Chavez woos "Mother Africa" with oil ties

LUANDA, Sep 1 (Reuters) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has offered his country's oil expertise to Angola, sub-Saharan Africa's Number.

2 crude producer, in a strategy to boost ties with what he calls ''Mother Africa'' and counter US influence there.

In his first visit to Angola yesterday, the Venezuelan leader witnessed the signing of a bilateral oil cooperation accord between his country, the world's fifth largest oil exporter, and one of Africa's fastest growing producers.

The agreement, signed by the respective oil ministers, foresees cooperation in all aspects of the oil and gas industry, including possible joint production and refining projects, according to a copy of the text sent to Reuters.

The text said the accord could be implemented through the respective national state oil companies, PDVSA of Venezuela and Sonangol of Angola.

''Angola is in full process of expansion of its production and Venezuela has every possibility of participating, both in oil and in gas,'' Venezuelan Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez said.

He added the accord would allow Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA to work for the first time in Africa, where US and European oil companies have dominated for years.

In a speech at the presidential palace in Luanda, Chavez, a firebrand anti-American populist, said the strengthening of ties with Angola was part of his strategy to boost South-South cooperation and counterbalance US influence in the world.

''It's absolutely a lie that the destiny of the world has to be signed off by Washington. The world belongs to all of us, there isn't a policeman of the world who has to hold our hands,'' Chavez said, elaborating on one of his favourite themes.

He said Venezuela was opening an embassy in Angola. The Latin American oil producer had established diplomatic ties with 11 states in Africa in the last 15 months as part of Chavez's expansive foreign policy.

''We love Mother Africa,'' Chavez said, recalling that descendants of African slaves had helped in the fight to achieve Venezuela's independence from Spain.

Although Venezuela remains a major oil supplier to the US market, Chavez has made a point of signing political and energy alliances across the world -- with Cuba, Iran, Russia and China -- to challenge what he denounces as US ''imperialism''.

He has accused Washington of trying to overthrow him, a charge denied by US officials.

Some observers have speculated that the Venezuelan leader's latest world tour, which has included stops in China and Syria, is also designed to boost Venezuela's bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

REUTERS BDP RK1735