US claims to have substantial issues to discuss with Venezuela

For the United States, getting diplomatic relations back to normal is an important issue, William Ostick, spokesperson of the US Department of State for Latin America, said on Tuesday.

"We have important issues to discuss with the Government of Venezuela," the spokesperson told AFP. "I cannot anticipate when both governments will be prepared to exchange ambassadors."

Venezuelan Vice-President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Nicolás Maduro upheld on Monday apropos the reelection of US President Barack Obama, that his government "has no problem" to replace the ambassadors lacking in both countries for more than two years.

"We have always said that we expect that someday the relations between the US government and the revolutionary government of President (Hugo) Chávez in Venezuela (...) will be based on respect, equity among States and non-meddling," Maduro reasoned.

In the words of Ostick, "The US deems it important to hold diplomatic relations, particularly where there are bilateral tensions."