Recording proves Venezuelan sovereignty violation by the USA

A recording broadcasted by teleSUR of the conversation between Venezuelan Maiquetía Airports control tower and a US pilot, supports the accusations presented on Tuesday by Venezuelan authorities on a military aircraft that took off from Curacao and over flew Venezuelan territory without authorization.

“US aircraft, copied, than you (…) OK, please, Maiquetía now requires: what is your intention flying in Venezuelas aerial territory?” repeatedly asked the Venezuelan control tower when the incursion was detected.

Before the questions, the pilot had to confirm that it was a military US aircraft that took of from Curacao and that supposedly he “was not aware of being in Venezuelan territory” and admitted not being allowed to fly over Venezuela.

Venezuelan Vice-president and defense Minister, Ramón Carrizález, assured on Tuesday that the Venezuelan government had objective proofs to demonstrate violation of their sovereignty by a military US Aircraft.

“On May 17, 2009, a US war aircraft, took off from Curacao, violated our aerial territory and the Orchila Air Base fly exclusion area; We have the recordings of the conversation where they were asked by the Maiquetía control tower if they had authorization to fly over Venezuelan territory and what were the reason for the incursion,” said Carrizález.

“We also have the flight trace and we will make it available to the press to show that Curacao is used to violate the Venezuelan sovereignty,” added Carrizález.

“(from Holland and Colombia) They have denied all this, but we have serious and objective proofs.”

Carrizález also affirmed that both Colombia and the US want to attack Venezuela. “They were creating the conditions to justify an attack against our country based on the so called false positive or punishable facts simulation” he highlighted.

In recent days a spokesperson of the US South Command, Stephen Lucas, denied US aircraft carrying out supposed anti-narcotics operations to invade Venezuelan territory, and assured that the last accidental incursion was in 1988.

Notwithstanding, in May 2008, the then Defense Minister of Venezuela, Gustavo Rangel, denounced that a US war aircraft violated Venezuelas Aerial territory, just one day after the Venezuelan government having protested against an illegal incursion of Colombian troops into Venezuelan Territory.

To watch the complete video referred in this press release visit the following link: TeleSur

Translation by MINCI

Seniat exceeded 2009 collection expectations

The Venezuelas National Tax and Custom Administration (SENIAT, Spanish acronym) collected a total of 38,274 million dollars during 2009, which represents a 328.2 million dollar surplus.

According to the information given by the tax agency, the figure exceeds the established ceiling of 37,944 million dollars.

The national tax and custom superintendent, José Cabello, highlighted the achievements in this field, as well as the additional contribution of the Institution to the National Development Plans.

He explained that the amount collected for the end of 2009 includes the Customs Income, the Income Tax, the VAT and other internal incomes.

The ceiling for 2009 was established by the Ministry of Peoples Power for Economy and Finances and accomplished by the SENIAT under the principles permitting to boost a socialist customs and tax system.

Cabello urged taxpayers to abide by their tax obligations and remarked that from January 1 to march 31 they have chance to declare and pay the Income Tax.

Bolivarian News Agency (ABN)

 Inflation in 2009 ends under Governmental estimation

The National Consumer Price Index (CPI) closed 2009 in 25.1%, which is under the estimations made by the Venezuelan Government for said period (26%)

According to the numbers provided by the Venezuelan Central Bank (BCV), the result was reached thanks to the 1.7% registered in December, which was 0.2% lower than the inflation in November (1.9%).

Likewise, the inflation in 2009 was 5.8% lower than the inflation registered in 2008 (30.9%), evidencing a marked deceleration on the CPI in Venezuela.

Furthermore, the BCV data shows that nine goods and services groups registered an increase lower than the monthly average, while four others ended over that mark (1.7%).

The nine groups that were under average were: Education services (0.2%); Communications (0.3%); House services, excluding telephone service (0.4%); Health (1.1%); Alcohol and Tobacco (1.3%); House equipment (1.4%); Restaurant and Hotels (1.4%); Food and non-alcohol drinks (1.6%); House renting (1.6%).

Meanwhile the four groups with a higher variation were: Clothes and Shoes (1.9%); Entertainment and Culture (1.9%); Transport (2.3%); and diverse Goods and Services (3.2%).

Also, evaluating the geographical disgregation, the inter-monthly rate was lower or equal to the national inflation in six of the eleven study domains.

Thus, Merida registered 1.2%; Caracas 1.3%; San Cristobal 1.4%; the rest of the territory 1.6%; Ciudad Guayana 1.7%; and Barcelona-Puerto La Cruz 1.7%.

The other five domains showed higher rates to the countrys average: Maracay (1.8%); Barquisimeto (1.8%); Valencia (2.1%); Maturin (2.1%); and Maracaibo (2.6%).

In 2010, the Venezuelan Government estimates that the CPI will end between 20 and 22% that would represent a reduction between 3 and 5% compared with 2009 and 11 percent if compared with 2008. States goal consists on reducing inflation to one digit and competent institutions are working for such purpose.

Bolivarian News Agency

Social policies improved distribution of wealth and reduced poverty in 2009

The investment and social inclusion policies developed by the Venezuelan government in 2009 made it possible to improve the distribution of wealth and reduce the inequality index in Venezuela, whose Gini index closed in 0.3928, said the President of the Venezuelan National Institute of Statistics (INE, Spanish acronym) Elias Eljuri, who also indicated that poverty in Venezuela significantly declined to 24.2 percent up to the second semester of 2009.

Eljuri highlighted that thanks to these policies the Venezuelan economy will improve in 2010 after the worlds severe economic crisis, and that such crisis was alleviated by the governments efforts, which are still aimed at reducing inflation, unemployment and poverty.

"This has been offset by social inclusion programs. Thanks to all these programs, the government has helped improve the standard of living of the population," he said.

Eljuri explained that general poverty was reduced in just one year from 27.5 percent to 24.2 percent, while extreme poverty declined from 7.6 percent to 6 percent, one of the lowest in Latin America.

"It is less than the third part of how it was before Hugo Chávez took power," he added. The INE president said the same regarding Venezuelas inflation rate, which declined to 23 percent, and unemployment rate, which declined to 7.5 percent according to November 2009 figures.

In this regard, Eljuri stressed that, when compared to other countries, Venezuelas unemployment rate is the lowest. In the United states, this rate reached 10 percent, in Spain nearly 20 percent and in Chile around 10 percent.

The Venezuelan official pointed out that one of the most important elements is that the Government is taking a number of measures against speculation, which is determining in the countrys inflation process.

Likewise, Eljuri said it is necessary to keep measures such as increasing domestic production, the offer of products and the recovery of the oil industry and prices.

Bolivarian News Agency (ABN)

Bolivarian Government Gives Priority to Sports

The Minister of Peoples Power for Sports Victoria Mata expressed her satisfaction with the extraordinary support provided by the Bolivarian Government to Venezuelan young athletes in the last years.

Mata indicated that Venezuelan athletes have been provided scholarships, incentives, equipment and training for domestic and international competitions. This support has translated in a high performance and medals won all around the world.

Likewise, she pointed out that the Venezuelan government has cared about the standard of living of the countrys athletes and their social wellbeing. One example is Misión Barrio Adentro Deportivo (Mission Sports Barrio Adentro), which has reached all the corners of the country with the cooperation of Cuba, as well as mayors and governors offices.

The Venezuelan sports minister explained that the year 2009 closed with an inclusion of almost 4 million Venezuelans, including senior citizens, peasants and people with disabilities. She added that the Venezuelan governments support to sports will be deepened in 2010.

National Radio of Venezuela (RNV)

Insopesca grew 446,550 young fish during 2009

To boost fish farming and enhance food sovereignty, the national government, through the Socialist Institute for Fishing and Fish Farming (INSOPESCA, Spanish acronym), grew 446,550 young bocachico, black and white cachama, and trout in different states of the country during 2009.

By means of these farmings the institute managed to strengthen the Public Waters Restocking Plan, to guarantee the supply of fish protein to the Farmers Councils of Peoples Power in the states of Anzoátegui, Barinas, Carabobo, Cojedes, Guárico, Lara, Mérida, Monagas, Táchira, Sucre, Portuguesa and Zulia, according to an INSOPESCAs press release.

These activities have produced an average yield of 369 tons of fish, that have been offered through the alternative distribution chain formed by the Food Market Network (Mercal, Spanish acronym) and the Venezuelan Food Producer and Distributor (PDVAL, Spanish acronym).

Likewise, the production was also distributed for the self-consumption by fishers and fish farmers working in the dams in order to boos the protein consumption in the less protected communities of the country.

Bolivarian News Agency (ABN)

Movilnet Installs 400 Third Generation Antennas

Movilnet, the state-run mobile telephone company, has installed 400 third generation antennas all around the country, thus allowing users to enjoy services at a higher speed.

According to a press release issued by Movilnet, cities such as Caracas, Maracay, Barquisimeto, San Cristóbal, Puerto La Cruz, Porlamar, Puerto Ordaz, Maturín, Maracaibo and Valencia now enjoy a third generation coverage, whose expansion is part of the strategic goals of the company to democratize the telecommunication services.

The Vice-president of Operations and Systems Nicolás Solórzano indicated that the company has estimated to install 582 stations of this kind all around Venezuela in the first semester of 2010.

“We are working on the development of services and applications to reach schools and unattended places and provide their inhabitants better and more effective communications,” added Solórzano.

Bolivarian News Agency (ABN)

SOURCE: MINCI