Brazil - Brazzil Mag - Brazil to Chavez: Apologize or No Deal!

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Venezuela may need to apologize to Brazil's Congress if it wants to join Mercosur cautioned Brazil's Foreign Affairs minister Celso Amorim in an interview published Thursday in Brazilian capital Brasília.

In May, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez blasted the Brazilian Congress for criticizing his decision not to renew the broadcast license of Radio Caracas Television, or RCTV, knocking the opposition-aligned station off the air.

Mercosur leaders have approved Venezuela's entry into the bloc, but the deal must still be passed by Brazilian and Paraguayan legislators. The legislatures of Argentina, Uruguay and Venezuelan already have given their approval.

"A goodwill gesture is needed," Foreign Minister Celso Amorim told O Globo newspaper. "No one expects an act of self flagellation from Venezuela, but a positive gesture toward Congress is necessary."

Chavez called Brazil's Congress a "pirate's parrot" of the United States and added: "It would be easier for the Portuguese empire to once again be established in Brazil than for Venezuela's government to return the concession (to RCTV)."

Several Brazilian Senators favor blocking Venezuela's Mercosur entry arguing the country does not comply with a clause calling for Mercosur nations to commit themselves to democracy.

Chavez is visiting Russia and will not attend the Mercosur summit going on right now in Paraguay. The South American trade block will consider his proposal for a regional development bank, "Bank of the South", an alternative source of development funds.

In recent weeks Chavez has criticized "oligarchies" in several Mercosur member countries that are purportedly opposed to Venezuela's entry in the bloc.

Also Thursday, Brazil's Lower House postponed approving two agreements recently signed with Venezuela, saying Chavez's government had shown a "lack of respect" toward the Brazilian Congress."

According to the Brazilian House of Representatives' website, one of the accords prevents double taxation on profits of companies operating in both countries. The other calls for cooperation in communications.

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written by João da Silva, 2007-06-29 20:52:43

Several Brazilian Senators favor blocking Venezuela's Mercosur entry arguing the country does not comply with a clause calling for Mercosur nations to commit themselves to democracy.

While I am no big fan of Chavez, do you think that our senators with all these scandals revolving around them, have any moral to give an ultimatum to him? I think that they have to put their house in order before giving instructions to Chavez who is fully capable of hitting back,by asking the same question as mine,though in a more flowery terms.

Besides, why is our congress so interested in defending the interests of RCTV? Something very fishy.

the kettle calling the pot black
written by forest Brown, 2007-06-29 21:09:59

lets see the goverment of brazil say sorry to the brasilian people .

NO get on there knees and beg for frogiveness

and yes joao

with all them stoping the press in brasil why do they want to open it up in a country they have no say so in

so brasil should kick themselfs out of MERCOSUR

His Grace
written by Richard Newquist, 2007-06-29 21:18:21

Go get 'em BRASIL! Hugo Chaves should CERTAINLY apologize. He ought to learn some diplomatic manners. He has turned out to be a totally arrogant despot. Closing off freedom of speech is totally against the US and Brasil's philosophy of living, politics and government.

Forrest
written by João da Silva, 2007-06-29 21:26:30

the kettle calling the pot black

Right Admiral. I dont know if your Brazilian wife reads the news in Portuguese web sites,but I am keeping track of the whole thing. It is nauseating to read how the Senators are trying to hush the series of scandals surrounding the Predident of the senate.With the exception of few, all the senators are in favor of archiving the process against him.

You are right indeed, the Senators have to apologize to the Brazilians who trusted them and voted them into office to take care of our interests. And not to demand apologies from a Dictator from the neighboring country, who is not going to give a s**t about their demand,in any case.

To:Richard Newquist
written by João da Silva, 2007-06-29 21:45:25

Richard, dont be naive. A large majority of Brazilians is in favor of Freedom of Speech,like you Americans are.I dont like that despot of Chavez, either.

But my question : Why didnt the U.S. Senate go to defend the interest of RCTV,censuring that idiot for having closed it? On the other hand, why do our senators who are immersed in several scandals are giving the ultimatum to Chavez?

If you think that these senators are going to lead Brasil to get Chavez´s ass, you are dead wrong again.

...
written by conceicao, 2007-06-30 00:25:24

I understand the original purpose of Mercosur, but what is the point for Brasil today given the pick up in trade with the rest of the world? I really doubt that the other Mercosur countries have the
wherewithal to deny favorable trade terms with Brasil - unless they go off the deep end like Bolivia and Venezuela and then what is the point. I don't fault the Senate as much as I do Amorim who is
talking more nonsense in an effort to push the Brasilian state department's own institutional interests. All this diplomatic doubletalk all plays to Chavez's advantage - just like Lula's statement according
moral equivalency Chavez's pulling RCTV's license by equating it with renewing the license.

To:Conceção
written by João da Silva, 2007-06-30 01:29:35

All this diplomatic doubletalk all plays to Chavez's advantage -

You are absoultely right and I am sick and tried of telling this fact.BUT..... I think our senate is very upset with him,because some of our idiotic senators had interests in RCTV as well as our "National" TV Networks. Remember that we have a large border with Venezuela and it is beneficial for the good senators,RCTV and our TV Networks to join hands for the greater glory of the respective republics.Everything stinks,though.

btw, it is not Mercosur in our language,but MERCOSUL. SUR=SUL=SOUTH

...
written by conceicao, 2007-06-30 02:20:14

Joao, I guess what you are describing is like the senator from Mississippi whose house was destroyed by Katrina who went after the insurance companies for denying claims like his. I still think that
Chavez is like poison for Brasil. Who needs him? Brasil should leave him in her rearview mirror where he belongs.

To:Conceição
written by João da Silva, 2007-06-30 18:51:48