February 14, 2007
Venezuela to be free software power

(Prensa Latina) - "Venezuela ratified its decision to become a power of free software and highlighted the perspectives of cooperation with Uruguay toward this end.

Venezuelan Minister of Science and Technology Héctor Navarro spoke before a congressional committee and emphasized the social character of free software, computer programming and knowledge.

'That is why Venezuela sponsors and stimulates development and applications of free software in the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) and the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA).

Navarro said Venezuela wants to become a power in this field, to officially compete and make its use feasible for the population.

He assured that software in Venezuela will be free to use, but 'it will not be used by great transnationals to exploit people.'

Navarro went to the Legislature to explain the reach of an agreement for cooperation in information technology, software industry, equipment and communications, signed recently between the governments of Venezuela and Uruguay ".