Miami Herald, The, June, 2006
Content provided in partnership with Visiting OPEC delegates may have expected Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez to rail as usual against the U.S. government. Instead they heard Chávez speak on Thursday of his friendship with Carlos the Jackal -- who once took hostages at an OPEC meeting.
The Venezuelan-born Carlos, whose real name is Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, was convicted of terrorism and is serving a life sentence in prison in France.
"I remember that hair-raising tour, as a good Venezuelan friend who is in Europe said. I'm referring to Carlos Ilich Ramirez, who they call the Jackal," Chávez said. 'In those days [Ramirez] sent me a letter from his Paris prison and he said to me: 'This tour is hair-raising.' I will never forget that phrase from Carlos."
The Venezuelan-born Carlos, whose real name is Ilich Ramírez Sánchez, was convicted of terrorism and is serving a life sentence in prison in France.
"I remember that hair-raising tour, as a good Venezuelan friend who is in Europe said. I'm referring to Carlos Ilich Ramirez, who they call the Jackal," Chávez said. 'In those days [Ramirez] sent me a letter from his Paris prison and he said to me: 'This tour is hair-raising.' I will never forget that phrase from Carlos."
