February 20, 2007
Venezuelans will have better quality of urban life with the support of the Greater London Authority

(PDVSA Press Room) - "Thanks to a broad cooperation agreement signed in the British capital between PDVSA, through its subsidiary PDV Europe, and the Greater London Authority, the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela will receive advise in urban management, safety, environment, tourism and culture, with the aim of improving quality of life in the country's largest cities, while low income sectors in the city of London will benefit from having access to transport services at a lower cost.

Venezuelan Minister of the Popular Power for Foreign Affairs, Nicolás Maduro, was present when the agreement was signed between Vice-president of PDVSA and Chairman of the management Board of PDV Europe, Alejandro Granado, and Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone.

-This agreement is an instrument to strengthen relations between the people of Venezuela and London , under a win-win scheme, in line with the policy of integration of the Bolivarian Government of President Hugo Chávez-, said Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nicolás Maduro.

In this regard, Vice-president of PDVSA, Alejandro Granado, highlighted that - Venezuela is a country rich in energy resources, while London is rich in knowledge and successful service management that benefit the lives of citizens in its metropolitan area. It is only logical that the complementing proposal made by President Chávez is materialized in these terms, under principles of solidarity and mutual benefit for the people-.

On the other hand, Mayor Ken Livingstone emphasized on the joint work that will benefit Venezuela 's largest cities and London . -This is a good agreement for Venezuela which, during its first phase, will gradually transform the quality of life of the people of Caracas through the modernization of its public services. London has invaluable experience in these areas which will provide Venezuelans with substantial savings-.

The Cooperation Agreement will assist in providing 50 million litres of diesel each year to Transport for London (TFL) representing 20% of its annual fuel consumption and will generate savings of 50% on ticket fares for 250,000 of the poorest citizens of the British capital.

In exchange, Caracas will be the first city to be offered advise and where projects will be carried out in areas of transport, safety, housing, environmental sanitation, waste management and promotion of tourism, as well as cultural activities, among other aspects that will then be developed in other important urban centres around the country.

Honouring Miranda's heroic deed

The Venezuelan delegation took this opportunity to visit the house in which Francisco de Miranda lived between 1802 and 1810. This house is on its way to becoming a museum that will honour the work of one of the most important precursors of Venezuelan and Latin American independence and whose ideals have been recovered by the Bolivarian Government of President Chávez. It was in that house where three of the most universal Venezuelans of all times: Simón Bolívar, Francisco de Miranda y and Andrés Bello outlined the heroic deeds of Latin American emancipation.

Miranda wrote in that house which is now being refurbished: -this is and will always be the meeting point of Latin American freedom and independence-.

This visit from the Venezuelan delegation headed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Nicolás Maduro was also a good opportunity to meet with the members of the Trade Union Congress, British MP's and leaders of the Labour Party who support the Bolivarian Government of President Chávez".