WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. State Department yesterday said Larry Palmer would remain on track to become the new U.S. ambassador to Caracas despite President Hugo Chavez’s threat to block him due to his criticism of Venezuela’s socialist government.
“Mr. Palmer is still our nominee to be the ambassador in Caracas,” State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley told a news briefing.
“We continue to make the case to Venezuela that we believe Mr. Palmer is the right candidate and can help advance our relationship.”
Chavez said on Sunday that it would be “impossible” for Palmer to take up his post as envoy to the South American OPEC member because of comments Palmer made to a U.S. senator in which he said morale was low in Venezuela’s military and there were “clear ties” between members of the Chavez government and leftist Colombian rebels.
Palmer’s comments, in written response to questions from Republican Senator Richard Lugar, came at an awkward time after Colombia accused Venezuela of sheltering guerrillas on its soil. Chavez denies the accusations and broke diplomatic ties with Colombia over the issue.
Chavez, speaking on his weekly television program, said the Obama administration would probably have to withdraw Palmer’s nomination.
Crowley said despite Chavez’s comments, Venezuela’s government had not formally informed Washington of any plan to refuse Palmer.
“We have not received a formal notification from the government of Venezuela,” Crowley said, adding that Caracas had earlier agreed to accept the nomination.
“We’re certainly hopeful that we can assuage whatever concerns the Venezue-lan government has. But he is still our nominee,” Crowley said.
The United States is Venezuela’s top oil buyer, and Caracas is the fifth biggest U.S. supplier after Canada, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Nigeria.
Chavez, Washington’s most vociferous critic in Latin America, expelled U.S. Ambassador Patrick Duddy from Caracas in 2008 in a dispute over what he said was Washington’s involvement in violent protests in Bolivia.
Duddy returned during a period of good will after Obama took office, but relations have since hardened again.
