MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chavez challenges Bush to a FTAA debate

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez said in Caracas he is willing to debate, during the coming Americas Summit in Argentina, with US president George Bush on the merits of the Free Trade Area of the Americas, FTAA.

"If Bush comes to the summit with his speech on FTAA he will receive a forceful reply from us and the invitation to debate", said Mr. Chavez.

The Venezuelan president added he would politely request President Bush to outline the reasons behind his "neo-liberal" FTAA project and then he would display his own ideas.

"We'll see if the occasion crops up although at these events no one really goes with a debating spirit, but I will promote the debate and let's see what happens".

Mr. Chavez considers the FTAA Project "dead and buried" and defends his proposal for a Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas, which in Spanish has the initials ALBA, dawn.

ALBA and FTAA are two opposing concepts, because FTAA from the north is a "neo-liberal" initiative, imperialist, excluding, while Venezuela's ALBA is a multilateral initiative, sovereign and inclusive, argues the Venezuelan president.

United States and Venezuela have been at loggerheads since Mr. Chavez began promoting "Socialism", criticizing "US imperialism and exploitation" and openly supporting the Cuban regime of Fidel Castro.

President Chavez claims the Bush administration instigated the aborted coup of April 2002 when he was ousted and jailed for 48 hours before been liberated by loyal troops returning triumphantly to office.

The latest dispute involves spares for the US made F16 fighter bombers of the Venezuelan Air Force which Washington is denying delivery.

President Chavez accused US of breaking the spare parts supply contract and suggested that Washington would be less than pleased if military rivals gained access to the advanced planes which were sold to Venezuela in the eighties.

Saying he was "only thinking out", "maybe we will just send them back to them, or perhaps we will send 10 planes to Cuba, or to China, so they can have a look at the technology of these aircraft."