Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Viscount Montgomery of Alamein (Crossbench). It was answered on Wednesday, 21 June 2006.

EU-Latin America Summit

Question: My Lords, I thank the Minister for that encouraging reply. However, does he agree that the very good work of the summit was slightly overshadowed by the new ideas of President Chavez of Venezuela? His revolutionary rhetoric and anti-US dialogue, far from improving the lot of his people, have succeeded so far only in dividing the continent into two camps.

Answer: My Lords, at least two camps. There have been some rhetorical flourishes, but in the final analysis that did not succeed. The fault lines that have been apparent in debates were not seen through to the final conclusion. The summit declaration, which was signed by absolutely everybody, gives a clear and common agenda for both regions. We are trying to achieve an active relationship with Venezuela. We work on several areas of shared interest, including counter-narcotics and energy, and we have important commercial relationships. Venezuela is the third biggest market for the United Kingdom in Latin America, and we try to maintain a constructive engagement where we can.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 683 c747-8
Session: 2005-06
Oral question type: 1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Lords chamber
Subjects: EU external relations Caribbean Venezuela Conferences Latin America
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk