The writer is Venezuela's ambassador to the United States.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Contrary to what the March 1 editorial "Mr. Chávez's repression" asserted, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and its report criticizing the government of Venezuela for not respecting human rights in the country do not pass the smell test.
The commission long ago squandered any impartiality it had regarding Venezuela, and its conclusions were drawn solely from interviews with members of the political opposition and opposition-aligned media outlets. Venezuela's record on political, economic, social and cultural rights is strong. Over the last decade, the country has held 14 internationally monitored national elections. Poverty has dropped dramatically, moving Venezuela up 10 spots on the United Nations' Human Development Index.
Bernardo Alvarez Herrera, Washington
The writer is Venezuela's ambassador to the United States.
