White House (FTB newswire) The White House Press Corps this morning listened intently while the Press Secretary read a letter signed by the President. It congratulated Hugo Chavez on his recent victory in the Iranian elections.
The hard fought race concluded this weekend when Chavez beat out Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in a democratically controlled election. The carefully monitored race was a clear mandate for Chavez who won in a 90 to 30 landslide, according to the White House.
During questioning by reporters, the Press Secretary was asked if the First Lady was present during the signing of the historic document. Other correspondents wondered what the President was wearing and if the Vice President had any input into the letters wording.
Recent tensions between the U.S. and Iran over banana exports and the Muslim Nations shift to wind technology has lead to street protests in Tehran.
The White House hopes that with the more moderate Chavez taking the reins of power there will be an increase in the nation's export of coffee. Iran is a member of COPEC and is the world's third largest exporter of the bean.
The entire Press Corps received personalized copies of the letter at the conclusion of the meeting.
