US hopes for renewed dialogue with Venezuela

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

US hopes for renewed dialogue with Venezuela
January 15th, 2009 @ 12:28pm

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) - The U.S. Embassy's top official in Venezuela says the United States will seek improved relations with the government of Hugo Chavez once President-elect Barack Obama takes office.

Relations between the United States and Venezuela reached a new low on Sept. 12, when Chavez evicted the U.S. ambassador and recalled his own ambassador from Washington.

Charge d'Affaires John Caulfield says he told Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro that U.S. officials are hoping for "renewed dialogue." The two spoke at a meeting on Thursday.

Chavez has suggested that relations will not be fully restored until President George W. Bush leaves the White House. Obama takes office next Tuesday.



Read more: http://www.620ktar.com/?nid=46&sid=1025893

[Judi Lynn]

1. Washington expects to restore dialogue with Venezuela

CARACAS, Thursday January 15, 2009
Washington expects to restore dialogue with Venezuela

US Chargé d'Affaires in Caracas John Caulfield said he talked Thursday to Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolás Maduro

The United States is set to improve relations with Hugo Chávez's government once president elect Barack Obama takes office next January 20, Thursday said US Chargé d'Affaires in Caracas John Caulfield.

Diplomatic ties between the US and Venezuela tumbled last September, when Chávez expelled the US envoy and recalled his ambassador from Washington, in a move to support a similar decision by his Bolivian counterpart Evo Morales, AP reported.

Caulfield, who is the highest US diplomat left at the US Embassy in Caracas, added that he talked Thursday to Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolás Maduro about "the opportunity for a new dialogue... between our governments from the perspective of a new administration in Washington."

Venezuela's leftist ruler has suggested that bilateral relations will not be fully resumed as long as President George W. Bush remains in the White House.

In a speech broadcast recently, Chávez claimed he was willing to meet with Obama only if they could hold talks "on an equal footing."

Chávez has also praised Obama's move to appoint Senator Hillary Clinton as the Secretary of State.

http://english.eluniversal.com/2009/01/15/en_pol_esp_washington-expects-t_15A2193813.shtml
Opposition newspaper

[Cha]

3. Obama has intelligence..something

lacking in the bushites. We're all in this together and I'm betting he finds some common ground with Venezuela.

[Cha]

2. Another low was when Chavez

rightfully called bush the devil.

I was hoping the Obama admin would talk to Venezuela since they're going to be talking to everyone else.

[bitchkitty]

4. Ah, sweet relief!

I'll still wait and see, but it looks like it won't be business as usual with Obama re Latin America.

Our President will have so much to accomplish, so much wreckage to clean up. If he manages to set right even half of what Bush has ruined, then he'll be a miracle worker.

I'm a cynic, but this news makes me feel hopeful! Thanks Judi Lynn!

[Zorra]

5. A "food for oil" trade program would be awesome.

We could tell the Saudis to fuck off.