Chavez: U.S. ambassador could be tossed out
Venezuelan president warns envoy over comments on nationalizing firms
CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez warned the U.S. ambassador to Venezuela on Thursday that he could be asked to leave the country for saying U.S. companies and investors must receive a fair price for their shares of Venezuela's largest telephone company when it is nationalized.
"If you continue meddling in Venezuela's affairs, first of all, you are violating the Geneva agreements and getting yourself involved in a serious violation and could ... be declared a persona non grata and would have to leave the country," Chavez said in response to comments made by William Brownfield.
Earlier Thursday, Brownfield told local Union Radio the planned takeover of CA Nacional de Telefonos, or CANTV, should proceed "in a transparent, legal manner" and that Venezuela's government must offer "fair and quick compensation to the people who are affected or the owners."
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"These are the only obligations that a government has when it decides to nationalize an industry," he added.
Virginia-based Verizon Communications Inc. holds the largest minority share of CANTV, which was privatized in 1991. The takeover jeopardizes an agreement by Verizon to sell its 28.5 percent stake in CANTV to a joint venture of America Movil and Telefonos de Mexico SA, controlled by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim.
The sale had been awaiting Venezuelan government regulatory approval.
Chavez, a self-proclaimed "revolutionary" who is steering Venezuela toward socialism, has said he wants an immediate state takeover of the telephone company and will not pay shareholders the market value.
CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez warned the U.S. ambassador to Venezuela on Thursday that he could be asked to leave the country for saying U.S. companies and investors must receive a fair price for their shares of Venezuela's largest telephone company when it is nationalized.
"If you continue meddling in Venezuela's affairs, first of all, you are violating the Geneva agreements and getting yourself involved in a serious violation and could ... be declared a persona non grata and would have to leave the country," Chavez said in response to comments made by William Brownfield.
Earlier Thursday, Brownfield told local Union Radio the planned takeover of CA Nacional de Telefonos, or CANTV, should proceed "in a transparent, legal manner" and that Venezuela's government must offer "fair and quick compensation to the people who are affected or the owners."
Story continues below ↓ advertisement
"These are the only obligations that a government has when it decides to nationalize an industry," he added.
Virginia-based Verizon Communications Inc. holds the largest minority share of CANTV, which was privatized in 1991. The takeover jeopardizes an agreement by Verizon to sell its 28.5 percent stake in CANTV to a joint venture of America Movil and Telefonos de Mexico SA, controlled by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim.
The sale had been awaiting Venezuelan government regulatory approval.
Chavez, a self-proclaimed "revolutionary" who is steering Venezuela toward socialism, has said he wants an immediate state takeover of the telephone company and will not pay shareholders the market value.
posted by Marko at 1/26/2007 08:49:00 AM
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