Cuban statement on election irks Venezuela

CNN October 9, 1998 Cuban statement on election irks Venezuela

                  CARACAS (Reuters) -- Venezuela accused Cuba on Friday of interfering
                  in its presidential elections in a political controversy involving front-runner
                  and former coup leader Hugo Chavez.

                  The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry took issue with a Cuban statement
                  Wednesday in which Havana denied it had any political or "revolutionary"
                  links with Chavez.

                  While acknowledging that Cuba clearly said it did not want to interfere in the
                  Venezuelan electoral process, a ministry communique issued late Thursday
                  said that one sentence in the Cuban statement amounted to "an unacceptable
                  interference."

                  The sentence was the Cuban Foreign Ministry's reference to "the most
                  corrupt and reactionary elements which, both in Venezuela and in the United
                  States, try to favor some candidates over others through all kinds of lies and
                  slanders."

                  Chavez's opponents have cited his 1994 visit to Havana -- where he was
                  warmly received by Cuba's veteran communist President Fidel Castro -- as
                  evidence he could take Venezuela down a similarly radical path should he
                  win the presidency on December 6. The visit took place soon after Chavez
                  was freed from prison, where he had been sent for a bloody 1992 coup
                  attempt.

                  In its statement, Havana denied foreign press reports that it said described
                  Chavez as "linked to Cuba in his revolutionary and political activities." It said
                  the Chavez-Cuba factor emerged "suspiciously" in the media just when the
                  election campaign was reaching its end and he was heading opinion polls.

                  Chavez has toned down both his image and stance in recent weeks as he
                  seeks to reassure foreign investors nervous about his reputation and
                  nationalistic political platform.