MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chavez considering name of the next ambassador in Washington

Chavez: “With Obama we’ve begun to talk which in itself is a beginning, a good beginning”

Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez said that with President Barack Obama leading the US, strained bilateral relations will improve and revealed he was considering the name of his next ambassador in Washington.

Following the Saturday meeting of South American presidents with Obama in the sidelines of the Fifth Summit of the Americas in Trinidad Tobago, Chavez insisted he wants “to be a friend of President Obama”, whom he described as an “intelligent man”.

Asked if relations between both countries are on track to improvement, Chavez said “I have no doubts at all”.

“With Obama we’ve begun to talk which in itself is a beginning, a good beginning, I think we are on the right path”, added Chavez talking with reporters following the meeting. He also revealed he had time to talk for a few minutes with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Although Venezuela and the US have a most dynamic trade relation bilateral affairs dropped to their lowest in decades, with mush offensive language during the last months of the outgoing George Bush administration.

In September 2008 Chavez expulsed the US ambassador in Venezuela and ordered the withdrawal of the Venezuelan delegation in Washington in support of Bolivia that had adopted a similar position in the middle of a serious domestic political crisis.

Bolivia’s Evo Morales accused the US to be behind the autonomous drive demands from the country’s richest provinces.

Washington then decided to oust the Venezuelan ambassador.

President Chavez recently revealed that he had delayed the designation of a new ambassador to Washington following statements from President Obama who allegedly accused him of exporting terrorist activities and having interrupted progress in the region.