Interview: Clinton and Trump do not represent alternatives for U.S.

The two American presidential candidates, Democrat Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump, do not offer an alternative for the U.S., according to Jorge Valero, Venezuela's permanent representative to the UN.

In an interview with Xinhua, Valero said that "neither of the two seeks to redefine the foreign relations of the U.S."

In his opinion, both candidates, which are disputing the presidential election on Tuesday, have seen their campaigns defined by "procrastination".

However, Valero praised Democratic candidate, Bernie Sanders, who lost to Clinton in the primary race. Valero said that Sander is a very important voice in the country, as he "talks of how the U.S. has a broad current which trumpets for peace, but does not stop being an imperialist power."

"One of the most relevant phenomenon rising in the U.S. is the widening of the gulf between poor and rich...which has shown a regressive pattern of poverty among the middle class," he added.

The ambassador believes that the U.S. has "deep problems" that have not been addressed, while adding that the country must understand "we are not in a unipolar world, which was created after the fall of the Soviet Union. The U.S. is an empire in decline."

"A new world is emerging, new powers have emerged, there is a new equilibrium in international relations. This is an inevitable reality. And all the studies...conclude the U.S. will continue its decline," said Valero.

As for Venezuela, the diplomat pointed out that whoever wins the presidency should not continue "the policies of President Obama." He said that the new president should cancel the "infamous decree" by Obama, which states Caracas is a threat to American national security.

"If either of the two listens to this request, or this demand by the government of President Nicolas Maduro, relations with the U.S. will improve...they will be friendly, not hostile as they are today," Valero concluded. Enditem