Off the wire
• U.S. says much remains to be done in Sri Lanka  • Fiji congratulates Italy's newly-elected president  • Shanghai Disney tops out resort hotel  • Indonesia, Britain to boost trade, investment cooperation  • Sri Lanka frees prisoners on independence anniversary  • China Voice: Cities' allure reassessed as rural-urban gap narrows  • Iran rejects U.S. call for anti-terror cooperation: official  • Roundup: S. Korean shares rise on foreign fund inflow  • China Focus: Arts education in rural areas  • Foreigners cash out S. Korean stocks for 2 months  
You are here: 　 Home

Maduro asks UNASUR to mediate talks with U.S.

Xinhua, February 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said Tuesday evening he has asked Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) to mediate in the recent tensions between Venezuela and the United States.

In his weekly TV program, Maduro informed that he has asked UNASUR Secretary General Ernesto Samper to start a "diplomatic initiative" to prevent Washington from pushing its relations with Caracas to a "dead end."

Maduro said he will officially ask Samper to initiate political talks aimed at "stopping the aggression" against Venezuela during the UNASUR chief's scheduled visit to Venezuela on Wednesday.

He said Rafael Correa, president of Ecuador and head of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), also backs Venezuela's diplomatic efforts to reestablish respectful ties with the United States.

On Monday, Washington imposed new visa restrictions against Venezuelan officials over alleged human rights abuses and those believed responsible for public corruption in the oil-exporting country. Endi