Venezuela's Chavez Pledges To Aid Syria With Its Conflict Against West
Komfie Manalo - All Headline News Foreign Correspondent Damascus, Syria (AHN) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Wednesday pledged to aid Syria in its "opposition to American imperialist aggression" in the Middle East on his arrival in the Syrian capital of Damascus. Syrian President Bashar Assad welcomed Chavez at the People's Palace, against a backdrop of 21-gun salute while a marching band played the national anthems of Syria and Venezuela. Chavez said upon his arrival at Damascus airport, "We have the same political vision and we will resist together the American imperialist aggression. He adds both countries would sign an agreement opposing U.S. "aggression" in the Middle East. Assad thanked Chavez for his support and "great stands" in support of Arab causes. He said, "We appreciate your sincere feelings toward the peoples who have their rights and are under occupation, as well as your sincere humanitarian and moral sentiments." The self-styled enemy of the West, Chavez has established close relations with countries known to oppose the U.S. such as Syria, Iran and other Middle East countries, but has soured ties with Israel. At the height of the war between Hezbollah guerrillas and Israel, Chavez likened Israel's attack on the militants to the Holocaust and ordered the withdrawal of his country's ambassador to the Jewish state. Israel responded by recalling its ambassador to Venezuela. Last |
