Chavez: 'Mr. Danger' focused on Venezuela [View All]

Chavez: 'Mr. Danger' focused on Venezuela
Wednesday, April 20, 2005 Posted: 9:07 AM EDT (1307 GMT)



CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez reiterated his opposition to the Free Trade Area of the Americas on Tuesday, saying his stance seems to concern "Mr. Danger" -- an apparent reference to U.S. President George W. Bush.

Chavez made the comment as he announced he will join Cuban President Fidel Castro in Havana later this month for a meeting of Cuban and Venezuelan business executives. The meeting is to be held from April 27-30.

Chavez told businesspeople at a similar gathering Tuesday night that the visit was intended to help boost an alternative to the U.S.-backed FTAA, which he has called the Bolivarian Alternative for America.

The Venezuelan leader said in 2001 "Mr. Danger" had sent a message urging him not to go against the proposal for the FTAA, a free trade zone that would include most countries in the Western Hemisphere.

But Chavez has repeatedly expressed concern the free trade area would allow North American corporations to dominate Latin America.
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http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/americas/04/20/venezuela.us.ap/

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