During Venezuela 's holding of the OPEC presidency in 2000 , Chávez made a ten - day tour of OPEC countries , in the process becoming the first head of state to meet Saddam Hussein since the Persian Gulf War .
During Venezuela 's holding of the OPEC presidency in 2000 , Chávez made a ten - day tour of OPEC countries . 
 In the process , he became the first head of state to meet Saddam Hussein since the Gulf War .