CARACAS, Monday March 13, 2006 | Update
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Alí Rodríguez Araque
put the blame on the Mexican government and media for launching
a "sustained campaign" against Venezuela. So far, "it has
not had any consequences and we do not think there will be
any."
In November 2006, Venezuela and Mexico recalled their ambassador
following a diplomatic mismatch between Mexican President
Vicente Fox and his Venezuelan counterpart Hugo Chávez.
In a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Araque complained of "a sustained campaign from Mexico in
very powerful media sectors that are linked with government
sectors against Venezuela."
"The Mexican people -who have been the victim of the United
States that swallowed most of their territory- will manage
to straighten the way and create a situation to reestablish
longstanding cordial relations between Mexico and Venezuela,"
the official added.
Concerning relations with the United States, "the big empire
has tried to impose its conditions and political schemes in
Venezuela, and this is inadmissible from any point of view."
02:57 PM. HEAVY RAINS. Venezuelan Executive Vice-President Elias Jaua reported that the government is designing plans to support farmers, cattlemen and peasants of the state of Mérida who have been hit by heavy rains that have caused crop losses.