VENEZUELAN, DOMINICAN LEADERS PLEDGE TO BATTLE CORRUPTION

SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP )-- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez
and Dominican Republic President Hipolito Mejia Saturday pledged to combat
drug trafficking and fight government corruption in Latin America.

Mr. Chavez also used the three-day official visit to defend his leftist
government -- which some have criticized as autocratic -- saying democracy
has "never existed" in Venezuela.

The visit comes as Mr. Chavez has tried to consolidate Venezuela's
leadership in the region. The populist center-left government of Mr. Mejia
could be one ally in Mr. Chavez's quest to unite Latin America to
counterbalance U.S. influence.

Mr. Chavez and Mr. Mejia committed to sharing information on drug
traffickers and the "scourge of drugs" in the region, and also said they
would spearhead a public crusade to help other Latin American countries
detect and eradicate corruption.

"Corruption destroys the moral order and justice and undermines the
legitimacy of our democratic institutions," a joint statement issued
Saturday said. Both leaders preach a message of benefits for the poor and
punishment for corrupt officials.

Venezuela also agreed to establish a permanent trade office in Santo
Domingo to spur trade and investment in the Dominican Republic.

Mr. Chavez said he is also analyzing a deal to finance the construction of
an oil refinery in the Dominican Republic, but hadn't yet worked out all
the details.

Detractors have criticized Mr. Chavez's allegiance with Cuban President
Fidel Castro's communist government, and have said Mr. Chavez usurped legal
and legislative power in Caracas.

"I couldn't threaten democracy, because you can't threaten something that
never existed," Mr. Chavez said during Friday night's address at the
National Assembly here.

He said past Venezuelan leaders feigned democratic stances while they used
their posts to funnel off the country's oil wealth.