Hugo Chavez says Venezuela-U.S. relations will improve

[babylonsister]

What a difference a decent president makes.

Hugo Chavez says Venezuela-U.S. relations will improve


Heads of state stand together for an official group photo Saturday on the second day of 5th Summit of the Americas in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
ANDRES LEIGHTON/AP PHOTO


BY FRANCES ROBLES
[e-mail]


PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad -- Closer relations between Venezuela and the United States are no doubt coming soon, President Hugo Chávez said Saturday, adding that the two countries may soon return each other's ambassadors to their posts.

Chávez made the statement after a dozen South American leaders met with President Barack Obama Saturday morning at the Fifth Summit of the Americas. Chávez called the meeting ``extraordinary.''

''I feel great optimism and the best of good will to advance. We have started off on the right foot,'' Chávez said in a statement released by his office, which noted that he and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton discussed renewing each other's ambassadors.

The ambassadors were yanked last year in a diplomatic flap that started in Bolivia.

''It's time to have a true start of a new history, for there to be balance, that there's an end to the mechanisms of domination,'' Chávez said.

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http://www.miamiherald.com/1370/story/1006165.html

[Kajsa]

1. I believe they will improve.

Presidents Obama and Chavez have both made the move to improve
relations between the US and Venezuela.

This is a welcome change from the "don't talk to them"
"evildoers" BS of the past eight years.

This is a step in the right direction.

[Cleita]

2. That's good, however, I will miss Chavez's rhetoric about Bush.

It was always good for a laugh.

[RDANGELO]

3. It will be a big help if Chavez can abstain from his inflammatory

remarks about the US. The other question is the behavior of the political right and the media here.

[zeemike]

5. I think you will see the rhetoric stop.

An important point is that Obama made the first move in approaching Chavez....that was symbolic ly important.

[luvspeas]

4. I'll bet you that if you asked any typical teabagger about Chavez...

They'd have a whole bunch of catch phrases about Socialism and Facism to throw around, but would not be able to tell you one concrete thing he has done, nor could they spell Venezuela or find it on a map.