Obama requests to Maduro to release the detainees and allow dialogue

Obama requests to Maduro to release the detainees and allow dialogue

The United States President, Barack Obama, has asked his Venezuelan counterpart, Nicolas Maduro, to release all the opponents arrested during the protests against the Government of Chavez that have occurred in the country since Feb. 12. It also urged Parties that they engage in a dialogue.

Obama also referred to the expulsion of three American diplomats in Venezuela accused directly by Maduro of promote and direct the protests. Obama has urged the President of Venezuela to “attend to legitimate claims” of his people, rather than divert attention “with false accusations”.

Despite the exchange of declarations and reciprocal expulsions of diplomats, Washington and Caracas have never come to break the relationship during the 15 years of chavismo. Most of the Venezuelan Government revenues come from the sale of crude oil to the U.S. oil companies and many of their refineries would be in difficulties if they had to replace the Venezuelan oil by another of other Nations.