Haiti had not been initially invited to the talks, since Venezuela did not recognize its then post-
Jean-Bertrand Aristide government. However, Hugo Chavez actively "courted"
newly elected president René Préval when he took office, much to Chevron, Exxon, and the US State Department's chagrin. After Venezuela had invested in developing Haitian infrastructure, and after the Haitian government convinced Chevron to deliver the oil from Venezuela, on 8 March 2008 the first shipment of oil was received.
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