Dr Juan Antonio Hernandez, Ambassador of Venezuela, speaks during a gathering of a large number of Venezuelan and Cuban nationals assembled at the embassy premises to extend their support for the ailing President Hugo Chavez. The Ambassadors of Iran and Cuba ,Mohammad Jawad Asayesh and Ernesto D Plasencia Escalante are also seen. Qassim Rahmatullah
DOHA: An estimated 800 Venezuelans in Qatar yesterday joined their compatriots back home and in the rest of the world to wish early recovery to their country’s president, Hugo Chavez, who recently underwent a critical surgery for cancer in Cuba and is said to be recovering.
The Venezuelans — men, women and children — gathered at their country’s embassy, with many of them holding candles and Chavez’s photographs, and stood in silence for an hour in a rare show of love and solidarity for their president.
“This is an international event for the support of the president,” declared the Venezuelan ambassador in Doha, Dr Juan Antonio Hernandez, in remarks to this newspaper on the sidelines of the assembly.
A highlight of the otherwise emotional event was the presence of the ambassador of Iran, Mohamed Jawad Asayesh, along with his counterpart from Cuba, Ernesto D Plasencia Escalante — a sight not very delightful for Americans who have long accused the three countries of forming an anti-US alliance.
Asayesh was guarded in his comments and briefly said in a speech: “Venezuela and Cuba are the best friends of Iran, and I wish, God willing, the president would recover from his operation.” Asayesh added he wished long life to Chavez and to the Cuban leader Fidel Castro.
The Peninsula
