Bachelet on criticism from Chávez: "Good judgment must prevail in international affairs"

RUSSIA.- "International affairs do not occur every day and when it comes to international relationships, good judgment and criteria are what is most important and that is what I am going to preserve", Chilean President Michelle Bachelet declared today in Russia while referring to the critique voiced by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez at the Progressive Leaders Summit held last weekend in Viña del Mar.

President Bachelet defended having hosted the event, pointing out that Chileans are happy that the country is able to create opportunities for government heads from various nations to discuss matters that are relevant to everyone.

"I think that the Chilean people are very happy that Chile is a country of so much interest and security when it comes to the highest echelons of government of several countries, where they can come together and discuss matters that are important for all of us", stated the President.

In the city of Doha, Qatar, where the South American-Arab Nations Summit was recently held, Chávez had accused Bachelet of "putting South American unity in danger" by inviting the United States and Great Britain to the Progressive Summit.