Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez laughs as he hosts his weekly live television show, 'Hello President' at the presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2005. (AP Photo/Leslie Mazoch)
Posted on 11/14/2005 9:49:00 AM PST by NormsRevenge
MEXICO CITY - Mexico said it will sever diplomatic ties with Venezuela if that country's president doesn't apologize Monday for warning Mexican leader Vicente Fox: "Don't mess with me."
Fox spokesman Ruben Aguilar said Mexico was demanding an apology because Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's comments showed a "lack of respect for the people of Mexico and the institution of our country's presidency."
If an apology doesn't come by midnight Monday, Fox said he will ask for the immediate withdrawal of Venezuela's ambassador and a recall of the Mexican ambassador from that country.
But Aguilar was quick to add that would not mean Mexico was severing its ties completely with Venezuela because business and cultural relations would remain intact.
Tensions between Fox and Chavez spilled over after this month's Summit of the Americas in Argentina, where Fox defended a U.S.-backed proposal for a Free Trade Area of the Americas while Chavez proclaimed the idea dead.
"President Fox left bleeding from his wound," Chavez said Sunday during his weekly radio and TV show, echoing remarks last week in which he accused Fox of being a "puppy" of the U.S. government for supporting its plans for the free trade zone.
Chavez then warned Fox: "Don't mess with me, sir, because you'll get stung."
A diplomatic dispute with Cuba in 2004 led Mexico to expel the Cuban ambassador and withdraw its own emissary to Havana, a freeze that lasted for several months. Venezuela is a close ally of Cuba.
Chavez has proclaimed the recent summit a victory, noting that Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay also raised opposition to the free trade pact.
Fox, irked by the resistance of Chavez and Argentine President Nestor Kirchner, said after the summit that "we have some presidents, fortunately a minority, who blame other countries for all their problems."
The Venezuelan president accused Fox of attacking him and Kirchner, and of violating summit protocol in trying to press for an agreement on the free trade zone when that wasn't on the agenda.
"The only very hard response I've given to any president was ... to President Fox. He disrespected me," Chavez said.
The dispute with Venezuela arose just as Argentina and Mexico had resolved a similar rift caused by an exchange of harsh words between Fox and Kirchner stemming from disagreements over the FTAA, which aims to create the world's largest free trade zone stretching from Alaska to Argentina.
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez laughs as he hosts his weekly live television show, 'Hello President' at the presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2005. (AP Photo/Leslie Mazoch)
Don't be dissin' the H-man, Foxy.
If Vinnie had any machismo he would go to Caracas this afternoon to rearrange Hugo's facial pattern.
Chavez, like most tyrannical Communist dictators always seems to get a pass from the American left, even when he's doing things lefties condemn the US for.
I wonder if the unbiased news will talk all about this the way they talked about Pat Robertson's comments. (Probably not.)
"Tensions between Fox and Chavez spilled over after this month's Summit of the Americas in Argentina, where Fox defended a U.S.-backed proposal for a Free Trade Area of the Americas while Chavez proclaimed the idea dead. "
Maybe Chavez ain't that bad.
George W. Bush should think about hosting a weekly television program.
Look who else is reporting about this.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1521550/posts
Hoardes of illegals crossing US the border shows "lack of respect for the people of the United States and the institution of our country's sovereignty".
I could see him hosting "Sabado Gigante" in a couple of years.
Too bad they don't have duels anymore. We would have been the winner regardless of who won or if it was a "Draw"!
associated Pravda
Russian Bureau
Ozzie Guillen for president!
"President Fox left bleeding from his wound," Chavez said Sunday during his weekly radio and TV show, echoing remarks last week in which he accused Fox of being a "puppy" of the U.S. government for supporting its plans for the free trade zone."
I think it's the other way around.
Sure if Latin America could actually provide jobs for its citizens they wouldn't be coming here illegally and if that bitchpoint was eliminated many at FR would be left in the lurch. Can't have free trade someone else might get some good from it.
Your dream is even more impossible than my dream with these two clowns dueling to the death of one or both of them.
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