Venezuela promises cheap oil to poor Chicagoans

[Judi Lynn]

From the Chicago Tribune

Venezuela promises cheap oil to poor Chicagoans

By Oscar Avila
Tribune staff reporter

October 13, 2005, 7:07 PM EDT

Venezuelan officials today promised to offer discounted oil to benefit poor Americans, with Chicago one of four U.S. cities to be included in the initial energy offer.

The pledge came at the start of a two-day series of events in Chicago by Venezuelan government officials to promote better relations between Americans and the controversial regime of leftist President Hugo Chavez.

"Venezuela Matters" is unusual public diplomacy by Chavez to mix his anti-American rhetoric with generosity toward the American people.

While Venezuela had offered the cheap oil after Hurricane Katrina struck, today's announcement provided new details, including word Chicago would be among the first cities to benefit from the South Americans' generosity.
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http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/chi-051013venezuela,0,1424914.story?coll=ny-leadnationalnews-headlines