ALBA

Venezuela News Summary: May 9th- May 19th, 2009 (Audio: 11min, 17sec) Venezuela Investigates Media for Irresponsible Behavior - Venezuela Rejects Inter-American Human Rights Commission Report – VZ Police Discover Large Arms Cache - Venezuelan Government Expropriates Petroleum Activities - ALBA Oil Ship Begins Operations- Venezuela and Ternium Reach Final Compensation Agreement for SIDOR Steel Plant - Venezuelan Government Takes Temporary Control of Cargill Pasta Plant - Finance Ministry Takes Custody of Industrial Bank - Venezuelan Inflation Increases Slightly as Unemployment Drops – Polls

Audio Summary, April 10- April 22, 2009 (13 mins, 59 secs): Venezuela and ALBA Promote “New Climate” in Summit of the Americas - Chavez-Obama Meeting at Summit Relaunches US-Venezuela Relations - ALBA Summit Ratifies Regional Currency - Venezuela and Colombia Pledge Peace and Economic Development - Venezuelan Campesinos Arrested for Occupying Estate - New Caracas Administration Law - Venezuelan President Designates New Caracas Head and Communications Minister -Venezuela Transfers Some States’ Highways and Bridges to National Government - Quota to Increase Production of Natural Gas Powered