Syria Today | Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez visits Syria

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez visits Syria

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez called for the return of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights to Syria, labelling Israel an imperialist nation hostile to peace during a two-day visit to Syria from September 3-4.

The visit was part of an 11-day trip to Libya, Algeria, Syria, Iran, Belarus and Russia by the Venezuelan president to strengthen relations as part of his plan create a “multipolar world” to counter US influence.

“The time as well as the content of this visit is significant,” Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said at a joint press conference held after meeting with the Venezuelan president in Damascus on September 3. During the meeting, Assad and Chávez discussed the international political climate, as well as relations between their countries.

Speaking at the press conference, Chávez called Israel “genocidal”, “anti-peace” and accused it of implementing “America’s imperialist policies”.

Discussions between presidents Chávez and Assad led to seven agreements in the areas of trade, economics, health and medical sciences, sports, environment, cultural cooperation and one to exempt entry visas for diplomats and official delegates from both countries, as well as two agreements on agriculture and irrigation.

On September 4, the Venezuelan president, accompanied by the Syrian Minister of Information Mohsen Bilal, visited the southern city of Suweida. The city is known as ‘little Venezuela’ as a considerable number of its residents hold both Syrian and Venezuelan nationalities. Around one million Syrians live in Venezuela, the majority of whom originated from Suweida.

Chávez was met by cheering crowds in Suweida, with around 10,000 people attending a speech he delivered at the local football stadium. During that address, Chávez underlined the importance of strong economic ties between Syria and Venezuela, emphasising the need to jointly develop Syria’s agriculture and oil sectors. He also called for spiritual unity between the peoples of both countries.

“I feel I’m Syrian, Damascus is my home,” Chávez said.

Local residents reciprocated the Venezuelan president’s sentiments. “I love this leader [Chávez] because he kicked out the Israeli ambassador following the assault on Gaza,” Sallah Saud, a student at the gathering, said.

While in Suweida Chávez also inaugurated a street named ‘Venezuela Bolivaria’ and a park named after South American independence hero Simon Bolívar, and laid the foundation stone at the new Syrian-Venezuelan Association of Friendship building.

Syrian-Venezuelan Association of Friendship member Talal al-Attrash said he hoped Chávez’s visit would lead to greater social and economic cooperation between the two countries. “We need more investment and we want to see the establishment of business, social and economic institutions between both countries,” he said.