Venezuela threatens to suspend oil supplies to Europe
20/6/2008 17:40
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said yesterday his country will suspend
oil supplies to European countries if the new EU immigration law comes into
force.
"Our petroleum should not go to those European countries" that apply
the new law, Chavez said when meeting with visiting Paraguayan President-elect
Fernando Lugo, who also voiced his opposition to the law.
Lugo said the law
is against human rights.
Chavez and Lugo held a joint press conference in the
Simon Bolivar Hall to endorse the establishment of a strategic alliance in the
fields of energy and food between the two countries.
Chavez called the
"Return Directive" approved Wednesday by the European Parliament "outrageous"
and "the directive of shame."
The new rules seek to extend the period of
detention of illegal immigrants to 18 months and to set the maximum length of
the entry ban after their deportation.
Chavez said such legislation is
unacceptable and invited Latin American and African nations to form a common
front in rejection of the anti-immigration law.
Chavez also ordered Foreign
Minister Nicolas Maduro and Energy Minister Rafael Ramirez to pay attention to
the so-called return directive and prepare a response.
He said after the wars
in Europe, many European immigrants, almost naked and without money, arrived in
the Americas and hoped for a new life. "None of them were rejected," Chavez
added.
In a TV speech, Chavez said the EU move shows "signs of fascism" and
that Europe will "build concentration camps" to hold millions of
immigrants.
Moreover, Chavez called on the Organization of American Sates
(OAS) and African countries to defend the dignity of their people and said
Venezuela did not need the investment of European nations.
Chavez said he
will wait for the reaction of the governments of European
countries.
Xinhua
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