MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Lula message to Chavez: “keep quiet”

Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva regrets that negotiations for a sea outlet for Bolivia crossing Chile are paralyzed and revealed he had strongly suggested to the Venezuelan president not to interfere with the conflict.

In a long interview with several Brazilian publications Mr. Lula da Silva said Brazil was willing to support Bolivia in exporting natural gas to other markets making use of the pipeline that runs to the city of Sao Paulo.

"This will give the Bolivians a sea access for their natural gas and help their economy", said Mr. Lula da Silva.

As to talks between Chile and Bolivia for a sea outlet President Lula da Silva admitted he had requested Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez to keep quiet and not get involved in the dispute, since negotiations were advancing, although they are now paralyzed.

Last November President Chavez on several opportunities backed the Bolivian position of a sea outlet saying his dream was to be able to swim in the Pacific in a Bolivian beach. Further on, he provocatively offered the Bolivians all the necessary tar to pave a four lanes highway from Bolivia to the Pacific.

All of which made the Chileans furious forcing both countries to recall their ambassadors.

"Before the Monterrey presidential summit last January, I rang Chavez and told him he should keep out of the "sea for Bolivia" dispute", revealed President Lula da Silva. "By then the initial understandings became paralyzed. Chile had already accepted granting a corridor from the Bolivian border to the Pacific, without involving sovereignty". "As an alternative Brazil has offered Bolivia a sea outlet for its natural gas through the existent pipeline and from any Brazilian port to anywhere in the world", added Mr. Lula da Silva.

Apparently Mr. Chávez holds a grudge against the Chileans, and particularly President Ricardo Lagos, for having remained silent during the aborted coup attempt that had him out of government for a few days. However President Lula da Silva insisted "helping Chavez" was vital to avoid a further radicalization of the Venezuelan situation, "no matter the outcome of the possible recall referendum".