Pubdate: Thu, 21 Dec 2006
Source: BBC News (UK Web)
Copyright: 2006 BBC
Website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/

CHAVEZ DEMANDS US 'DRUG APOLOGY'

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has called on the US ambassador in 
Caracas to retract his assertion that drug trafficking in the country 
is rising.

Mr Chavez said the comments were absolutely false and that a 
retraction would demonstrate that Washington is serious about wanting 
good relations.

William Brownfield said poor police collaboration was making 
Venezuela a preferred drug route to the Caribbean.

The comments follow recent improvements in relations between the two countries.

Mr Chavez said the US ambassador's claims were "a lack of respect for 
the truth" and said they were "absolutely false".

The president blamed US drug consumption for the problem and accused 
the US of turning from communism to the drug war to justify its 
military presence in the region.

Police 'vacuum'

In comments published on Tuesday by the Venezuelan newspaper El 
Nacional, Mr Brownfield said the estimated amount of cocaine smuggled 
through Venezuela has increased to about 300 metric tons in 2006.

A little while ago, the US ambassador in Caracas told a big lie - he 
should retract it if it's really true that [the US] want good 
relations Hugo Chavez

"The drug traffickers have identified a vacuum because there is less 
police collaboration than in any other country... they take advantage 
of Venezuela to move their product toward the Caribbean," he said.

However, Mr Brownfield said the two countries could make progress in 
the areas of trade, energy and anti-drug efforts despite deep 
political differences.

He said Washington could use its improved relations with both China 
and Vietnam as a blueprint for relations with Venezuela.

Diplomatic ties have shown signs of improvement since Venezuelan 
President Hugo Chavez was re-elected by a landslide earlier this month.

Bilateral trade has continued to grow in recent years, despite 
worsening relations during the same period and is expected to hit a 
record $50bn (UKP25bn) in 2006.

Tensions

Last week, the two countries said they had made a positive start to 
improving relations after a lengthy meeting between Mr Brownfield and 
Venezuela's foreign minister.

Relations had worsened since claims of US involvement in a coup 
attempt against Mr Chavez in 2002.

The White House has often accused Mr Chavez of harming regional stability.

In September, Mr Chavez referred to US President George Bush as "the 
devil" during a speech before the UN General Assembly in New York.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman