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Leaders of the 120 non-aligned nations are meeting in Venezuela this week, where the organization's presidency will pass from Iran to Venezuela for the next four years.
The Non-Aligned Movement represents the interests of developing countries on several continents.
But many Venezuelans are unhappy at the millions being spent on the meeting – at a time of economic crisis.
Our Latin American Correspondent Juan Carlos Rivas Lamas reports from Caracas.
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NARRATION:
For most people in Venezuela's capital today, waiting in line for food and medicine has become almost a full time occupation. Despite living in an oil rich country, they face shortages of basic items, triple digit inflation, and spiraling crime rates. As host of the 17th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, Venezuela must pay 85 percent of the cost of holding the talks.
Ambassador Oscar Hernandez, Professor of International Relations at Central University of Venezuela says that's That's likely to be more than 150 million US dollars.
SOT#1 Ambassador Oscar Hernandez, Professor of International Relations, Central University of Venezuela (in English )
¨ It is a big meeting, where the country — the host country — has to invest a lot of money and it´s not fair for the Venezuelan people to do that, in a situation like the country is in, and the world knows what we are going through here in Venezuela¨.
NARRATION:
Venezuelans have taken to the streets to protest over the worsening economic conditions. Up to a million people turned out at a rally backing a referendum to remove President Nicolas Maduro at the beginning of this month..
Many opposition supporters are outraged their government is paying for a prestigious political summit.
Esperanza Hernandez is a teacher in Caracas.
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¨I consider that what the government is doing is a crazy thing, and they are not thinking about us who are struggling to survive, for example I need medicines for my surgery, and I have to buy all pills in foreign countries¨.
Man Giovannini is an Engineer
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"If the summit will only serve to show how the flags wave in the air, the many countries which are going to take part, might then only agree on things that won't ever be realized. So, we will have wasted an investment which could have been used for medicine, and education among other things¨.
NARRATION:
As Maduro fights for his political future supporters hope this summit will be an opportunity for Venezuela to show its strength in a big international arena.
Alberto Carías is a founder of the Socialist Party TUPAMARO
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¨The non aligned movement is a movement with no voice, which has lost its essence, but now that Venezuela is in the presidency it can re-direct this movement. From a political point of view being in the presidency of the movement is a way to bring back the essence and the reason for which this movement was created.
NARRATION:
Venezuela is under scrutiny for its treatment of political prisoners as well as its economic freefall. The opposition is planning to hold protests while the leaders of the non-aligned nations are meeting. And more than 14 thousand Venezuelan security forces are on the streets to ensure security for the diplomats…They will be meeting on an Island about 40 kilometers north of the mainland where the silver is polished and the tables are set and where the diplomats have agreed Venezuela will pick up most of the multi-million dollar tab.
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