Venezuela's accusations that the Dutch Navy violated its airspace "have absolutely no basis in fact" according to the Netherlands' outgoing Foreign Minister Maxime Verhagen.
Speaking on a working visit to Curaçao, an island in the Netherlands Antilles, Mr Verhagen spoke out in response to a complaint issued by the Venezuelan government earlier this week.
The Dutch minister insists that no violation of Venezuelan airspace took place, commenting that the helicopter in question remained in international airspace throughout its flight and that its flight path could be clearly traced. He suggests that Venezuela's concerns might be based on a misunderstanding.
The misunderstanding may be due to the fact that part of the international airspace is under the control of - monitored by - air traffic control in Venezuela. But under international law, this international airspace is accessible to all. Even if the air traffic control is carried out by the Venezuelan authorities.
Drugs trade
Last year, Venezuela argued that the United States was using the Netherlands Antilles to prepare an attack on Venezuela. Mr Verhagen repeated his view that there are no grounds for this accusation. The Venezuelan authorities have been given full insight into the activities, which involve unarmed US flights to combat the drugs trade. The minister describes the US operations in the region as full transparent.
Mr Verhagen once again emphasised that he is prepared to provide Venezuela with all necessary documentation and that he has no intention of fuelling a conflict.
"The last thing I want is an escalation and a barrage of accusations on both sides. Given the fact that Venezuela is the largest neighbour of the Kingdom [of the Netherlands] and we have nothing to gain from casting aspersions on each other through protests and the media, I believe that we should simply base ourselves on the facts."
Uneasy relationship
Mr Verhagen says there have been two rounds of talks between senior officials to discuss the uneasy relationship with the South American country. The minister says he sets great store by a continuation of the political dialogue, but that these latest accusations have not exactly contributed to this objective.
Mr Verhagen is currently spending a few days on a working visit to the Antilles to discuss foreign policy.
Email this Article
Printer-friendly version
16 July 2010 - 8:13pm / Germany
reply
Chavez a walking and travelling problem maker? Why? Because he refuses to dance to the US/Western tune? Because he rather take care of Venezuelans than send all that money now being spent on social programs to Wall Street instead? Because he is very clearly showing the world that life without the US/West is possible? Because he refuses to allow that Venezuela be exploited any longer? Because he has his heart in the right place?
===================================================================
http://www.zompist.com/latam.html
===================================================================
develop tourism.
1983
Boland Amendment prohibits CIA and Defense Dept. from spending money to overthrow the government of Nicaragua-- a law the Reagan administration cheerfully violates.
1984
CIA mines three Nicaraguan harbors. Nicaragua takes this action to the World Court, which brings an $18 billion judgment against the U.S. The U.S. refuses to recognize the Court's jurisdiction in the case.
1984
U.S. spends $10 million to orchestrate elections in El Salvador-- something of a farce, since left-wing parties are under heavy repression, and the military has already declared that it will not answer to the elected president.
1989
U.S. invades Panama to dislodge CIA boy gone wrong Manuel Noriega, an event which marks the evolution of the U.S.'s favorite excuse from Communism to drugs.
1996
The U.S. battles global Communism by extending most-favored-nation trading status for China, and tightening the trade embargo on Castro's Cuba.
The Netherlands is fortunate to have an erstwhile ally such as the US to help to protect the Dutch interests in the area near Venezuela. Geert never says anything about where the action is really happening, because he doesn't know the first thing on what to do about it!! At least a few other people who are above Geert's hysteria thinking in the Netherlands have "their eye on the ball"!!
Chavez a walking and travelling problem maker? Why? Because he refuses to dance to the US/Western tune? Because he rather take care of Venezuelans than send all that money now being spent on social programs to Wall Street instead? Because he is very clearly showing the world that life without the US/West is possible? Because he refuses to allow that Venezuela be exploited any longer? Because he has his heart in the right place?
Vera, you are correct. He doesn't want the West to exploit his nation because he wants to show the West he can do it by himself. His heart is is in his bank accounts throughout the world. You are right!
Hiram2 17 July 2010 - 7:01am
Vera, you are correct. He doesn't want the West to exploit his nation because he wants to show the West he can do it by himself. His heart is is in his bank accounts throughout the world. You are right!
===================================================================
You recognised that right away!
Well! It is the ameriKKKan way.
===================================================================
http://www.zompist.com/latam.html
1980
U.S., seeking a stable base for its actions in El Salvador and Nicaragua, tells the Honduran military to clean up its act and hold elections. The U.S. starts pouring in $100 million of aid a year and basing the contras on Honduran territory.
Death squads are also active in Honduras, and the contras tend to act as a state within a state.
===================================================================
1981
The CIA steps in to organize the contras in Nicaragua, who started the previous year as a group of 60 ex-National Guardsmen; by 1985 there are about 12,000 of them. 46 of the 48 top military leaders are ex-Guardsmen. The U.S. also sets up an economic embargo of Nicaragua and pressures the IMF and the World Bank to limit or halt loans to Nicaragua.
===================================================================
1981
Gen. Torrijos of Panama is killed in a plane crash. There is a suspicion of CIA involvement, due to Torrijos' nationalism and friendly relations with Cuba.
===================================================================
1982
A coup brings Gen. Efraín Ríos Montt to power in Guatemala, and gives the Reagan administration the opportunity to increase military aid. Ríos Montt's evangelical beliefs do not prevent him from accelerating the counterinsurgency campaign.
===================================================================
1983
Another coup in Guatemala replaces Ríos Montt. The new President, Oscar Mejía Víctores, was trained by the U.S. and seems to have cleared his coup beforehand with U.S. authorities.
===================================================================
1983
U.S. troops take over tiny Granada. Rather oddly, it intervenes shortly after a coup has overthrown the previous, socialist leader. One of the justifications for the action is the building of a new airport with Cuban help, which Granada claimed was for tourism and Reagan argued was for Soviet use. Later the U.S. announces plans to finish the airport... to develop tourism.
The ameriKKIKan way!
CHAVEZ IS EXPLOITING AND DESTROYING VENEZUELA; HE THINKS HE IS THE LIBERATOR OF LATIN AMERICA, BUT HE IS JUST A DESTROYER AND MURDERER. JUST GO ON VACATION TO CARACAS THE MURDER AND CRIME CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
Anonymous 17 July 2010 - 3:45am / Lalaland
CHAVEZ IS EXPLOITING AND DESTROYING VENEZUELA; HE THINKS HE IS THE LIBERATOR OF LATIN AMERICA, BUT HE IS JUST A DESTROYER AND MURDERER. JUST GO ON VACATION TO CARACAS THE MURDER AND CRIME CAPITAL OF THE WORLD.
===================================================================
http://www.zompist.com/latam.html
===================================================================
1970
In this year (just as an example), U.S. investments in Latin America earn $1.3 billion; while new investments total $302 million.
===================================================================
1970
Salvador Allende Gossens elected in Chile. Suspends foreign loans, nationalizes foreign companies. For the phone system, pays ITT the company's minimized valuation for tax purposes. The CIA provides covert financial support for Allende's opponents, both during and after his election.
===================================================================
1972
U.S. stands by as military suspends an election in El Salvador in which centrist José Napoleón Duarte was favored to win. (Compare with the emphasis placed on the 1982 elections.)
===================================================================
1973
THE REAL 9/11!
U.S.-supported military coup kills Allende and brings Augusto Pinochet Ugarte to power. Pinochet imprisons well over a hundred thousand Chileans (torture and rape are the usual methods of interrogation), terminates civil liberties, abolishes unions, extends the work week to 48 hours, and reverses Allende's land reforms.
===================================================================
1973
Military takes power in Uruguay, supported by U.S. The subsequent repression reportedly features the world's highest percentage of the population imprisoned for political reasons.
===================================================================
1974
Office of Public Safety is abolished when it is revealed that police are being taught torture techniques.
===================================================================
! 1976
Election of Jimmy Carter leads to a new emphasis on human rights in Central America. Carter cuts off aid to the Guatemalan military (or tries to; some slips through) and reduces aid to El Salvador.
===================================================================
! 1979
Ratification of the Panama Canal treaty which is to return the Canal to Panama by 1999.
"Once again, Uncle Sam put his tail between his legs and crept away rather than face trouble." --Ronald Reagan
===================================================================
1980
A right-wing junta takes over in El Salvador. U.S. begins massively supporting El Salvador, assisting the military in its fight against FMLN guerrillas. Death squads proliferate; Archbishop Romero is assassinated by right-wing terrorists; 35,000 civilians are killed in 1978-81. The rape and murder of four U.S. churchwomen results in the suspension of U.S. military aid for one month.
The U.S. demands that the junta undertake land reform. Within 3 years, however, the reform program is halted by the oligarchy.
===================================================================
"The Soviet Union underlies all the unrest that is going on." --Ronald Reagan
The ameriKKKan way!
Vera, you are 100% correct!
Go first on vacation to Caracas, the city with the highest crime rate in the world, and then you'll see where Chavez has his heart.
Problems with the Netherlands, problems with Colombia, problems with the U.S., internal problems. Hugo Chavez is a walking and travelling problem maker.
Post new comment
Please be reminded all comments must be in English, short and to the point - guideline 250 words. Abusive and inappropriate comments will be removed.