|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
►
Honduras Ratifies CAFTA
►
Chavez
Warns of Possible Oil Supply Cut
if US Attacks Venezuela
►
South
America to discuss Cuba's entry
into MERCOSUR
►
Colombia asks US to cut sentence on extradited murderer
Chavez Warns of Possible Oil Supply Cut
if US Attacks Venezuela
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
has reiterated here Friday that his nation, the world’s fifth-largest
oil producer, would cut off oil supplies to the United States if
Washington tries to attack his country.
“We want to supply oil to the United States. We are not going to avoid
supplying oil unless the US government gets a little bit crazy and tries
to hurt us,” he told reporters in New Delhi where arrived for a four-day
working visit.
The Venezuelan leader spoke to the media after his ceremonial welcome at
the presidential palace where he was welcomed by Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh.
“If there is any aggression, there will be no oil,” Chavez insisted.
Last month, Chavez and Cuban President Fidel Castro accused the United
States of trying to assassinate the Venezuelan leader.
Relations between the United States and Venezuela have deteriorated
steadily since Chavez took office in February 1999.
Chavez has accused the United States repeatedly of efforts to
destabilize his government. For its part, the Bush administration is
uneasy about Chavez´s intimate ties with Cuba and his views of a strong
integrated Latin America.
Asked whether the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC),
of which Venezuela is a member, would augment output to cool near-record
prices, Chavez said the oil cartel was producing enough.
"Increasing price of oil has nothing to do with OPEC. It is the
structure of the market," he indicated, adding the organization was
nonetheless assessing the situation.
Chavez has signed oil deals with various countries including China since
last year and is due to approve an energy agreement intended to enhance
cooperation with India during his visit.
He has also striken the same deals with Argentine, Brazil and most
recently with Uruguay, right after the inauguration of President Tabare
Vazquez.
Energy-hungry India, which imports nearly 70 percent of its fuel needs,
has been scouring the world for new supplies to keep its fast-growing
economy on track, the Press Trust of India reports.
Send this Page To a Friend
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
