ARTICLE - CHAVEZ PROMISES RECON. SUPPORT

PRESIDENT CHAVEZ PROMISES HIS FULL SUPPORT TO THE RECONSTRUCTION
(Haiti Libre) -

President Michel Martelly, accompanied by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Laurent Lamothe and of Tourism, Stéphanie Balmir Villedrouin, the Roving Ambassador for Haiti, Sean Penn and other advisers, met Friday, February 3, in Caracas, with President Hugo Chávez [who was accompanied by .... Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro and Temir Porras].

During this working meeting that lasted nearly three hours, the two Heads of State discussed the rich historical past that binds Haiti and Venezuela. A relationship that dates back to early 1800, when Francisco de Miranda began his crusade for the liberation of America, with the support of Haiti.

The two leaders discussed the cooperation in areas such as agriculture, infrastructure, housing and of education. Tourism Minister Stéphanie Balmir Villedrouin has presented to President Chávez, the Haitian Government's plan to make the city of Jacmel a high tourist destination in the Caribbean. The discussions on Jacmel focused on the airport expansion, the restoration of historical sites, as well as road infrastructure projects. President Chávez favorably welcomed the plan.

In the field of agriculture, the cooperation and the investment, have been at the heart of discussions. Due to the fact that 60% of Haiti's population evolves in this sector, the increase in production would be the key of development. The two Presidents discussed the creation of public-private partnerships, in order to give the State the priority of the projects on agriculture and the issue of loans to Haitian farmers.

President Chávez has promised his full support to assist in the reconstruction of Haiti, and declared that the Venezuelan people remain attached alongside the Haitian people, and that he will work tirelessly to ensure that the reconstruction process moves forward faster than before.

Both leaders agreed on a visit of President Chávez to Haiti in the coming weeks. President Chávez wants to travel to Haiti to see the work done by the Martelly administratio, and the impact of Venezuelan aid.

President Martelly concluded the meeting, by encouraging President Chávez to allow the Venezuelan private sector, to come and engage in Haiti, since there are many investment opportunities. He stated that by facilitating foreign direct investment, Haiti will create thousands of jobs necessary to increase the standard of living of its citizens.