Carter Endorses Chavez Win in Venezuela

Carter Endorses Chavez Win in Venezuela
The Associated Press

Monday 16 August 2004

CARACAS, Venezuela - Former President Jimmy Carter, who helped monitor Venezuela's recall referendum, endorsed on Monday returns showing that that President Hugo Chavez won the vote.

"Our findings coincided with the partial returns announced today by the National Elections Council," Carter told a news conference.

The announcement appeared to deflate opposition claims of widespread fraud in the voting. The National Elections Council earlier announced its tally with 94 percent of the vote counted, showing Chavez surviving by a wide margin the opposition's effort to unseat him.

According to the results, 58 percent of voters voted "no" to the question of whether Chavez should immediately end his term in office, and 42 percent voted "yes."

OAS Secretary-General Cesar Gaviria, speaking at a press conference with Carter, said observers "have not found any element of fraud in the process."

"Until elements of fraud emerge we are not going put the results in doubt," Gaviria said. "If the opposition has a serious concern, we are willing to work with them, but not to put the results in doubt."

Directing his remarks at opposition figures, Carter called on all Venezuelans to accept the results.

"Now it's the responsibility of all Venezuelans to accept the results and work together for the future," said Carter.