Venezuelan President
Urges Retaliatory
Actions Against New EU
Immigration Law
Venezuelan President
Hugo Chavez on Thursday
called for retaliatory
actions against the
European Union (EU) in
response to its approval
of a new immigration
law.
Speaking to the press on
the sidelines of the
ongoing 7th Conference
of Information Ministers
of Non-Aligned Countries
on Margarita island in
northwestern Venezuela,
Chavez reasserted his
rejection of the
anti-immigrant law
adopted by the European
Parliament on June 18.
"It is discreditable
what Europe is doing. We
have to strongly raise
our voices against
Europe," he said.
The president said
Venezuela welcomes all
foreigners who arrive in
the country and treats
them like brothers,
adding that the EU's
anti-immigrant law is
another example of
ignominy.
Chavez has previously
threatened to cut off
oil exports to EU
nations if they enforce
the new immigration
rules and urged the
Organization of American
Sates to discuss the
legislation.
Under the new law, which
could come into force in
2010, illegal immigrants
will face detention of
up to 18 months before
deportation and will be
banned for up to five
years from re-entering
the 27 EU countries.
The law has drawn
widespread and strong
criticism from Latin
America.
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