Venezuela’s Chavez: Ahmadinejad Symbol of Resistance

Local Editor, 26-11-2009

Ahmadinejad has ended his tour of Latin American countries, leaving Venezuela for Senegal in western Africa. At the end of his South American tour, Ahmadinejad reiterated that Iran and Venezuela would remain united against US "imperialism".

"Today the people of Venezuela and Iran, friends and brothers in the trench warfare against imperialism, are resisting," he said, adding they will "stand together until the end".

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is a "symbol of resistance" who raises Latin American nations' spirit in their fight against imperialism. "I can say that you are a hero and a symbol of resistance in the fight against imperialism," IRNA quoted Chavez as saying in a ceremony held to welcome the Iranian President.

Iran and Venezuela signed twelve cooperation agreements in housing, agriculture, fisheries, transportation, energy, environment, tourism and education.

Ahmadinejad arrived in Caracas on Wednesday on the fourth leg of his official visit to Latin American and African countries, which also took him to Gambia, Brazil and Bolivia. "Today you have arrived in a free country which was under US domination up to years ago just like Iran," the Venezuelan President told Ahmadinejad.

Chavez condemned remarks made by "Israeli" President Shimon Peres during his recent Latin American tour who had said that Ahmadinejad and Chavez would disappear soon. "We know what the state of "Israel" stands for -- a murderous arm of the Yankee Empire," Reuters quoted Chavez as saying in a joint news conference. "What the President of "Israel" said, we take as a threat," he added.

"It is imperialism and arrogance that will disappear," Chavez stated. Chavez broke relations with "Israel" earlier this year to protest against the "Israeli" offensive in the Gaza Strip.