Chavez trying to buy Security Council Seat

October 16, 2006 in Hugo Chavez, UN, Venezuela

From VHeadline.com 

As the UN prepares to vote on Venezuela’s bid for a two-year seat on the Security Council, Hugo Chavez, the country’s President, is hoping to be backed by countries in the Americas and beyond which have received Caracas’ help. Venezuela has given an estimated $1.1 billion in aid, funded by oil revenues, since 2005. The 192-member UN general assembly will vote for either Venezuela or its rival Guatemala to the fill the South American slot in the council on Monday.

Although Venezuela has not provided a total figure for its donations, a review of public pledges by its government suggests the country has offered at least $1.1 billion since the beginning of 2005 in loans, donations and financial aid to regional countries.

In Uruguay, a public hospital, Hospital de Clinicas, received US$20 million from Venezuela — half in donations and the other half to be paid off in reciprocal training and other services. Caracas has also given $260 million to repave a Jamaican highway and $17 million towards upgrading airports on the Caribbean islands of Antigua and Dominica.

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