February 28, 2005
Pérez Esquivel defends the Venezuelan government

(El Universal) - "The Argentinean Nobel Peace Prize, Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, said the United States is making a huge mistake trying to overthrow Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, as informed by DPA.

In an interview with Radio Caracol from Colombia, Pérez said that Washington has constantly bullied the Venezuelan government and this has provoked tension with the White House.

'The United States is making huge mistakes and one of them is trying to overthrow President Chávez, who was constitutionally elected and reconfirmed by the people in a national referendum', said the Nobel Prize.

Pérez said Chávez's government is democratic and it deserves respect from the American President George W. Bush".