Venezuela: President Highlights Work to Restore Full Ties With the U.S.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/17/world/americas/venezuela-president-highlights-work-to-restore-full-ties-with-the-us.html

Version 0 of 1.

President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela said Monday that a recent meeting between Venezuelan and American officials had opened an important channel that could lead toward restoration of full diplomatic ties. Mr. Maduro’s comments followed a meeting in Haiti over the weekend that included Venezuela’s National Assembly leader, Diosdado Cabello; Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez; and a senior State Department official, Thomas A. Shannon Jr. During a televised address, Mr. Maduro said the two countries were working “to normalize diplomatic relations on the basis of respect,” with Mr. Cabello heading up the effort from Caracas, the capital. Relations between the countries deteriorated rapidly this year after Venezuela imposed a visa requirement for American tourists and ordered the United States to slash its embassy staff in Caracas. Washington then declared Venezuela a security threat and imposed sanctions on top officials.