Venezuela: US diplomat didn't seek protection
(AP)
Updated: 2006-04-17 09:13
Venezuela denied on Sunday that it failed to uphold its obligations under
international accords to provide protection for foreign diplomats, after the
U.S. ambassador was harassed by supporters of President Hugo Chavez.
A portrait of U.S. President
George W. Bush burns after Venezuelan supporters of President Hugo Chavez
set it on fire during the tradition of burning a figure representing the
biblical character of Judas in Caracas April 16, 2006. The figure of Judas
represents evil and by burning it, people believe they reduce to ashes the
sorrows brought by it. [Reuters] |
Information Minister Willian Lara said U.S. Ambassador William Brownfield did
not formally request police protection before his convoy was pelted with eggs by
pro-Chavez activists in the streets of Venezuela's capital on April 7.
"We hope there is communication in the future, and there aren't any
unfavorable circumstances like that one that occurred" last week, Lara told
reporters.
In response to the April 7 harassment, the Bush administration has warned
that it may severely restrict the movements of Venezuela's ambassador, Bernardo
Alvarez, if pro-government activists in Venezuela engage in any more "thuggish"
activities against Brownfield.
"We don't want it to get to that point," said State Department spokesman Sean
McCormack. "We want Venezuela to fulfill its obligations under the Vienna
Convention to help provide protection for our diplomats there."
Lara said Brownfield met with Venezuela's top diplomat for North America,
Mari Pili Hernandez, last week to discuss plans for security coordination.
U.S. officials have said they believe the harassment of Brownfield was not
spontaneous, but was planned by government officials.
Chavez, one of Latin America's most outspoken critics of the U.S. government,
has threatened to expel Brownfield, accusing him of repeatedly engaging in
provocative behavior and meddling in Venezuela's domestic affairs.
Relations between Venezuela — the world's fifth largest oil exporter — and
the United States have been tense in recent months with U.S. officials accusing
Chavez of becoming a threat to democracy in Latin America and Chavez accusing
Washington of conspiring to overthrow his government.
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