MEETING OBAMA-CHAVEZ, APRIL 4, 2009. OFFICIAL ENGLISH VERSION.

POTUS document Ven-001.

President Chavez lands in the White House in a U.S. helicopter, at 13:50, April 4, 2009, accompanied by his daughter. His petition to use his own pilots and to have his personal valet, Francisco Arias Cardenas, and his private cook aboard, was denied for security reasons.
13:52. He is welcomed in the White House grounds by the Under-Secretary of State for Latin America, Daniel Restrepo, of Colombian descent, and by Special Adviser for Latin America, Arturo Valenzuela, of Chilean descent.
14:03 President Obama receives President Chavez at the door of the Oval Room and shakes hands. An attempt by Chavez to hug him fells short.
14:05. The two presidents sit next to each other, flanked by their interpreters. President Chavez takes a satisfied look around the room and says: “It took me quite a while to get here but I finally made it, thanks to you, buddy”. President Obama waits for the translation, smiles lightly and says: “The people of the United States welcomes you, President Chavez”.
14:09. President Chavez adds: “Comrade, I always had confidence in your victory. It seems clear that this great country I finally following what I, modestly, started down south, this movement that I have called… “.
14:11. President Obama whispers to his interpreter who relies his message: “Although he is grateful for your demonstrations of affection, President Obama prefers being addressed as… President Obama. Not buddy or comrade”. President Chavez replied: “No problem. As you know we are very open, over familiar. We don’t believe in formalities and hope that all world leaders follow our example”.
14:15. President Obama: “Your suggestion might not fly among us. But, tell me President Chavez, Which are the essential issues you want to discuss with us in this visit? I would like to hear you”. President Chavez replied: “Well, in the first place, I congratulate you, sorry, thou, for the obliteration of that clown…what’s his name, he asks his interpreter (John McCain, President), yes… McCain. Evo, Cristina, Daniel, Rafael and I are euphoric to see that genocide, that donkey, that drunkard, as I called him on TV, get out from this room and…”.
14:17. President Obama cuts him short: “President Chavez. You are talking about the former president of the United States and about one of our national heroes. If you wish this visit to last more than the next 30 seconds, you will treat us with respect. I understand this might prove difficult for you but, if you do not try, I will have to attend to other matters of greater importance. I ask you, once more, to bring your issues forward”.
14:21. President Chavez: “Well… I don’t know how to approach you; president… let me cut to the chase. The first thing I want to put forward is the need of our people and my government for immediate financial support. We are small, you are big. We need the big to help the small. We need school supplies, hospital equipment, street sweeping machinery, a lot of help.”
14:24. President Obama: “I understand that your government has received over $700 billion in this last decade. This is not peanuts (translated as “conchas de ajo”). You have given away oil to our poor, through Mr. Joe Kennedy, for about $500 million. You have acquired about $8 billion in weapons, mostly from Russia. Our accounting indicates that you have given away 24.7 billion dollar to Castro, Morales, Ortega, Kirchner and other friends of yours. Wouldn’t you agree that if you had managed your income in a sensible manner you would not be here today, asking for our money?”
14: 30. President Chavez, visibly shaken: “The president of the land of Bolivar cannot be treated like a schoolboy. This represents a violation of our sovereignty. I ask you to change the subject. Let us talk about Cuba. I come to ask you for the end to the embargo”. President Obama replied: “You have not been informed well, Mr. President. I ordered the lifting of the embargo 30 hours ago, responding to the weight of public opinion, here and abroad. We felt the embargo was no longer punishing a moribund dictator but a starving people. Incidentally, President Raul Castro has accepted my invitation to meet in Florida and has asked to visit Disney World”.
14: 35. President Chavez, obviously surprised at these developments, said: “If this is the case, forget it”.
14:36 President Obama: “Is there anything else, Mr. President?” President Chavez: “Yes. I have to ask you to reign in the Florida judiciary that is after me with ridiculous charges of money laundering and terrorism. Also, the activities of your Treasury Department against our banks. I also ask you to close down the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal that write hostile editorials against my presidency. If I have been able to put order in Venezuela, I imagine you would have no problem here”.
14: 38. President Obama: “Dear Mr. President. You should know that this is not the way we do things in this country. We have checks and balances, autonomy of institutions and freedom of the press. Government officers are not loyal to me personally but to the country. They have sworn to serve the nation. The press, of course, does not listen to me. I listen to them… and now, you will have to excuse me. In exactly four minutes I am receiving the president of Outer Mongolia, who asked to see me for thirty minutes, just as you did. In your case I have dedicated three more minutes on top of the time stipulated, due to the long friendship between our two countries. I hope this friendship will be maintained in democracy, liberty and mutual respect. By the way, my personal adviser, Ms. Rice, sends you her best regards”.
14:40. President Chavez is escorted to the helicopter. It takes off and disappears in the horizon. President Chavez looks again at the picture taken in the Oval Room with the president of the United States of America.

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Two days later a press release appeared in VEA (the official Chavez newspaper) and Prensa Latina (the Cuban news agency), together with the photograph. It mentioned “the historic meeting between two main hemispheric leaders”. “President Chavez”, added the note, “impressed President Obama for his efforts to implant a real participatory democracy in the region”. The release added, “President Obama has asked to visit Venezuela to learn directly from the success of our glorious revolution. This visit will take place as soon as President Chavez has some time.”