HOME	Where the World's Views of America Come into Focus

April 15, 2005

The head of American diplomacy for Latin America [assistant secretary for Western Hemisphere affairs], Roger Noriega, warned on Friday of the risk that President Hugo Chavez would export his “failed political model” to other countries, and extended his firm support to the presidents of Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru and Colombia.

Noriega, the State Department's chief spokesman on relations with Andean countries, talked widely about American policy in Latin America, but saved his harshest criticism for Venezuela and Cuba.

He expressed his support for the presidents of all of the Andean countries, except for one, and he remarked on the exception. He said that Venezuelan chief executive Hugo Chavez is a, "negative force in Latin America."

"If the United States and Venezuela’s neighbors ignore President Chavez’ questionable adherence to democratic principles, we may quickly discover a Venezuela that is much poorer, less free and hoping to export its failed model to other countries in the region,” Noriega said, adding that the U.S. has sought to improve ties with the Venezuelan people, "But in spite of American efforts to establish normal working relations with its government, Hugo Chavez continues to define us as an opponent."

Noriega said that the United States would continue to work with the countries of the Americas to fortify democracy, its institutions and economic development, and the fight against drug trafficking and terrorism, as well as "to defend the region from destabilization."