Western Hemisphere
Venezuela's ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), Roy Chaderton, described as "pathetic" the statements made by the Secretary General of the OAS, José Miguel Insulza, who said that US President Barack Obama is not trying to pick a fight with President Hugo Chávez.
 
"The statement of the Secretary General of the OAS on the bilateral controversy between the Venezuelan government and the incoming US administration can only be described as pathetic, disrespectful and silly," said Chaderton, according to a statement issued in Caracas by the Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, AFP reported.
 
"I believe that President Obama has said something very general about Venezuela. I think he is not interested in trying to pick a fight with President Chávez. President Chávez is campaigning for the referendum. Then, of course, he has used this issue," said Insulza in an interview with Chilean newspaper El Mercurio.
 
According to Chaderton, these statements try to "trivialize a defamation against a member country of the OAS."