MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Bachelet denies any pressure from President Bush

Chilean president Michelle Bachelet following a meeting Thursday with President George Bush in the White House categorically denied any US pressure to vote against Venezuela becoming a non permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

"There has been no pressure of any kind and on no issue", emphasized Bachelet when asked if during the private meeting in the White House President Bush had requested Chile not to support Venezuela.

"President Bush has a good sense of humour. It was a relaxed meeting, respectful, so emphatically there was no pressure of any kind", insisted Ms Bachelet.

The Chilean president pointed out to President Bush she was hopeful the Latinamerican region could strengthen relations with United States.

"We as members of the region want the best possible relations with Untied States, with its government and are hopeful of being successful in that objective". "We've spoken and shared our opinions as to how we can build a region in peace, committed to fighting poverty, striving for social justice, how we can support democracy and governance in the region", said president Bachelet. "Chile has excellent relations with United States and we want them to remain so".

President Bush praised Ms Bachelet for her values in "human rights and human decency".

"I appreciate very much her commitment to values that are so important", underlined President Bush who also revealed the Chilean president would be visiting Friday a school in Washington where she once studied. "This only confirms her commitment to education and human comfort", he said.

President Bush recalled that sometime ago he was told he would be meeting a very charming person, "and who anticipated that, were completely right".

Latinamerica is "very important for United States, and it's important to be involved with other countries which share our commitment to peace, prosperity and have the same feelings towards social justice", indicated the US president.

Before visiting the White House the Chilean president placed floral wreath at the monument of Chilean former Minister of Foreign Affairs Orlando Letelier who was murdered in Washington in 1976.

"It was a horrendous, shocking action which still saddens me?"said Ms Bachelet.

Letelier was a member of Socialist Salvador Allende's government and died when a bomb in his car went off.

It was later proved that the terrorist action was planned and executed by the military regime of Dictator Augusto Pinochet.

"Orlando's death belongs to a chapter of Chile's history we are not proud of. We've learnt in the democracy we've nurtured and developed to live and accept our differences", president Bachelet highlighted.