Welcome to Hard Talk on the BBC World Service with me, Stephen Sacker. Today we're bringing you a special

program to mark the closing of Hard Talk after three decades of holding power to account across the

world. From democracies to dictatorships, we've spoken to presidents, prime ministers and those leading movements for change.

It's journalism that has mattered to us, and we hope it's mattered to you too. So listen again

to some of the highlights as hard talk digs deep into the archive. In 2010, I traveled to Venezuela and spoke to the president, Hugo Chavez. You say it's

possible to have some form of capitalism within a socialist system. Is it possible to have genuine

democracy and genuine respect for the rule of law within your socialism? I'll tell you something.

Eleven years ago, I arrived here and was quite gullible.

I even believed in a third way.

But it was all a farce.

I thought it was possible to put together a type of Rhenish capitalism,

to put a human face on capitalism.

But I realized this was not possible. I was wrong.

Democracy is impossible in a capitalist system. Capitalism is the realm of injustice and a tyranny

of the richest against the poorest. Russo said, between the powerful and the weak, all freedom is

oppressed. Only the rule of law sets you free.

That's why the only way to save the world is through socialism, a democratic socialism.

There's no dictatorship here. I was elected three times. And when the rich threw me out in a

coup, the people brought me back to power. I'm a Democrat.

Mr. President, there are many different international groups,

Latin American groups,

who've questioned your commitment to the rule of law.

...