News: International

Immigration to Venezuela Double that of Emigration

May 21st 2012

A portable SAIME help point in Caracas (archive)

Debate over migration has arisen in Venezuela as opposition forces argue that many professionals, businesses, and upper class residents are emigrating from the country, while those aligned with the government argue that Venezuela has become a “pole of attraction.”

Germany Asks European Union to Step Up Support for Venezuela’s Opposition

May 18th 2012

The German Parliament (archives)

A German news website has revealed that the German government has been pushing for Eurozone countries to adopt a more active role in backing the current Venezuelan opposition coalition, the Roundtable of Democratic Unity (MUD), in the run up to this year’s presidential elections.

Tourism to Venezuela Increases by 49.5% in 2012

May 17th 2012

Venezuela has witnessed almost a 50% increase in tourism since last year (noticialcalde)

A total of 312,725 international tourists have visited Venezuela between January and April 2012, a figure which represents almost a 50% increase compared with the same period last year.

Unasur Nations Reveal Military Spending, Deepen Cooperation

May 11th 2012

Defence ministers and diplomats from Unasur member states discussed the greater integration of the region’s militaries (archiv

Defence ministers from Union of South American Nations (Unasur) member states met yesterday for the release of a report detailing each country’s military spending. Ministers and diplomats from the twelve nation regional bloc also pledged further military integration, proposing the creation of a Citizen Security Council.

Venezuela Calls for Regional Mechanisms to Guarantee Human Rights

May 8th 2012

Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro (agencies)

Venezuela’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nicolás Maduro, called on countries in the region to create institutions to defend human rights within organizations like the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).

Ecowas Gets U.S.$20 Million From Venezuela to Fight Malaria

May 2nd 2012

The ECOWAS community (archive)

ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African States] and Venezuela have agreed to take measures to execute their 2009 memorandum of understanding (MOU) towards the elimination of malaria in West Africa.

Venezuela to Withdraw from OAS’s Human Rights Court

Apr 30th 2012

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights in Costa Rica (archive)

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced that Venezuela would be withdrawing from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACrtHR), a body which comes under the Organisation of American States (OAS).

Venezuelan Ex-Judge Aponte Accused of Receiving Drug Money

Apr 27th 2012

Interior and Justice minister Tareck El Aissami (Dattv.tv)

Justice and Interior Minister Tareck El Aissami accused on Monday a former Supreme Court magistrate of receiving money from drug traffickers.

Japan Signs US$1 Billion Loan Agreement with Venezuela’s PDVSA

Apr 26th 2012

Venezuelan Energy and Petroleum Minister, Rafael Ramirez, held the meeting with Japanese officials in Tokyo earlier this week (P

The Venezuelan government has secured a loan of US$ 1 billion from Japan in order to further expand one if its oil refineries in the Northern state of Carabobo, as well as to finance oil related goods and services.

US Shelters Venezuelan Fugitive, Criticises Existence of “Drugs Kingpins” in Venezuela

Apr 20th 2012

Aponte fled to the US following his dismissal, where he gave an interview to SOiTV denouncing the government (SOiTV).

A Venezuelan judge has fled to the United States after he was dismissed as a Supreme Court Magistrate on March 20^th, when an investigation was launched into his links to Venezuelan drug lord Walid Makled.

Opposition Vandalises Venezuelan Embassy in London

Apr 17th 2012

The Venezuelan embassy in London (archive)

Members of the Venezuelan opposition in London stormed premises of the Venezuelan Embassy last Friday 13 April to express their disagreement with the government of Venezuela.

VI Summit of the Americas Closes Without Final Declaration, US Isolated

Apr 17th 2012

The official photo of the heads of state at the Summit of the Americas was left with some conspicuous absences (VTV).

The Organization of American States’ (OAS) VI Summit of the Americas, held 14 – 15 April in Cartagena, Colombia, closed on Sunday without the signing of a final declaration, with issues such as Cuba’s inclusion in future summits and Argentina’s claim to the Malvinas (Falklands) islands leaving the United States and Canada unable to reach a consensus with other Latin American and the Caribbean nations.

New Agreements Between Haiti, Venezuela and Cuba for Social and Economic Development

Apr 13th 2012

The Foreign ministers of Cuba and Haiti, Bruno Rodriguez (left) and Laurent Lamothe, during the signing of agreements 16 March 2

In Haiti, Haïti Liberté and Le Nouvelliste newspapers as well as Radio Tête à Tête are reporting on new agreements for social and economic development that have been reached between the governments of Haiti, Cuba and Venezuela.

New Zealand and Venezuela to Work together on Indigenous Issues

Apr 11th 2012

Indigenous spokespeople in Venezuela (archive)

A New Zealand governmental delegation attending the 126th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Kampala, Uganda, met with members of Parliament from Venezuela to share experiences and discuss tangible ways to increase the political participation of indigenous peoples.

European Union Adds Venezuela’s State Airline to its List of Banned Airlines

Apr 3rd 2012

Venezuela’s Conviasa (Ministry of Transport)

The Venezuelan government rejected the European Union’s announcement today that it is adding Venezuela’s state-owned airline Conviasa to its list of carriers banned from its airspace.