MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mercosur closely following Venezuela situation; Cristina Fernandez paid secret visit to Chavez in Cuba

Bocaranda the best and most respected political reporter in Venezuela assures that the Argentine leader was in Havana in December

Mercosur leading members Brazil and Argentina are closely following the Venezuelan situation confident there are no reasons for surprises or fears about the democratic system, while the most respected political reporter of the country Nelson Bocaranda assures that President Cristina Fernandez, CFK, paid a secret visit to Havana in December where she talked with Hugo Chavez about his true health condition.

“We are following closely and with concern the health condition of President Hugo Chavez and the situation in Venezuela, but we feel there are no reasons to fear about the future of Venezuela”, said on Wednesday an official from the Planalto Palace, seat of the Brazilian Executive.

“We are not going to speculate about what happens if President Chavez is unable to take office on January 10, but there are no motives of major concern, or to believe that something extraordinary can happen in the future with Venezuela”, added the source.

It is known that Brazilian surgeons were present at the latest (and fourth) surgery of President Chavez fighting for his life against a recurrent until now undisclosed cancer.

Meanwhile Bocaranda considered the best informed political reporter on Venezuelan affairs revealed that President Cristina Fernandez made a secret visit to Cuba last December and was able to speak with President Chavez before he underwent surgery or his condition deteriorated.

Both Cristina Fernandez and her late husband and former president Nestor Kirchmer are close allies and friends of the Venezuelan charismatic leader.

Bocaranda writes that Cristina Fernandez is in permanent contact with Vice president and acting president Nicolas Maduro, and Chavez relatives. Allegedly in their conversation Chavez confessed to the Argentine leader his true medical condition and how difficult his recovery is.

“Mrs. Kirchner and her children as well as her closest aides receive permanent reports on the health evolution of whom they consider has proven to be the best friend of her and of her deceased husband Nestor”, writes Bocaranda.

In Brasilia another top official but from the Foreign ministry added that the Brazilian government does not have far more information than that which is released by Vice president Maduro referred to “the very complex post-surgery” condition of Chavez who was operated last December 11.

“Brazil also has its regular contacts with Venezuela, independently of what is released and made public about the health of President Chavez”.

However both officials said they ignored if Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff had had any new contacts with Maduro who remains in Cuba next to Chavez and his relatives.

Brazilian Foreign minister Antonio Patriota has been stating that “there are no reasons to believe that the rule of democracy will not continue in Venezuela if President elect Chavez does not return to take office”.

Bocaranda in his column also said that the Venezuelan government is preparing public opinion for the extreme situation that Chavez can’t return to take office or that finally cancer will defeat him.

Bocaranda is highly respected even by Chavez closest followers since he was the first to report on the president’s cancer and his health condition. So far his reports have been accurate and non controversial or speculative.

Venezuela last July finally was finally accepted as the fifth full member of Mercosur, a request originally presented in 2006. Brazil and Argentina were helping Chavez to concentrate and establish trade and energy links with South America, simultaneously distancing Venezuela from US influence. Nevertheless Venezuela remains among the top oil suppliers of the US.