La amenaza contra Venezuela
julio 12, 2019Maduro, el peor de todos
julio 12, 2019- Las Vegas Review-Journal
- 11 Jul 2019
- The Associated Press
MOSCOW — Senior diplomats from the United States and Russia met in Helsinki on Wednesday to search for ways to ease tensions between Moscow and Washington, but didn’t report any immediate progress, with Venezuela a sticking point.
The U.S. State Department said Under Secretary for Political Affairs David Hale and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov “discussed U.s.-russia relations and the impact of regional challenges in Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.”
“The Under Secretary stressed that while the United States seeks to narrow differences and foster cooperation with Russia on a number of global challenges, Russia’s negative actions continue to be a barrier for progress in our bilateral relationship,” State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement.
Ryabkov said he and Hale discussed the government crisis in Venezuela, among other issues, but failed to reach common ground. He emphasized that Russia doesn’t have any troops in Venezuela, but periodically has to send experts there and sees no need to discuss it with Washington.
Russia has staunchly supported Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, while the U.S. and several dozen other nations have cast their support behind opposition leader Juan Guaidó and recognized him as Venezuela’s interim president.
Ryabkov said he and Hale also discussed the case of Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine who has been in custody since his arrest in Moscow in December on charges of espionage. He added that Moscow is not considering exchanging him for Russians in U.S. custody.
Whelan, who also holds British, Irish and Canadian citizenship, has denied the charges and complained of poor prison conditions.
