MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

US has always had “a good relation with Venezuela”, says Rice

Ms Rice denied that the influence of Washington was decreasing in the region

United States has no enemies in Latinamerica, said US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice who also praised regional leaders' role in downplaying the impact of the incident and tension between Colombia and Ecuador.

In an interview with the Brazilian magazine Epoca, following last weeks' brief visit to Brazil and Chile Ms Rice insisted United States has no enemies in Latinamerica and more specifically when asked about the Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez she underlined: "we've always had a good relation with Venezuela. We have a wide ranging policy towards Latinamerica in which we defend social justice, development and economic development. We defend equality of gender and race. It's a positive agenda". Ms Rice denied that the influence of Washington was decreasing in the region, given the fact that the US was not directly involved in the recent conflict when Colombian troops raided a guerrilla camp in Ecuadorian soil without warning Ecuadorian authorities, which triggered a major incident. "United States has much advanced in solutions to regional situations but it's the South American countries that have taken command of the situation. US should not be leading all aspects. We believe the recent situation was very well addressed by regional leaders, including Brazilian president Lula da Silva" underlined the US official. However Washington was the only OAS (Organization of American States) member to support and justify Colombia's incursion in Ecuador as part of the war on terrorism. Ms Rice admitted that some actions from Venezuela are "questionable. We look at them closely but make no ideology analysis. We are completely prepared to deal with left and right leaning countries". "Furthermore we're not interested in worsening relations with the Chavez administration", she added. And why were Brazil and Chile chosen for her visit? "We have very close links with both countries; Chile has a free trade agreement with the US and Brazil is also a major player in world politics".