Venezuela halts normalization talks with US

Posted on Saturday, 07.20.13

Venezuela halts normalization talks with US
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuela says it's ending talks with the United
States to restore normal relations because Washington's U.N.
ambassador-designate criticized its human rights record.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement late Friday that Samantha
Power's remarks compelled it to halt the process begun in Guatemala last
month by its foreign minister, Elias Jaua, and U.S. Secretary of State
John Kerry.

Power said in Senate confirmation hearings Wednesday that Venezuela is
guilty of a "crackdown on civil society," along with Cuba, Iran and Russia.

Jaua and Kerry had said they would fast-track talks to resume
ambassadorial-level ties absent since 2010.

Those prospects dimmed after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro later
offered asylum to U.S. leaker Edward Snowden. Kerry subsequently called
Jaua and threatened unspecified action if Snowden wound up in Venezuelan
hands.


http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/07/20/3511812/venezuela-halts-normalization.html