Politics
US Chargé d'Affaires in Caracas John Caulfield denied claims that he attended an alleged meeting in Puerto Rico among Venezuelan opposition leaders and a director of a private news network. "I can only say that I did not have any meeting in Puerto Rico with Venezuelan politicians."

Caufield said that he stayed in the National Assembly during the eight hours President Hugo Chávez took to deliver his annual speech to the nation last Tuesday. "He did not mention my name because he knows I have nothing to do with this meeting."

The diplomat added that one of his roles at the US Embassy is to hold meetings with both government officials and opposition leaders here in Venezuela. Caufield said that such meetings are normal in any democratic country. "One of my functions, like any diplomatic official, is to contact politicians here in Venezuela." 

Translated by Gerardo Cárdenas

Alicia De La Rosa
EL UNIVERSAL