PACIFIC: Venezeula to help with fuel supplies
Updated
One of the biggest issues facing the Pacific, in particular the smaller island states, is fuel supplies. The cost of it, the guaranteed supply of it, how much they can get of it, and who gets to use it, are all major issues.
Presenter: Campbell Cooney
Speakers: Vladimir Villegas Poljak, (interpreter) Venezeula's Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs
Earlier this year the Latin American country of Venezuela established diplomatic relations with the Pacific Kingdom of Tonga.
And as the host of 2007 Forum leaders meeting Tonga was happy to welcome Venezeula's Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Vladimir Villegas Poljak as a special guest.
For his part Mr Poljak was happy to be there, and speaking through an interpreter, said distance, both geographic and political should not be a barrier between his country and others in the region.
POLJAK: I think the world of today, I think the world of today tell us that there's no distances, geographical distances when you want to work truly for integration.
COONEY: Barring the country's of Europe, geographically Venezeula is about as far as you can get from the Pacifc region.
But it is oil rich.
Currenlty petrol there costs around nine cents US per litre.
In the Pacific, in particular on the smaller island states, the cost of fuel, and a guarantee of supply is a major issue, and a fair percent of last week's talks were targetted at that issue.
Given the reserves Venezeula has, all Forum member nations, not just Tonga, made Mr Poljak welcome.
In return he indicated his government is seriously considering what help it can give to the Pacific.
POLJAK: Through all the countries, especially to the countries that have few resources to be able to buy for the purchasing. We want to help the Pacific. The energy sector we have cooperation with Latin America and Africa and other countries in Asia, also in the MIddle East and we want have that same cooperation with the Pacific.
COONEY: But the Vice Foreign Minister from Venezeula wanted to make it clear his presence, and words didn't mean a fleet of oil tankers were about to appear off the shore of Nauru, Tuvalu, or Samoa, dispensing free or discounted petrol to all and sundry.
What help, if any, will be supplied, is a decision for President Hugo Chavez.
But Mr Poljak was able to provide an idea of what's being considered.
POLJAK: The things we worked with is probably thinking of the Pacific countries to have a storage place where they can have store like the petroleum in order for them to benefit. For example, Venezuela in Asia, Venezuela is very interested in participating in the building of refineries. I cannot say that we are going to build a refinery in the Pacific.
COONEY: But accepting Venezeula as an aid donor of any sort, may come at a political price for Pacific nations.
The policies and socialist leaning politics of President Chavez has put it offside with the United States of America, which has imposed military sanctions against it.
The US has made it clear it wants to re-engage with the Pacific.
But it may not like the nations its offering to provide money and assistance to, strengthening their ties with a nation it's at odds with.
And as the biggest provider of aid in the region, it's not known how Australia may respond, as it's shown a willingness to support US policy on foreign relations.
For its part Venezeula wants to make it clear its aid, if it does provide any, will come with no strings attached.
POLJAK: We don't have to ask anybody nowadays in order to have an independent oil or energy policies. We can give cooperation and do whatever we want, because it's our oil.
COONEY: It gives you a very strong position here in the Pacific, for example, to have that resource available to you to win friends in the Pacific?
POLJAK: Let me just clarify. We don't want, we don't use oil and we will never use oil as a weapon to influence or to manipulate any country. We don't do that. I don't say that for you. Many people who are used to many countries that are used to in the world, using different resources as elements of manipulation, they see it that way, we don't see it that way.
