International attorney Robert Amsterdam says that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is finding Brazilian President Luiz Lula to be increasingly supportive of his regime. Amsterdam says that Lula appeals to Ahmadinejad in that he can be viewed as a more respectable partner than other South American allies, such as Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Amsterdam recently returned from Brazil where Ahmadinejad will visit next month. (:22)

 

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Talk Radio News Service’s Geoff Holtzman speaks with International Attorney Bob Amsterdam. Amsterdam, whose clients include political prisoners in both Venezuela and Russia, says that the U.S. should be concerned about the relationship between these countries and Iran because all three feature governments that are run by what Amsterdam calls “clans.”

Amsterdam discusses recent reports showing that Russia has opened a $2.2 billion line of credit with Venezuela so that the South American nation can purchase weapons for its defense program. Amsterdam later cites a recent revelation that Russia has agreed to help Venezuela build a nuclear energy program.

Finally, Amsterdam comments on the Obama administration’s decision to cancel plans for a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe and the ramifications this decision will have on the U.S.’s relationship with Russia.

Click the icon below to hear Talk Radio News Service’s Geoff Holtzman interview Robert Amsterdam. (4:32)

 

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By Courtney Costello-Talk Radio News Service

During a members’ briefing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee hosted by Rep. Illeana Ros-Lehitnen (R-Fl.), Venezuelan opposition governors decried what they described as Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s attempt to gain more power and strip the Venezuelan people of their democratic rights.

“It is sad that many powers that be in this region are more concerned with the welfare of tyrants than the will and democratic rights of the people who are oppressed,” said Ros-Lehtinen.

The Republican Representatives chided Chavez for his lenient handling of drug trafficking in Venezuela, the kidnappings of natives and tourists, and the lack of meaningful investigations from his administration.

The mayor and governors stated that their mission was to use common democratic values to undermine Chavez.

Governor of Zulia State, Pablo Perez Alvarez and Governor of Tachira State, Cesar Perez Vivas were the two Venezuelan governors in attendance.

By Celia Canon- Talk Radio News Service

Human Rights Attorney Gonzalo Himiob Santome exposed Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s judicial corruption at a press conference at the National Press Club on Wednesday.

“Several cases… have proved that the judicial system in Venezuela has been deteriorating in order to be used as a weapon for persecution and intimidation of the opposition and the political dissidents,” Himiob said.

Himiob was in Washington D.C to introduce a book he and attorneys Robert Amsterdam and Antonio Rosich wrote that documents the case of Eligio Cedeno, a victim of repeated human rights violations by the Venezuelan government.

According to Himiob, “In common crime, from 306, 000 cases reviewed by the general attorney’s office on 2008, only 8000 cases were submitted to formal accusation. That led us to a conclusion that there is a 97% impunity rate of common crimes.” Himiob added that “If the judicial system is not working for persecuting the criminals, what are they doing?”

“In this case, it’s very clear that it doesn’t matter that they are guilty or not. The thing is [they] use the procedures themselves as a punishment… no matter if [the accused] are innocent or not. They are showing that they can submit you to a trial and they can hold you in prison without any respect to the regulations, internal and international regulations. just because they want to make you feel their power over you,” Himiob added.

U.S. Rep. Connie Mack (R-Fla.) says Honduran President Manuel Zelaya refused to listen to his nation’s Supreme Court as well as its Congress. He says Zelaya is a man who tried to “undermine the legislature, the judiciary, the Attorney General” and many others, including his own party. Mack also says the illegal referendum ballots that he seized and distributed “had Hugo Chavez’s fingerprints all over them.” (0:39)

 

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By Celia Canon-Talk Radio News Service

On Tuesday, experts from the Inter-American Dialogue warned that Honduras would continue to be unstable as long as ousted President Manuel Zelaya was not allowed back into the country.

“Zelaya is the elected President… If things degenerate further you won’t have good elections,” said Peter Hakim, President of Inter-American dialogue.

Hakim advised the international community to pursue “open negotiations involving [the] interim government.” Once an agreement is reached among the global community, Hakim advised Honduras to hold an election but warned that the quality of these elections depends on the stability of the country.

On June 29th, the Honduran military led a coup to overthrow President Manuel Zelaya. Armed forces intervened hours before a national referendum was due to take place to determine whether the constitution could be modified to allow the President to assume a second term, rather than the single term outlined in the country’s constitution. Zelaya was replaced by interim-President Roberto Micheletti.

Though the future of Honduras is nothing short of uncertain, many actors, including the international body Organization of American States, have gotten involved in the reestablishment of peace and stability in the Central American country.

“The OAS could take a strong position but then [it could be better to] not put the de facto Honduran government against the wall,” Hakim said

Genaro Arriagada, a Senior Fellow at the Inter-American Dialogue, added that besides the obvious necessary changes that should be brought to the Honduran government and constitution, further changes should involve the OAS 2001 democratic charter which was adopted by member states in order to ensure the presence of democratic institutions in all countries of the Americas.

The Charter needs to be reconsidered, explained Arriagada, “because it gives protection to the government but not to the opposition to the government.”

Human rights attorney Robert Amsterdam gives a brief summary of what caused Honduran president, Manuel Zelaya, to be overthrown by the military. Amsterdam attributes the cause to fundamental differences between the “Chavez line” who favor “constitutional editing” and the “institutional elite” who do not believe that changing the constitution should be decided through a referedum. (0:30)

 

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Attorney Robert Amsterdam describes recently overthrown Honduran president Manuel Zelaya’s last term in power. In particular, Amsterdam cites the President’s surprising switch from his Liberal party to a Chavista school of thought; a change that may have brought Venezuela and Honduras closer, and could justify President Hugo Chavez’s recent declaration that he may intervene militarily in Honduras. (0:29)

 

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When asked what he believes President Barack Obama’s reaction to the military overthrow of Honduran President Manuel Zelaya should be, human rights attorney Robert Amsterdam insists that Obama should have “no major role” in the situation. Amsterdam says Obama will keep his distance because of the instability of the situation. (0:37)

 

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Briefer: Dana Perino

President’s Schedule

President Bush had his normal briefings this morning at 8 am. At 11.05, he will meet with the President of Guatemala in the Oval Office. This afternoon, President Bush meets with the US- Brazil CEO Forum. Later, at 3.30 pm, he participates in a meeting with the National Commander of the American Legion.

White House Press Secretary Dana Perino will brief the press at 1.30 pm today. (more…)