Diplomats from the US and Venezuela met in Caracas on Friday,
hoping to mend diplomatic relations between the two countries,
which have reached their most tense levels ever.
US Ambassador William Brownfield said that Venezuela's National
Assembly President Nicolas Maduro and a team from the Western
Hemisphere Department of the US State Department had met for a
"very fruitful" talk, both on issues where Washington and Caracas
agreed, and those on which they differed.
"We hope it will be the first of many meetings between the
assembly and my government," Brownfield said.
The meeting took place after US Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice had told reporters that the US sees Venezuela as one of its
greatest problems and that Venezuela's strengthening relationship
with Cuba was "dangerous for hemispherical stability." Rice also
called for the forming of an international front to resist
Venezuela's influence.
On Thursday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez told Venezuelan
radio and television that the accusations were "insane" and
described US foreign policy as "incoherent" and "aggressive,"
adding that he would resist "imperialist outrages."
(Xinhua News Agency February 18, 2006)
