CARACAS, Venezuela, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- U.S. and Venezuelan leaders expressed optimism about improving relations following talks between the U.S. ambassador and Venezuela's foreign minister.
In a meeting reportedly lasting more than an hour, U.S. Ambassador William Brownfield and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro discussed ways of ending the verbal hostility between the nations, El Universal newspaper reported Friday.
Though both leaders said their meeting was an important step toward improving relations, Maduro said that Venezuela remained apprehensive. "We Venezuelans have every reason to mistrust the remarks made by the U.S. government," said the foreign minister.
Relations between Washington and Caracas have soured in recent years. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez contends that the Bush administration is trying to undermine his authority and was behind the coup of April 2002 that saw Chavez briefly deposed.
Washington denied the accusation though has accused Chavez of trying to create a Cuba-style state in Venezuela and spread his particular brand of leftist ideals throughout Latin America.
