US clarifies sanctions talk after Venezuela threatens to cut oil exports [View all]

[Catherina]

April 23, 2013, 3:05 pm
US clarifies sanctions talk after Venezuela threatens to cut oil exports

By Julian Pecquet

The State Department on Tuesday vehemently denied the United States was considering sanctions against Venezuela after the oil-rich country threatened to cut energy exports to the U.S.

Assistant Secretary of State for Latin America Roberta Jacobson told CNN's Spanish channel over the weekend she did not know either way if the Obama administration would consider sanctions if the country does not have a full recount of last week's disputed presidential election. Foreign Minister Elias Jaua responded with a promise to retaliate if that happens, prompting State Department Spokesman Patrick Ventrell's remarks on Tuesday.

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Jaua had promised to counter with “trade, energy, economic and political measures as we deem necessary to respond forcefully to this unacceptable threat.”

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“We do not accept any empire threats,” he told Venezuela's Telesur. “You can be sure that faced with any kind of sanctions, we will respond with economic, political, social and diplomatic actions to defend the sacred rights of the Venezuelan people.”

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http://thehill.com/blogs/global-affairs/americas/295595-us-backs-off-sanctions-talk-after-venezuela-threatens-to-cut-oil-exports