Ted Turner would have been hanged or killed by lethal injection and that is what some of those TV and radio Stations did they supported a coup that briefly took chavez out of power
8. Nancy | 09.08.09
I personally will boycott Oliver Stone and any of his movies. I am disgusted with the Hollywood left wingers who pander to the these leftist dictators (i.e. Chavez, Ahmadinejad, Lukahenko,) and then go home and make their fortunes off the American public . They act like they are experts in international affairs and they are little more than entertainers. They live in multi-million dollar mansions with staff but they pretend to know what it is to work like a middle class American.
I wouldn’t spend a penny on anything that involves Oliver Stone, Michael Moore, Sean Penn, Martin Sheen, Alec Baldwin and a host of others who speak against our country who has offered them so much.
9. robincalifornia | 09.08.09
Oliver Stone - Why don’t you: 1. Move to Cuba, or 2. Move to Venezula. Neither country would suit you because they both would limit your freedom to speak out, particularlt make movies. You are an idiot.
10. Jessica | 09.08.09
“You can’t get a fair hearing for Chávez. It’s an outrageous caricature they’ve drawn of him in the Western press”.
I’m so disappointed and terribly sad. I can’t believe Stone said that. What does he know about the true cruel reality of Venezuela? Has he lived there to know if the stories are outrageous? There are no words to describe the horror of the current situation in Venezuela (or for the last 10 years for that matter) because of Chávez and I don’t think the press has been able to inform the world half of what it’s really going on there.
12. Pete | 09.09.09
Not deserving of America? Just because you attach the word ‘free’ to something, doesn’t make it good! The reason Chavez is slated is due to him nationalising the country’s resources, which were being stolen by American companies and the ‘free market’. People in Venezuela were staving so fat American’s could get fatter.
13. Claudia Correa | 09.09.09
Oliver Stone, doesn’t know what it going on in South America. If he knew about it would not defend Chavez or give him publicity to a guy that is involve with Farc and guerrillas. I Think that Oliver Stone should visit our countries talk to people and then he can talk. He is talking about Colombian President Uribe without knowing all the good thinks that he have done for Colombia and its people.
14. Ron S | 09.09.09
Oliver Stone is so far to the left you’d need a VERY powerful telescope to see him. He and Chavez should get along famously.
As a side note, if you want an indication how the liberals want the US to go, look at Venezuela and Chavez’s slow accumulation of power to the government. He is now closing media outlets, our liberals want talk radio–at least that opposed to them–limited or, better yet, E-liminated. He has nationalized the nations oil industry, ours want to nationalize health care and banking.
IMHO both Stone and Chavez are idiots of the highest order, they belong together on a very small island very far away with one coconut between them–then let’s see how their liberalism works.
16. Jose | 09.09.09
@Richard Potter… legitimate governments like the ones that support coups and prop up dictators and start wars to get preferencial treatment to natural resources? That type of legitimate government? Surely you jest..
17. Jose | 09.09.09
@Ron… So far to the left he devoted a movie to a favorite son of the right, GWB? And had the balls to show him in a neutral non-demonizing light? Wow, what a leftist creep he is for demanding neutrality. But I guess its hard to have neutrality when your country’s news media dictate to you who’s your friend and who’s your enemy.
19. Mr Johnson | 09.09.09
Mr. Stone (along with many other Hollywood celebrities) are feeling the rush of power now that the President of the US shares the same socialist/communist/environmentalist agenda. It’s good to have these folks speaking out in the spotlight, touting thier goals, so that average Americans can see them for the people they really are. It really takes the shine off of a celebrity when they associate themselves with dictators the way that Mr. Stone has.
America, remember these people and act accordingly (peacefully, please..) when spending your money. I will never watch another movie Mr Stone is involved with in any capacity.
20. Chrissy | 09.09.09
Jose….I have lived there and I am originally from Venezuela, and I have family there still and I KNOW what is going on!!! Why don’t you OPEN YOUR EYES.
21. Mike | 09.09.09
Oliver move to Venezuala and stay there if you love it so much.
I would never again give a penny to this socialist.
22. Jose | 09.09.09
@Chrissy… Open my eyes? My eyes ARE open, and what I see in Venezuela is positive change that the oligarchs of the western world want to challenge at all costs. You continue to support oppression, war and developing world poverty in the name of capitalism you’re gonna see a 1000 more Chavez’s in the future!
23. PC | 09.09.09
Gas cartel is exactly right. Hugo generates the stuff by the boatload. What else can you say about a guy who closes any paper or broadcaster that dares to criticize him. He’s Fidel Lite - all the noise but only a quarter of the impact.
25. Fred Sting | 09.09.09
SHAME ON YOU OLIVER! How much Hugorila paid you to came with such a bag of bs eh? Pack your bags leave your $$$ and move to Cuba to live like real cubans do. HYPOCRITE!
26. soappie4u@yahoo.com | 09.09.09
You go tio chavez,uncle oliver,there is only one way to balance the influense of big countries and big coorporations,or interest groups,that’s what most of this leaders are trying to do,the years of crushing hammer our country gas used against anyone standing on their way,are over,they have the right to choose their own destiny,even if it is socialism,or whatever,its their county and we shouldn’t mingle in their affairs,no matter what,who said latinamerica and its people are part of usa?inform urself first,what u read on our papers its what they want you to belive,come on people,wake up!!I belive this was latinamerica destiny,we almost did it in the 70s,but nixon order what eventyally bacame one of the continent most represive dictator,augusto pinochet,they now have a socialist president,no one seem to make a fuzz over that,leave latinamerica alone
27. AllSpades | 09.11.09
@Jose….You are one woodheaded leftist that any amount of exposure to the truth wouldnt make you change your views. People like you speaking out in support of Chavez and Ahmedinajad et al is a shame. They steal elections and kill their own people ….communism and socialism killed over 100 million of its own people in Russia, China and Cambodia - I dare you deny it or defend it. These ultra left, socialist, power grabbing, nationalize-all-industries and healthcare goons will be the death of freedom in letter and spirit. Well if you are so positive that Venezuela is heaven on earth - why dont you go live there and ‘walk the talk’ and show us the proof! You are all talk and no sense, and too much of a coward to do that - so you pick forums like these to air your self-proclaimes lofty? ideas. Get real!
28. Andres | 09.11.09
Oliver Stone is a really irresponsible and a ignorant person, how you can call FARC “farmers fighting a desperate battle against highly financed, American-supported forces” Are you Insane Mr?? maybe you still think we speak Colombian ans still live in trees right? As a Colombian I inform you that FARC kidnap children from 9 years old to force them into soldiers. Those are the “Farmers” fighting against a “regime” some of this children can escape after years or horror, some of them are captured and executed. “Yes Children being Executed by FARC” This is only one of the atrocities committed by FARC.
Please Mr, educate your self before making another film.
29. Ken | 09.11.09
I’ve worked in Venezuela, Chile, and Bolivia. The US media, if it reports on Latin America at all, does nothing to help us understand the complex history that makes Chavez both loved and despised in his own country—a place where too many upper-middle class people know more about Miami than they do their own homeland. Evo is not Chavez, and Chavez is neither as bad nor as wonderful as some would make him out to be. Latin America has suffered, really suffered, under the political and economic domination of the U.S.A. And if you think these new LatAm leaders are so horrid, take a look at the socialist government of Chile and compare its response to the American-imposed global fiscal crisis. We can learn a lot from Latin America. Time to open our eyes, and if Oliver has something to say, I’ll listen. Oliver is neither irresponsible nor ignorant. He has an opinion. We can disagree, but it isn’t smart to make ad hominem comments like most of those I read here, most of which demonstrate that too many Americans don’t know squat about Latin America and its history. Too bad.
30. Bakunin | 09.12.09
I think most people miss the point and totally misunderstand Oliver.
He’s a meglomaniacal Hollywood director who has no politics. It’s all about Oliver, his ego and how best to keep himself in the headlines.
31. kaken | 09.13.09
Oliver is an idiot! Does he lives in Vzla? Has he been in a hospital over there? Does he knows how bad is crime in that country? Idiot supporting another idiot….you will think he will use his IQ for something better.
32. Laura | 09.14.09
Oliver you are such an idiot. You don’t have any idea what is going on in Venezuela, try live with a salary of $372 per month and a rent in a guetto is $350 and by the way… Nobody likes Chavez he just pay the ignorant (like you) to say good things about him.
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
Leave a Comment
We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. The comments feature is a forum to discuss the ideas in our stories. Constructive debate - even pointed disagreement - is welcome, but personal attacks on other commenters are not, and will not be published.
Tip: Do not write a novel. Keep it short. We will not publish lengthy comments. Come up with your own statements. This is not a place to cut and paste an email you received. If we recognize it as such, we won't post it.
Please do not post any comments that are commercial in nature or that violate copyrights.
Finally, we will not publish any comments that we regard as obscene, defamatory, or intended to incite violence.
1. Erik Higa | 09.08.09
Gee Oliver, why don’t you just love to Venezuela?