U.S. Congress passes law requiring intelligence authorities to report on Venezuela

The Ambassador of Venezuela in London, Samuel Moncada, criticized the National Defense Authorization Act since it perceives Venezuela as a threat

The positive image of Barack Obama contrasts markedly with the U.S. intervention in Latin America.

This was the message from the panellists who took part yesterday in the British Parliament in London at the conferenc: BarackObama: Good News for Latin America?

One of the speakers in this event was the Ambassador of Venezuela in London, Samuel Moncada, who spoke about the National Defense Authorization Act. This piece of legislation requires the Director of National Intelligence to report on Venezuela to the defence and intelligence committees of the US Senate.

This law, identified by the U.S. Senate with number 1390 (23rd of July 2009), states that the report on Venezuela must include among other things, information on arms purchases; shipping of uranium to Iran, ties with FARC and Hezbollah; posting of Venezuelan intelligence officers to Bolivia, payments to officials and / or candidates from other countries and money laundering.

"This is a clear interference by the U.S. on Venezuelan domestic affairs. It is clear that the U.S. consider us as an enemy”, said Moncada, adding that:" This bill was introduced by former Florida Senator and Cuban American Mel Martinez. This is a clear example of how the right wing still controls the US geopolitical agenda in Latin America”.

In addition to Moncada, the following people also spoke at this event: Beatriz Souviron, Bolivia's Ambassador in London; Grace Livingstone, a journalist and author of the book: America's Backyard and Katherine Ronderos, Director of the Central American Women's Network.

Approximately 200 people attended the event which was chaired and organised by the Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn.

Press Office of the Embassy of Venezuela in London, October 29, 2009