Caracas, September 11, 2009 (venezuelanalysis.com) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez wound up an eleven-day international diplomatic tour with a stop-over in Spain on Friday where he met with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
Speaking to reporters on his arrival in Madrid, Chavez said the political, economic and social relationship between Spain and Venezuela is very important and must be strengthened "in conditions of equality."
On the agenda during the meeting between the two leaders was a discussion on coordinating international efforts to combat climate change and bilateral energy and investment issues. Specifically, Chavez announced a huge natural gas find off the Venezuelan coast in the gulf of Maracaibo, by the state-owned oil company PDVSA in a joint venture with Spain's Repsol and Italy's ENI. The recoverable reserves from the field could be around 1.5 to 2.0 trillion cubic feet the Venezuelan leader said.
With the discovery, Venezuela now possesses the fifth largest gas reserves in the world, and the largest in Latin America.
Earlier during his tour Chavez promoted the formation of a "Gas OPEC" with gas exporting countries, such as Russia and Iran among others.
New agreements between Spain and Venezuela were also signed in the areas of wind energy and housing.
The two leaders also discussed the recent coup that ousted the democratically elected president of Honduras, Manuel Zelaya. Zapatero reiterated Spain's defense of democracy and condemnation of the coup, a statement released by the Prime Minister's office said.
Zapatero also offered to assist, if requested, in helping to ease tensions between Venezuela and neighbouring Colombia.
In addition, the EU-Latin America-Caribbean Summit, which will take place in Madrid in 2010, during Spain's presidency of the EU, was discussed. Competing with the US for economic and political influence in the region, the EU is expected promote a series of neoliberal "association agreements" with Latin American and Caribbean countries at the summit.
Negotiations over the association agreements at last year's EU-Latin America-Caribbean Summit in Lima, Peru, were largely stalled at the due to resistance from leftist leaders such as Chavez, and Bolivian President Evo Morales, among others.
Ten thousand social movement leaders from 15 different countries also held an alternative "Peoples Summit" in rejection of the EUs efforts to "implement the agenda of its transnationals and to deepen neoliberal policies." Trade-unions and social movement organisations from Spain and the rest of Europe are expected to raise similar protests at the forthcoming summit.
Chavez also met with King Juan Carlos during his visit, joking that the Spanish monarch's beard reminded him of Fidel Castro.
Chavez "revolutionises" Madrid
Spanish news website 20minutos.es reported that Chavez "revolutionised" the centre of Madrid when he paid a visit to the Gran Via bookstore, where he purchased, El Capitalismo Funeral by Spanish author, journalist and economist Vincente Verdu.
Both supporters, chanting ‘Viva Chavez, Viva Venezuela,' and opponents shouting ‘Chavez out' rallied outside the store, paralysing traffic for over an hour.
During his visit Chavez also met with student supporters of Venezuela's Bolivarian revolution.
Continued>>>
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/4790
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