Hugo Chávez Interview & Venezuela Review 1 of 2 - BBC HardTalk Special Report

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• published: 11 Mar 2011
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Hugo Chávez Interview & Venezuela Review 1 of 2 - BBC HardTalk Special Report (the interview is in part 2) President Chavez's socialist world vision - Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez intends to inject new urgency into his socialist and anti-imperialist revolution, claiming "capitalism is destroying the world". In a combative 60-minute interview with the BBC HARDtalk programme in the Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas, Mr Chavez blamed Venezuela's deepening recession on the irresponsible economic policies of the United States. He also expressed disappointment with President Barack Obama's "very negative signals" towards Latin America. "In Colombia (the Americans) are building seven military bases; that is one of the very negative signals that Obama sent just after taking office," Mr Chavez said. "Bush decided to reactivate the US Fourth Fleet to operate in Latin America. Obama, instead of suspending or getting rid of the Fourth Fleet has seven military bases planned in Colombia. What for? Is it to go to war, to dominate the Latin American continent?" Colombia has signed a deal to give the US military access to seven Colombian bases with the aim to combat drug trafficking and rebels. It caused alarm among some of Colombia's neighbours, including Venezuela, who object to an increased US military presence. "I wish Obama would focus on governing the United States and would forget his country's imperialist pretensions," Mr Chavez said. While there was no repeat of the insults he hurled at George W Bush, such as "donkey," "devil" and "terrorist", President Chavez indicated that the high-profile handshake he and Obama shared at an Americas summit last year had not resolved fundamental differences. Red carpet The 55-year-old Venezuelan president rarely grants extended interviews to the Western media. This one was arranged to coincide with the premiere in Caracas of a new documentary by Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone. The film, South of the Border, portrays Latin America being transformed by Leftist radicalism. The leaders of Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia and Ecuador all get walk-on parts, but it is to Mr Chavez that Stone gives the starring role. For more information, see http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/hardtalk/8732857.stm