Argentine, Brazilian, Venezuelan leaders hold impromptu summit

[Judi Lynn]

Aug 5, 2008
Argentine, Brazilian, Venezuelan leaders hold impromptu summit

BUENOS AIRES - THE presidents of Argentina, Brazil and Venezuela held an impromptu summit late Monday in Buenos Aires to bolster what Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said was 'the main axis of South America'.

Mr Chavez was an unexpected addition to what was meant to be a bilateral meeting scheduled between Argentine President Cristina Kirchner and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

After the brief meeting, Mr Chavez told a media conference he suggested to his counterparts that a mothballed plan to build a gas pipeline across South America be revived.

'I think it is the moment to bring that back', he said of the project, which would involve building a pipe 8,000 kilometres long at an estimated cost of US$23 billion (S$31.5 billion).

He added that the three agreed that joint state companies should be created in the oil and energy sectors.

~snip~
Telam said Mr Kirchner and Mr Chavez were to fly together to Bolivia on Tuesday to also hold talks with that country's president, Evo Morales, in the southern town of Tarija.

More:
http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/World/STIStory_264694.html

[Peace Patriot]

1. I wonder what this is about--especially that last bit, the trip to Bolivia....

...where a Bush junta plot to help the white racists in the gas/oil rich eastern provinces secede from the country (and Morales' government) is in progress. I imagine Chavez's proposal to resurrect the gas pipeline is related (since it's mostly gas that is at issue in Bolivia). Last week, it was Brazil (and Argentina? Chile?) who announced a huge project to build a new road from the Atlantic to the Pacific through Bolivia. I recall, when Chavez was running for re-election in 2006--and the Bushites were demonizing him like crazy--Brazil's president made a very pointed visit to Venezuela, just before the election, for a ceremonial opening of the new Orinoco Bridge between Venezuela and Brazil. It was a great Brazilian middle finger to the Bushites (who had told South American leaders that they must "isolate" Chavez). So, this could be another "circling of the wagons"--leftists helping leftists, with cooperative projects, implied endorsements, positive vibes. If they don't do this, the Bushites/corporate predators will pick them off, one by one--with all sorts of dirty rotten schemes. Democracy and cooperation are their strength.