E-223-01 November 7,  2001 VENEZUELA PROPOSES OAS GIVE MORE PRIORITY TO POVERTY   After a lengthy exchange on Venezuela’s proposal for an Organization of American States working group to follow up on poverty, equity and social inclusion, the Organization's Permanent Council decided to ask the Permanent Executive Committee of the Inter-American Council for Integral Development (CEPCIDI) to update the next Permanent Council meeting on that body's poverty-eradication activities.  In his summary, Permanent Council Chairman Ambassador Swinburne Lestrade of Dominica urged further consultations among the member state delegations on developing and presenting an appropriate mechanism to implement the proposal.  Venezuelan Ambassador Jorge Valero submitted his government's proposal, explaining the aim is to strategically tackle poverty in the Hemisphere by drawing up an inventory of institutions and projects dealing with the fight against poverty.   The proposal involves as well drafting a resolution for the next General Assembly, with specifics on how to intensify the anti-poverty campaign.             Today's Permanent Council meeting covered a variety of issues, including suggestions for promoting the Inter-American Democratic Charter (approved last September) throughout the hemisphere, and engaging member governments to do their share to meet this objective.  The delegates also heard an overview by the Peruvian envoy on a draft hemispheric convention against terrorism his government has forwarded to the Council for consideration.              The chairman presented his predecessor, Costa Rica's Ambassador Hernán R. Castro, with a plaque expressing appreciation for his leadership of the Organization's Permanent Council from June to September of this year.