Chile is waiting until Thursday for a reply from Venezuela to the Chilean complaint about the statements made by Venezuelan ambassador in Chile Víctor Delgado, otherwise Santiago could both expel the Venezuelan diplomat and refrain from voting at the United Nations to select a new non-permanent member of the Security Council, a seat Venezuela is disputing with Guatemala, DPA reported.

Last Thursday, Delgado verbally attacked Chilean pro-government party Democracia Cristiana (DC), which is opposed to Caracas bid to occupy a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council.
 
Delgado indirectly referred to DC president Soledad Alvear, who was the Chilean Foreign Minister in April 2002, when President Hugo Chávez was briefly removed from power. Delgado claimed that the US communiqué endorsing the coup against Chávez read the same as the communiqué the Chilean Foreign Ministry issued back at that time.

Delgado also accused Alvear's husband, Gutenberg Martínez and the organization he presides over, the Christian Democrat Organization of America (ODCA), of "endorsing the coup."

Also last Thursday, the Chilean Foreign Affairs Ministry issued a communiqué claiming that Delgado "expressed unacceptable opinions about statements made by the Chilean Government and in connection with an outstanding political party."

The document added that Delgado turned his back on the adequate diplomatic practices when he interfered with Chilean domestic affairs. The communiqué stressed that the Chilean Government expected the Venezuelan Government to "adopt every necessary move" to prevent this incident from undermining bilateral relations.