MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Venezuela and U.S. set rules for bilateral agenda

Top officials from Venezuela and United States meeting for the first time under the administration of President George Bush agreed to separate “communicational” and diplomatic agendas in their bilateral relation.

Venezuela's Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Mary Pili Hernandez visited Tuesday in Washington United States Deputy Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere Thomas Shannon, reported the Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Ministry in Caracas.

Ms Hernández is quoted describing the meeting as "positive", particularly since it was the first time top diplomatic officials from Venezuela and the US held a formal meeting since President George Bush took office.

"We advanced considerably in issues such as narcotics traffic, trade and terrorism", said Ms Hernandez.

"We also agreed that the issues addressed in the "communicational" agenda should not prevail over those in the diplomatic agenda", she underlined adding that "even when facing communicational or political differences, no matter how difficult, we're going to keep open the possibility of a diplomatic door to keep discussions going"

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez publicly and systematically criticizes President Bush to whom he refers as "Mr. Danger", while Washington repeatedly accuses the current Venezuelan regime of being a destabilizing force in the region and a permanent threat to democratic governance.