[Marxism] Iran to Join Latin American Trade Deal

[Walter Lippmann]

Iran to Join Latin American Trade Deal
Monday July 2, 2007 1:16 AM
By NASSER KARIMI
Associated Press Writer

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) - Iran plans to join a Latin American initiative
designed to counter U.S.-led efforts for free trade in the region,
the Web site of the Iranian president's office reported Sunday as
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez visited the country.

The report said Chavez welcomed Iran's observer membership in the
Cuban-Venezuelan alternative to the Free Trade Area of the Americas.
It did not specify exactly what observer membership would entail, but
illustrated the growing relationship between Venezuela and Iran,
whose leaders have strongly condemned U.S. policies.

``The pillars of world arrogance have been shaky. Victory will be
realized by resistance and steadiness,'' Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad said while meeting with Chavez, according to the Web
site.

Chavez and Cuban President Fidel Castro, another U.S. enemy, signed
the deal - known by its Spanish acronym ALBA - in 2005 to counter
Washington's efforts to expand free trade with Latin American
countries. It contains much leftist rhetoric and few specifics, but
was followed by closer economic ties between the two leaders.

Although the FTAA stalled in 2005, Washington since has signed nine
free trade agreements with Latin American countries.

``Cooperation between independent countries such as Iran and
Venezuela will have an effective role in defeating imperialism,'' the
Web site quoted Chavez as saying.

Ties between Iran and Venezuela have been growing stronger. Chavez
has defended Iran's disputed nuclear program, dismissing U.S.
concerns that Tehran is secretly trying to develop atomic weapons.

``Political interests and close regional and international stances
are among the important factors that help to continue this close
cooperation,'' Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Ali
Hosseini told reporters Sunday during his weekly press conference.

Chavez arrived in Iran on Saturday for a two-day visit, as part of a
three-nation tour after stops in Russia and Belarus. His visit is the
third to Iran in the past two years.


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WALTER LIPPMANN
Editor-in-Chief, CubaNews
writer - photographer - activist
http://www.walterlippmann.com
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