Venezuela willing to normalise relations with US

Venezuela is willing to normalize diplomatic relations with the United States on the basis of mutual respect and none interference in each other's domestic affairs, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Elias Jaua said Sunday. "We will remain open to the normalization of relations with the United States....The first thing would be to restore diplomatic delegation at the highest level," said Jaua in an interview with local TV Channel Televen. Venezuela is "interested in further deepening and cultivating a friendship with the U.S. people" and sees it as an objective to restore diplomatic relations with the United States, Jaua said. On April 23, when appointing Calixto Ortega as charge d'affaires of the Embassy of Venezuela in the United States, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro expressed the intention to increase dialogue with the United States. Ortega's appointment was the first step, Jaua said, adding the goal was to restore diplomatic representation at the highest level. The two countries have not had each other's ambassador since July 2010 and their relations were further weighed down following a reciprocal expulsion of embassy staff. On March 5, Maduro, who was then vice president, expelled two U.S. military attaches in Caracas hours before announcing the death of Hugo Chavez, accusing them of conspiracy in destabilizing Venezuela. In response, Washington expelled two Venezuelan diplomats, refused to recognize Maduro's victory in the presidential race and urged a recount of the votes.