Venezuela, U.S. Resume Dialogue After Rift

Venezuela, U.S. Resume Dialogue After Rift

Venezuela, U.S. Resume Dialogue After Rift

The Associated Press
Wednesday, February 15, 2006; 9:52 PM

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuelan and U.S. diplomats have begun talking again after a political rift that led to the expulsion of embassy officials and threats by the South American country to cut off oil shipments, Washington's ambassador to Venezuela said Wednesday.

Ambassador William Brownfield said his Venezuelan counterpart in the United States, Bernardo Alvarez, met Tuesday in Washington with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Thomas Shannon "to resolve problems."

"Without a doubt, we have established dialogue," Brownfield said in an interview with private Globovision TV station.

Nevertheless, tensions remained. President Hugo Chavez told troops Wednesday they should be prepared for an "anti-imperialist war" in case a foreign country were to attack.

U.S. officials have repeatedly denied Chavez's accusations of U.S. plots against him.

Relations between the two governments deteriorated earlier this month as Washington expelled a high-ranking Venezuelan diplomat in response to Caracas booting out a U.S. military attache for alleged spying.

"Bilateral relations between Venezuela and the United States are not at their best. Without a doubt, the relation is sensitive in some areas," Brownfield said.