MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

US “minimum” reaction to Chavez provocations

US President George Bush told his Brazilian counterpart that he has decided to “minimize” reactions to statements from Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, reported the Brazilian press.

"During private conversations last Friday Bush transmitted to his Brazilian hosts the clear feeling that he's willing to minimize reactions to Chavez' initiatives and provocations" published in Sunday's edition of Folha do Sao Paulo. Bush was in Brazil last Thursday and Friday where both countries signed an agreement to make United States and Brazil leaders in the world market of ethanol and bio-fuels, in the framework of Washington's plan to reduce oil dependency. Parallel to Bush's trip to Sao Paulo, Chavez visited President Nestor Kirchner in Argentina where besides signing several energy accords he was the main speaker at a political rally organized to blast President's Bush to Latinamerica and his attempt to "divide the region" with promises of bolstering trade and cooperation. During the rally Chavez described Bush as a "political corpse" saying he only has 22 months left in office, public opinion in the US is against him and Congress is now under control of the opposition Democrats. According to Folha, Washington's strategy is avoiding reactions and frustrate Chavez provocation attempts to attract attention and become the regional leader of the "anti Bush" movement. "The Chavez issue was addressed lightly and without much concern during the meeting of Bush with President Lula da Silva, contrary to what was anticipated by US government sources before the beginning of the trip", adds Folha de Sao Paulo. According to Brazilian sources there were no requests from President Bush to act before the Venezuelan leader. During his stops in Brazil and Uruguay, President Bush was very careful not to mention President Chavez name, although he was bombarded with questions about the rivalry. However Bush's visit to the region was considered by US analysts and comments in the US press as an attempt to counter balance the growing influence of Chavez and his "petro-dollars" in the region. "This is particularly the case with Uruguay, which is disenchanted with Mercosur, is struggling for new markets and would like a closer trade and cooperation relation with the US", reported the Brazilian press. Actually Brazilian president Lula da Silva made a brief long delayed visit to Uruguay just a week before Bush's tour promising better access for Uruguayan products and soft loans for infrastructure investments.