Ogata meets with Venezuelan ambassador

   Japanese Communist Party Vice Chair Ogata Yasuo on September 20 met with Venezuelan Ambassador to Japan Seiko Ishikawa at the JCP head office in Tokyo.

   The ambassador explained amendments to the constitution now underway in Venezuela. Ishikawa said, “These amendments will guarantee the development of social programs and promote participation of the public in politics, and thus advance the Venezuelan revolution.”

   Ogata thanked Ishikawa for the explanation and said, “We will carefully study it.”

   Ogata spoke about his recent tour of Brazil and Bolivia. Touching on his meetings with Venezuelan friends in Sao Paulo and with representatives of the Bolivian government and the ruling party in La Paz, he said he felt the enormous political changes taking place in Latin America since Venezuelan President Chavez’s victory in 1998.                                                - Akahata, September 21, 2007