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.
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