President Chávez: Africa is a mother to us

ABN 02/09/2008
Caracas, Distrito Capital
Caracas, Sept 02. ABN.- The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez Frías, held this Tuesday that Venezuelans and Latin Americans cannot forget that Africa is a mother to us.

After his arrival in the International Airport of Johannesburg, South Africa, Chávez stated that during his stay in that country, due to an official visit, "we are going to feel and reunite with the deepest roots of our identity."

"This is our first official visit to South Africa. We had came before because some summits, but this is an opportunity to keep creating new basis for South-South cooperation. Right now, starting the 21st century, just when we are in the middle of a new South American independence. It is the same for Africa, there is a full renewing movement trying to find again the paths of people's sovereignty," Chávez said.

"Therefore, that is the meaning of coming here to South Africa: to meet with our deepest roots, as well as reunite politically, culturally, economically, energetically, financially. That's why we expect this day will be really interesting," he added.

"We greet South African people, a heroic people, just like ours, who had fought for centuries against the apartheid," he stated.

President Chávez pointed out that this Tuesday Venezuela will sign some agreements with South Africa.

"The idea is to create a legal and political framework to carry out cooperation mechanisms between both nations. We are going to sign, among others, an agreement on energy. A South African company is willing to work in joint with PDVSA (Venezuelan state-owned oil company) in the Orinoco Oil Belt. South Africa has oil and gas, so they have experience in this area," Chávez stated.