Foreign affairs ministers to approve the Amazon Strategic Plan
Caracas, 14 Sep. (Venpres/Armando Nunez) .- Venezuela’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jesus Arnaldo Perez, arrived today at the city of Manaus, Brazil, to take part in the 8th Meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers from the eight State members of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO), during which Venezuela will promote this mechanism to protect the Amazon, encourage sustainable development and establish ways to combat poverty in the region. The Amazon Strategic Plan is aimed at the conservation, sustainable use of the rainforest's resources, the exchange of technology between the signatory states, as well as the impulse for integration and regional competition.

MVR: The opposition cannot be setting the rules
Caracas, 14 Sep. Venpres (Ernesto Vegas/Armando Nunez).- Movimiento Quinta Republica (MVR) National Assemblyman, Tarek William Saab, believes it is “counter-productive for the opposition which has been promoting subversion and violence in the streets and does not want to accept the August 15 presidential referendum results, to be setting the rules”.

Izarra: We must consolidate the revolutionary process
Caracas, 14 Sep. Venpres (Jimmy Lopez Morillo/Armando Nunez).- Movimiento Quinta Republica (MVR) Ideological Affairs director, Army Commander, William Izarra, has pointed out that currently Venezuela is in a stage “in which we must go from a phase of transition to the consolidation of the Bolivarian revolutionary process”.

Government’s flagship Healthcare Mission implements high-tech facilities in Venezuela
Valles del Tuy, 14 Sep. Venpres (Deiry Valera/Armando Nunez).- During his visit to Venezuela to take part in the launching ceremony of three healthcare centers in the state of Miranda, Cuban Public Health Minister, Enrique Comendero, has stated “the new Barrio Adentro Mission Healthcare Centers are implementing high-tech facilities for Venezuelans”.

Fogade to hand over 1,615 hectares to Housing Mission
Caracas, 14 Sep. Venpres (Eulin Gonzalez/Armando Nunez).- Deposits Guarantee Fund (Fogade) president, Jesus Caldera Infante, has announced that Fogade will hand over 1,615 hectares around the country to the government's flagship Mision Vivienda (Housing Mission) in order to build some 35o,000 housing solutions.

US claims on Venezuela’s fight against human trafficking are noxious
Caracas, 14 Sep. (Venpres/Armando Nunez) .- With regard to claims by the United States stating that Venezuela is not standing strongly against human trafficking, Venezuela’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs characterized them as “false and noxious and that the real purpose of President Bush’s executive determination is political”.

Chavez to travel to Manaus to hold talks with Lula Da Silva
Caracas, 14 Sep. Venpres (Carolina Perez/Armando Nunez).- Communication & Information Minister, Andres Izarra, has confirmed that the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez Frias, will hold talks with his Brazilian counterpart, Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva, tomorrow in the city of Manaus, Brazil, to attend the Venezuelan-Brazilian Entrepreneurial Encounter.

Minutes to CNE meetings to be made public
Caracas, 14 Sep. Venpres (Analy Ugas/Armando Nunez).- National Elections Board (JNE) president, Jorge Rodriguez, has tabled a proposal before authorities of the National Elections Council (CNE), aimed at making public the minutes to the CNE board meetings, as well as making the population “deeply aware of the discussions underway and what is being submitted in form of impugnation”.

National Assembly to commence parliamentary sessions on Thursday
Caracas, Sep. 14 Venpres (Ernesto Vegas/Armando Nunez).- The first Vice President of the National Assembly (AN), Ricardo Gutierrez, has confirmed that the second phase of parliamentary sessions will commence on Thursday at the National Assembly (AN) with an undefined schedule.

First phase of Maracaibo Metro to be completed in two weeks
Caracas, 14 Sep. Venpres (Ninive Camacho/Armando Nunez).- Complying with his timetable, Maracaibo Metro president, Jairo Ramirez, has reported “the first phase of the Maracaibo Metro will be completed on September 27 and the construction of the second phase will commence immediately thereinafter”.

Venezuela sends second relief shipment to Grenada
Caracas, 14 Sep. (Venpres/Armando Nunez) .- Venezuela’s National Civil Protection and Disaster Administration director, Antonio Rivero, has reported that Venezuela has sent Grenada today a second aid shipment, including food, drinking water and medicine, as well as logistic and relief personnel.

The new Ministry of Popular Economy to increase granting of micro-credits
Caracas, 14 Sep. Venpres (Lisa Robles/Armando Nunez).- The new Minister of Popular Economy, Elias Jaua, has stated that the Ministry’s purpose is to further granting of micro-loans and group various state institutions that deal with supporting cooperatives and micro-businesses.

OPEC basket price declines to US$38.30 a barrel
Vienna, 14 Sep. (Venpres/Armando Nunez) -. According to OPEC Secretariat calculations, the price of the OPEC Basket of seven crudes stood at US$38.30 a barrel on Monday, compared with $38.82 last week, Friday.

Photography: Santiago Padilla