Chavez seeks to end spat with Spanish king with a hug

CARACAS (AFP) – President Hugo Chavez said Sunday he would like to hug King Juan Carlos when he visits Spain this week, as the two move beyond a spat last year when the monarch told the Venezuelan leader to “shut up.”

Chavez said in his weekly radio talk show “Alo Presidente” that the visit with Juan Carlos comes after an invitation extended by the king.

“The king has invited us,” Chavez told his radio audience.

Then, addressing his remarks to the monarch, Chavez added: “I’d like to give you a hug … but Juan Carlos, you know I won’t shut up.”

The Spanish king triggered a brief diplomatic spat last year when he told Chavez, “Why don’t you shut up,” during the Ibero-American summit in Santiago, Chile, after Chavez interrupted Spanish Prime Minister Rodriguez Zapatero several times during a speech.

Chavez was invited to Spain by Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos, and his meeting with Juan Carlos is aimed at mending diplomatic fences, although Chavez recently said he had already “turned the page” on the incident.

Chavez has been invited to Juan Carlos’ summer home in Palma de Mallorca, Spain on July 25, said his aides were “trying to find the time” to include the visit during his tour of Europe this week.

The Venezuelan leader also plans to visit Russia, Belorussia and Portugal.