Venezuela proposed an assembly of all world governments to discuss the financial crisis, as an alternative to the meeting of the world’s 20 richest nations organized by French President Nicolás Sarkozy. “I spoke with Sarkozy; I suggested that we have a meeting, not only the big shots in the world, but an assembly of world governments, to listen to each other with patience and respect. But no, it appears they remain closed off in their world,” said Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez in a public address on Wednesday. In an interview Wednesday, Venezuelan Foreign Relations Minister Nicolás Maduro said a diversity of viewpoints and new ideas will be necessary in order to manage the world economic crisis. Venezuela enacted a tax on windfall oil profits last year, and now reports nearly $40 billion in foreign currency reserves.