Maduro terms "interesting" meeting of Venezuelan FM and US State Secretary

Nicolás Maduro said FM Elías Jaua would meet Wednesday with US Secretary of State John Kerry, in an encounter that will be "interesting" because it will allow the Venezuelan government to convey directly its vision to the administration of President (Barack) Obama.

 

Nicolás Maduro said Venezuelan FM Elías Jaua would attend the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (File photo)

ALEJANDRA M. HERNÁNDEZ F. |  EL UNIVERSAL

Wednesday June 05, 2013  09:09 AM

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro confirmed Tuesday night that Venezuelan Foreign Minister Elías Jaua would meet Wednesday with US Secretary of State John Kerry, in a brief encounter on the sidelines of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS), to be held in Guatemala.

According to Maduro, the meeting will be "interesting" because "it will allow the Venezuelan government to convey directly to the administration of President (Barack) Obama our vision on what the relations between our governments should be. Each side should mind its own business. We, with our Bolivarian ideology. You (them), mind your own stuff," said Maduro, during an event broadcast by state-run television channel Venezolana de Televisión (VTV).

Earlier AFP, citing a source close to Kerry, said both diplomats were likely to hold a brief meeting, which would be a rapprochement to improve the crumbling relations between the White House and the Miraflores Palace.

"We can tackle our differences, but respect must prevail in political and diplomatic relations," said Maduro, ensuring that Venezuela has "superb relationships with the world" and could have "good relations" with the Obama administration as well.

Twitter: @alejandramhf