MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

U.S. orders closing of Venezuelan arms purchasing office

The United States government ordered Venezuela to close its military purchasing office in Miami after suspending arms sales to the South American country, US officials revealed this week.

Last May the President Bush administration announced it was banning new arms sales, accusing President Hugo Chavez's government of failing to cooperate in counterterrorism efforts, a charge strongly denied by Venezuelan officials.

Venezuela's Foreign Ministry demanded that the U.S. government uphold all pending contracts for military equipment. However US officials have said the United States would honor such contracts.

"The Department of State did inform the Venezuelan government that it has to close the military acquisition office in Miami by Sept. 30" spokeswoman Jan Edmondson said in an interview from Washington.

"Due to the termination of the sale or license for export of defense articles ... it is no longer necessary or appropriate for the Venezuelan government to maintain a military acquisition office," she added.

The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry denounced the arms ban as part of Washington's attempt to wage a "low-intensity conflict," and demanded compensation for any defense equipment ? already paid for ? that is not delivered due to the ban.

The U.S. government has urged other countries not to sell weapons to Chavez's administration. Nevertheless the populist president, swimming in oil dollars, has signed billions of dollars worth of arms deals with Russia, Spain and other countries ? including purchases of new jet fighters, helicopters, weapons and boats.