FWIS3

Sigma_Orionis wrote:

SciFiFisher wrote:Of course, there is always the highly complimentary U.S. State Department Travel Advisory for Venezuela

Reconsider travel to Venezuela due to crime, civil unrest, poor health infrastructure, and arbitrary arrest and detention of U.S. citizens. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Hey that travel advisory mentions that the neighborhood of El Llanito is a high crime area. it's somewhat near from where I live. Good to know.

MR. RICE: Let me maybe just back up a little bit for those who haven't followed it. Earlier this year the IMF executive board discussed this issue of Venezuelan data and in fact at that time issued a declaration of censure against Venezuela for its failure to implement remedial measures and its failure to comply with its obligations regarding data provision under our articles so that is a little bit of the background there.

What I can tell you in terms of an update is that there have been discussions with the Venezuelan authorities on this issue and, you know, those contacts have been ongoing even in recent days. So we were, you know, we are hopeful that will lead to a productive conclusion. I don’t have a specific, you know, read out for you on those discussions obviously and I don't have a specific date to announce for the board though we would expect that to happen in the coming weeks, for the board to meet.

You know, we have got a very clear, transparent set of guidelines and procedures regarding the data provision duties by our member countries. As I said these are laid out in our articles, they are available on our website. It is quite transparent. But I will probably leave it there because I don't want to preempt, you know, the decision, the discussion and the decision that is to come from our board but that is where we stand. Good morning.

Sigma_Orionis wrote:Rumor has it that Nicky is in talks with the IMF.

In an official IMF statement I found, they say this:

MR. RICE: Let me maybe just back up a little bit for those who haven't followed it. Earlier this year the IMF executive board discussed this issue of Venezuelan data and in fact at that time issued a declaration of censure against Venezuela for its failure to implement remedial measures and its failure to comply with its obligations regarding data provision under our articles so that is a little bit of the background there.

What I can tell you in terms of an update is that there have been discussions with the Venezuelan authorities on this issue and, you know, those contacts have been ongoing even in recent days. So we were, you know, we are hopeful that will lead to a productive conclusion. I don’t have a specific, you know, read out for you on those discussions obviously and I don't have a specific date to announce for the board though we would expect that to happen in the coming weeks, for the board to meet.

You know, we have got a very clear, transparent set of guidelines and procedures regarding the data provision duties by our member countries. As I said these are laid out in our articles, they are available on our website. It is quite transparent. But I will probably leave it there because I don't want to preempt, you know, the decision, the discussion and the decision that is to come from our board but that is where we stand. Good morning.

I find it surprising that we're still sending info to the IMF. After all, Chavez was supposed to have us pulled out of it back in 2007. I guess it was BS, like most of the stuff these damned commies say. (No, I have nothing against the IMF)

Still, it's surprising that the government is bothering to negotiate with the IMF to get out of sanctions for failing to give them economic data. I guess that's what fueled the rumors. In any case, BTW, it makes no sense. Any bailout with the IMF is going to have as preconditions: An end to the foreign exchange controls, major government spending cuts, opening up all of our markets, eliminating all subsidies and price controls, raising interest rates and most probably, raising taxes by a lot. Measures that I doubt very much Maduro will take.

SciFiFisher wrote:Yes, but it looks like he is trying to "fix things" and once again those dirty nasty international meddlers are messing things up when the IMF won't come through with a bailout or lift the sanctions.

Sigma_Orionis wrote:

SciFiFisher wrote:Yes, but it looks like he is trying to "fix things" and once again those dirty nasty international meddlers are messing things up when the IMF won't come through with a bailout or lift the sanctions.

Maybe. But, traditionally, the IMF has never been popular here ("instrument of the Empire, la di dah"). OTOH. Masburro going to Russia to beg for crumbs does appeal to the Commies down here.

We have elections for Mayors and Municipal councils on December 9th. Turnout is expected to below 20%. Frankly, I have no interest in going either. Not even my sister is planning to go

About 27 percent of the 20 million eligible voters turned out for Sunday's council races, the president of Venezuela’s National Electoral Council, said, praising the election as strengthening Venezuela's democracy.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said it amounted to "two corrupt governments squandering public funds".

geonuc wrote:Pompeo's statement was ... pompous. And unnecessary. So what if Russia lands a couple of planes on another continent.

geonuc wrote:Oh, and congratulations on your renewed democracy.

SciFiFisher wrote:Is there anyone who actually believes the constant barrage of "the outside foreigners are out to get us" stories?

Sigma_Orionis wrote:Well, the Russkie bombers left on Friday. Funny thing is that the Russkies told the White House before they told us.

And now the Russkies say they're going to set up an Air Base down here.

Mr Maduro is due to be formally inaugurated to a second term on 10 January.

Fourteen countries recalled their ambassadors from Caracas in protest at the result of the vote last May, and the US imposed fresh economic sanctions on the country.

Before the election even took place, the United States, Canada, the European Union and a dozen Latin American countries said they would not recognise the results.

Sigma_Orionis wrote:Another rat abandons ship.

Venezuela Supreme Court judge Christian Zerpa flees to US

In the meantime

Mr Maduro is due to be formally inaugurated to a second term on 10 January.

Fourteen countries recalled their ambassadors from Caracas in protest at the result of the vote last May, and the US imposed fresh economic sanctions on the country.

Before the election even took place, the United States, Canada, the European Union and a dozen Latin American countries said they would not recognise the results.

Sigma_Orionis wrote:

SciFiFisher wrote:Is there anyone who actually believes the constant barrage of "the outside foreigners are out to get us" stories?

Not that I know of.