Chavez, Spanish prince meet under “total normalcy”

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez and Spain’s Prince Felipe of Asturias met briefly yesterday hours before the inauguration of Cristina de Kirchner as President of Argentina in Buenos Aires. Despite the diplomatic tensions caused by November’s “Why don’t you shut up?” incident, Spain’s minster for Iberoamerica Trinidad Jimenez emphasized the “normalcy” of yesterday’s exchange:

…Jimenez explained to the Spanish press that the greeting between Chavez and Don Felipe was “cordial”…

Don Felipe was in one of the salons of the Palacio San Martín…when Chavez arrived and greeted him and other dignitaries such as Chilean president Michelle Bachelet.

Jimenez said that after the “diplomatic” greeting she spoke with Chavez…(and) he listened “attentively” and without insisting that King Juan Carlos apologize (for the incident in November). – [ed. Personal translation]

The meeting between Chavez and Prince Felipe was announced last week by the Spanish government; a move praised by Chavez as a “positive sign”.

Sources (English)- El Universal, The Latin Americanist, Guardian UK

Sources (Spanish)- ElPais.com

Image- Telegraph.co.uk (Hugo Chavez and King Juan Carlos of Spain meeting before their infamous spat)