Venezuela's leading private-sector business group FEDECAMARAS Monday accepted the dialogue proposal put forward by President Hugo Chavez after the recent attempted coup d'etat.
FEDECAMARAS' new president, Carlos Fernandez, said in a statement that the organization will work along with other sectorsto consolidate democracy and promote economic development in Venezuela.
"We'll keep on defending the principles, interests and goals that guarantee social security, progress and freedom of enterprises," Fernandez said.
Fernandez demanded the revision of 48 decrees involving land ownership issued by Chavez, which he said go against the interestsof the private sector.
Fernandez replaced Pedro Carmona as president of FEDECAMARAS. Carmona is under house arrest for usurpation and sedition during the failed coup in which he was appointed as the provisional president of Venezuela.
(Xinhua News Agency April 23, 2002)