by the El Reportero’s news services
Hugo Chávéz
President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez, called on European and Latin American nations to set up a fund of $1bn to help provide food and medicine for the poor.
Chavez said on he was willing to commit $365m of the country’s oil income to the fund, as global food and energy prices continue to rise.
“[The fund] will allow us to produce, buy and distribute food and medicines to the homes of the poorest families,” he said at a news conference in Caracas.
Explosive summit Chavez made the announcement ahead of his expected appearance at a summit of European and Latin American leaders in Peru that begins on Friday, where he says he will present his aid plan.
Uruguay to Sign New Cooperation Accords with Cuba
Montevideo, May 18 (Prensa Latina) A government delegation from Uruguay is visiting Cuba to celebrate a meeting on Foreign Offices and other economic, industrial and scientist-technique cooperation on Monday and Tuesday.
Both parts hope to sign several agreements of collaboration and to ratify or strengthen others in commercial, energy and oil prospecting, health and adult”s education areas.
Ministry of Social Development Sub-secretary Ana Olivera told Prensa Latina that one of the objectives will be to strengthen cooperation in the island, spreading the campaign of alphabetization in Uruguay, based on Cuban method “Yo si puedo”.
Interpol authenticates Farc data
On 15 May Interpol confirmed the integrity of the computer data found at the camp of Raúl Reyes, the second-in-command of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (Farc) who was killed on 1 March.
Significance: According to Interpol, its investigators, “found no evidence that user files were created, modified or deleted on any of the eight seized Farc computer exhibits following their seizure on 1 March 2008 by Colombian authorities”. The implication is that all the documents so far leaked by the Colombian authorities to domestic and international media – many of which have been sensational – are genuine Farc documents.
Ecuador investigatory commission ready
The civic-military Commission that will investigate an infiltration of the Ecuadorian intelligence services is ready now, military sources confirmed.
The announcement, which has been repeated by military sources, was made by Defense Minister Javier Ponce, who highlighted that this group will investigate the military and police intelligence.
On the civil-society side, this commission is composed of Gustavo Vega and Adrian Bonilla, while Justice and Heritage Ministers Gustavo Jalhk and Doris Solis, respectively, and Presidential Advisor Jose Luis Cortazar shape the government side.
These representatives are expected to present a report in a 60-day period, starting on May 15, about penetration of the foreign intelligence services in similar departments of the Armed Forces and National Police.
Uribe extradites senior AUC leaders to US: where now for justice and peace?
President Alvaro Uribe ordered the extradition of 14 of the most senior leaders of the Autodefensas Unidas de Colombia (AUC) to the US this week where they will face drug-trafficking charges.
Uribe decision was prompted because the leaders continued to carry out illicit activities from behind bars.
