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Also in this section:
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Hugo Chávez, mariachi?
Panama News Briefs

Chávez shows love for Mexico by singing mariachi golden oldies

by Patrick J. O’Donoghue --- VHeadline.com

Playing to the gallery on the evening of November 19, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez Frias drew upon a couple of famous mariachi music favorites to open his speech to followers assembled to show support for his foreign policy positions.

The mass rally in Caracas was the setting for the president donning the famous Mexican sombrero and singing El Rey (The King), Mexico Lindo and Soy Monedita de Oro (I'm a little gold coin) to hammer home his affection for the Mexican people.

On the same platform were Foreign Minister Ali Rodríguez Araque, Venezuelan Ambassador to Mexico Vladimir Villegas relishing the limelight, a sheepish Nicolás Maduro and an assorted number of state governors and mayors and National Assembly deputies.

The theme of the president's comments centered around how Mexico is "so far from God and so close to the USA."

Mexican revolutionaries Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata were praised, along with a new generation of leaders that are fighting against imperialism.

Commenting on the blown up diplomatic tiff between the two countries, Chávez Frias says he believes that in the evolution of events the matter will fade away.

"I will not pour more oil on the fire --- we withdrew our ambassador at the Mexican government's request --- we are not interested in prolonging the conflict, we would prefer to let things cool --- time is wise."

Chávez Frias states that he respects the majesty of all the world's presidents except one, George W. Bush: "if relations between the USA and Venezuela improve, it will only be when there are changes in the USA."

Editor's note: The argument started at the Summit of the Americas in Argentina, when Mexican President Vicente Fox singled out Hugo Chávez from among several Latin American leaders who reject the US NAFTA-model concept of hemispheric economic integration for some pointed criticism. Chávez responded by calling Fox a "puppydog of imperialism," which led the Mexican leader to expel Venezuela's ambassador and recall his envoy in Caracas. The Venezuelan diplomat came home to a hero's reception and opposition claims that the breach with Mexico demonstrated Chávez's incompetence, while in Mexico Fox's actions proved to be not particularly popular. Fox and Chávez then backed down from their war of words.