[NYTr] Chavez Hails Cuban-Venezuelan Cooperation

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN)
http://ainch.ain.cu/mailman/listinfo/ingles

Chavez Hails Cuban-Venezuelan Cooperation

Havana, Oct 1 (acn) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Sunday 
that his country owes a lot more to Cuba "for its medical assistance 
than what Cuba could owe Venezuela for its oil supply to the island."

During his radio and television program 'Alo Presidente', Chavez noted 
that the 30,000 Cuban doctors and nurses that have been working in the 
South American country for a more than five years have saved more lives 
than in the history of public health in Venezuela. "That is invaluable. 
It is a lot more than what we contribute with our modest oil supplies," 
he stressed.

"Those foolish people who are accusing us of selling petroleum at 
bargain prices to Cuba should ask themselves: in objective prices, what 
is worth more? The oil barrels we sell to Cuba or this?

The Venezuelan president added that almost nine million people receive 
permanent rehabilitation treatment while some 60 million medical 
treatments have been given by the Cuban health personnel in Venezuela 
free of charge. "According to statistics from the Health Ministry, this 
year alone, they have saved the lives of 1,153 children," concluded 
Chavez.