Prensa Latina

9 October 2006 

CARACAS - The announcements of the US embassy in Venezuela on the increase of its propaganda in the territory have sparked concern and rejection by different sectors that consider it dangerous in the present political context.

The concern was encouraged by a visit carried out by US Culture and Press Adviser Benjamin Ziff to different cities last week when he announced projects to create new "American corners" in addition to the four existing in the country.

The new facilities would also add to the "virtual consulates" existing in Margarita (Nueva Esparta), Maturin (Monagas), Lecheria (Anzoategui) and Barquisimeto (Lara).

The facilities, supported by US public funds, consist of libraries providing communication supposedly intended to promote US culture and other values.

Interviewed by Prensa Latina, US attorney and investigator Eva Golinger stated that in practical terms those will be conspiracy centers to be linked to non-governmental organizations.

The most dangerous result, she and other observers consider, is that the pro-US propaganda becomes an internal matter amid the present electoral context and as such an open sample of Washington's support for the opposition.