MADRID, September 11 (RIA Novosti) - Venezuela's leader Hugo Chavez has pledged not to quarrel with friends, among whom he ranks Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and King Juan Carlos, Spain's TVE1 said Friday.
The TV station quoted Chavez as saying he would "concern himself with his relations with friends."
Relations between Madrid and Caracas were darkened after an incident two years ago when the Spanish monarch told Chavez to "shut up" at a summit in Chile in November 2007 after the Venezuelan leader enraged Carlos by interrupting a speech by Zapatero.
But Carlos and Chavez allayed tensions in summer 2008 on Majorca, when they shook hands and Chavez suggested they "go to the beach."
Chavez arrived in the Spanish capital after his visit to Russia, and met on Friday with Zapatero and Carlos.
He told Carlos: "You've grown a beard, just like Castro," and Carlos answered: "Well, it's just to slightly change my image."
The two leaders discussed relations between the European Union and Latin American countries, climate change problems, as well as the state of bilateral relations, including energy cooperation and Spanish investment in Venezuela's economy.
Chavez is due to head for Caracas after a short stay in Madrid. As part of his tour, the Venezuelan president has already visited Libya, Algeria, Syria, Iran, Turkmenistan, Italy, Belarus and Russia.
