EDITORIAL

 Welcome To President Chavez

THE president of Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, will be on a State visit to India from March 4 to 7, 2005.  This first visit of President Chavez to India is a significant one in many respects.  Firstly, President Chavez has become the  symbol of the new political leadership in Latin America who are firm on defending national sovereignty and refusing to accept imposed neo-liberal models for their country. President Chavez has taken bold and imaginative measures to provide education, health and food to the  impoverished sections of the people in this oil-rich country.  Chavez is also an ardent  advocate of South-South cooperation.  Chavez has emerged as a charismatic leader with a revolutionary vision.

Venezuela has shown its resolve not to be intimidated by the United States.  In the August 15, 2004 referendum, Chavez won by a resounding 60 per cent vote.  This was yet another attempt backed by the United States to dislodge him which failed.  Chavez has forged close bonds with Cuba and the agreements signed with that country express his resolve to see that Venezuela does not follow the ruinous path which most other Latin American countries have taken. During the recent visit by President Lula of Brazil to Venezuela, the two countries have taken steps to strengthen their strategic alliance through cooperation in the energy and defence sectors. Chavez has visited Russia, Iran and China in the course of last year and forged expanded ties with these countries.

It is in this background that  President Chavez’s visit to India takes place. He will be welcomed by all the progressive and anti-imperialist circles in India who admire what he and Venezuela stand for in the world today. During his visit to Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore, he is sure to get a warm welcome from all sections.  The UPA government in India will do well to establish strong ties with the Venezuelan government utilising this State visit. President Chavez is coming with his foreign minister and energy minister. The occasion should be utilised by the Indian government to consider how Venezuela and India can strengthen  the G-15 forum and South-South cooperation. At the bilateral level, just as China has signed agreements for oil exploration in Venezuela, India can also seek similar opportunities.

In the recent years, the external affairs establishment has been fixated with the United States of America and the steps necessary to strengthen strategic cooperation with it. The Chavez visit provides a good opportunity for expressing the UPA government’s commitment to promote multi-polarity in international relations, as Venezuela, under President Chavez, is bound to be an increasingly important voice in the non-aligned movement and South-South cooperation.