U.S. Revokes Venezuelan Ambassador’s Visa Amid Diplomatic Feud With Chavez

December 30, 2010 06:52


The U.S. revoked the visa of President Hugo Chavez’s ambassador to Washington as part of a five-month diplomatic feud between the two countries.

By Charlie Devereux at Bloomberg.com

EXCERPTS:

Bernardo Alvarez, who has overseen Venezuela’s stormy relations with the U.S. since 2003, was expelled after Chavez on Dec. 28 said he was ready for the U.S. to break off diplomatic ties, Venezuela’s communications ministry said. Chavez has been refusing since July to welcome the Obama administration’s choice of Larry Palmer as its next envoy to Caracas and on Dec. 20 delivered an official letter of protest rejecting the nominee.

Chavez blamed the rupture of relations on the U.S. for sticking with a choice for ambassador who had “violated the most elemental international laws and conventions” by openly criticizing Venezuela.

“If the U.S. government is going to expel our ambassador there, then do it. If the U.S. government is going to break off diplomatic relations — do it,” Chavez said in comments carried on state television Dec. 28. “It’s not my fault. It’s theirs for naming an ambassador who immediately goes to the press to rant against the country where he is going as ambassador.”

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