Latin America Living a New Era, Chavez Says

Caracas, Oct 5 (Prensa Latina) President of Venezuela Hugo Chavez said on Wednesday that Latin America is living in a new era, with new integration mechanisms and more awareness in the wake of the failure of the Free Trade Area of the Americas.

The peoples of the region are pointing in another direction, with the rightwing doomed to the most resounding failure, Chavez told journalists.

According to a presidential press release, the Venezuelan President considers there is currently a re-emergence of the left and revolutionary projects for change which are growing strong.

"The Washington Consensus is the road to hell," said Chavez and urged again following the dreams of Simon Bolivar, Antonio Jose de Sucre and Bernardo O'Higgins.

These national heroes fought for the liberation and salvation of our peoples, he noted.

Asked about the process of change in Venezuela, the president pointed to the numerous social plans encouraged by the Executive, such as the community health project Barrio Adentro and the Robinson and Sucre education missions.

"There hasn't been a Venezuelan government in 100 years that gained sovereignty of oil that hasn't been overthrown, including mine, he said.