{news} Fw: USGP-INT Reunion FPVA en Venezuela

[Justine McCabe]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Feinstein" <mfeinstein at feinstein.org>
Cc: "usgp-int" <usgp-int at gp-us.org>
Sent: Friday, November 09, 2007 2:25 PM
Subject: USGP-INT Reunion FPVA en Venezuela


>
> Dear IC
>
>
> It is Friday afternoon here in Valencia, Venezuela and we are having our
> lunch break at the FPVA meeting.
>
> This morning's session was reports from the member and observer
> parties.  Unlike previous FPVA meetings that I have attended, this time
> the reports were allowed to go on at great length, providing the
> opportunity for excellent political analysis.
>
> I was able to video tape most of the reports, although unfortunately
> I've had some battery problems.  (In the future, the FPVA needs to
> budget for such recordings, and not leave it up to spontaneous,
> volunteer efforts by delegates.)
>
> I began with greetings relayed from Julia and Tony, our FPVA delegates,
> then did a quite lengthly report (in Spanish) for US Greens, over 20
> minutes long including much Q&A.  Many FPVA delegates were not aware of
> the depth of the difficulties our electoral and political system
> presents us, and I went into great length about how our presidential
> efforts have been characterized and mischaracterized by forces who
> oppose us, as well as the challenges of being in the presidential arena,
> even without the trouble other forces make for us.
>
> The best news of the meeting thus far has been the announcement
> yesterday in Caracas that the week-long negotiations between Hugo Chavez
> and the leaders of the FARC has produced news that the FARC will present
> a "proof of life" of Ingrid Betancourt to Chavez before he meets with
> French president Sarkozy on November 20th.
>
> Juan Carlos Lecompte, the husband of Ingrid, is here and did a great
> deal of press interviews, before the announcement came from Chavez.  Now
> he is so extremely happy.  It has been an incredibly beautiful thing to
> watch.  Let's keep our fingers crossed for the rest of the process to
> unfold.
>
> Both Paty Doneau from Mexico and Catherine Greze from France are taking
> extensive notes and will be writing up more of a play-by-play report.
>
> Mike
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