Pubdate: Mon, 12 Mar 2001 Source: Wall Street Journal (US) Copyright: 2001 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Contact: 200 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10281 Fax: (212) 416-2658 Website: http://www.wsj.com/ VENEZUELAN, DOMINICAN LEADERS PLEDGE TO BATTLE CORRUPTION SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP )-- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Dominican Republic President Hipolito Mejia Saturday pledged to combat drug trafficking and fight government corruption in Latin America. Mr. Chavez also used the three-day official visit to defend his leftist government -- which some have criticized as autocratic -- saying democracy has "never existed" in Venezuela. The visit comes as Mr. Chavez has tried to consolidate Venezuela's leadership in the region. The populist center-left government of Mr. Mejia could be one ally in Mr. Chavez's quest to unite Latin America to counterbalance U.S. influence. Mr. Chavez and Mr. Mejia committed to sharing information on drug traffickers and the "scourge of drugs" in the region, and also said they would spearhead a public crusade to help other Latin American countries detect and eradicate corruption. "Corruption destroys the moral order and justice and undermines the legitimacy of our democratic institutions," a joint statement issued Saturday said. Both leaders preach a message of benefits for the poor and punishment for corrupt officials. Venezuela also agreed to establish a permanent trade office in Santo Domingo to spur trade and investment in the Dominican Republic. Mr. Chavez said he is also analyzing a deal to finance the construction of an oil refinery in the Dominican Republic, but hadn't yet worked out all the details. Detractors have criticized Mr. Chavez's allegiance with Cuban President Fidel Castro's communist government, and have said Mr. Chavez usurped legal and legislative power in Caracas. "I couldn't threaten democracy, because you can't threaten something that never existed," Mr. Chavez said during Friday night's address at the National Assembly here. He said past Venezuelan leaders feigned democratic stances while they used their posts to funnel off the country's oil wealth. - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D