MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina supports Venezuela to Security Council

Argentina supports Venezuela as non permanent member of the United Nations Security Council representing Latinamerica and the Caribbean confirmed Argentina's Foreign Affaire minister Jorge Taiana in Caracas.

"Argentina has clearly stated it supports Venezuela candidacy to the Security Council", indicated Taiana following a meeting with his Venezuelan counterpart Ali Rodriguez. From Buenos Aires an official release ratified the announcement.

"Argentina supports the candidacy of Venezuela to the United Nations Security Council for the next 2007/2008 period".

Taiana stopped over in Venezuela from Colombia en route to the Dominican Republic where Sunday begins the Organization of American States annual assembly.

"Argentina is under no pressure and receives no pressure from nobody", indicated Taiana who added that "we've told everybody who's asked us that we are supporting Venezuela" for the Security Council, a post to be elected next October.

"This way, we can all see what the different positions are and what candidates they are backing, which is done by voting".

The announcement will not please Washington that has argued that Venezuela' international position is "confusing" or in "confrontation" with international institutions.

US Secretary of State for Hemispheric Affairs Thomas Shannon advanced that Washington would be supporting Guatemala for the non permanent seat in the Security Council.

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has condemned the alleged US pressures on other Latinamerican countries, among which Chile and Uruguay, not to support Venezuela's candidacy.

Chilean president Michelle Bachelet has said that she will not admit pressures from United States to decide whether the next Latinamerican representative in the Security Council should be Venezuela or Guatemala.

"Chile's has never let itself be pressured" said Ms Bachelet before leaving on a four days visit that will take her to United States, Jamaica, Haiti and Dominican Republic.

"Chile's foreign policy has always been independent, autonomous, and looking after the country's interests", she added.

The Chilean president will be meeting with President George Bush next Thursday in the White House.