MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

US and Venezuela inch closer

The Venezuelan government praised the latest statements from Secretary of State Condolezza Rice who assured that “nobody” including the current administration in Washington wants to be “an enemy of Venezuela or its leaders”.

Delcy Rodriguez, head of the European Department in the Venezuelan Chancellery applauded Ms. Rice words and said Washington can count on Venezuela's "reciprocity" as long as they have "a position of respect" towards the government headed by President Hugo Chavez.

"I can only but applaud her position regarding the legitimate, constitutional authorities of this country", said Ms. Rodriguez in Caracas during a meeting with the press. "We sincerely welcome an attitude of respect, because they (US government) can count on our reciprocity too", she added.

In a long interview with The Washington Post, Secretary of State Rice said that "nobody" including President Bush's administration "wants to be an enemy of Venezuela or its leaders".

Ms. Rice recalled that the US and Venezuela have "traditional strong links" and in direct reference to President Chavez added "we want to believe that elected leaders rule democratically".

Since taking the post of Secretary of State last January, Ms. Rice has openly questioned the Chavez administration style of government whom she also described as "a negative force" in Latinamerica for having "embraced" the Cuban regime of Fidel Castro.

However Venezuelan press and analysts are not so sure if Ms. Rice effectively has soothed relations with Venezuela after toning down its statements about Mr. Chavez in the last few weeks.

President Chavez has repeatedly accused the Bush administration of planning to kill him and has warned that if Venezuela is invaded or he's killed, Caracas will cut of the 1,5 million barrels per day it supplies to the United States.

The White House has described the allegations as "ridiculous".