Venezuelan officials have warned that the USâ„¢s controversial spying program may lead to further worsening of Washingtonâ„¢s reputation at the international level, Press TV reports.
Å“We have always wanted good relations with the United States. But for the relationship to work in a mutually satisfactory manner, it has to be based on mutual recognition and respect. This is something we have not seen since the recent presidential elections. The US seeks to gain power internally and this is particularly prevalent in Venezuela,” Xoan Noya, state deputy of Venezuelaâ„¢s Socialist Party, said in an interview with Press TV.
Last month, Venezuela ended the process of normalizing its relations with the United States over remarks by Washingtonâ„¢s ambassador-designate to the UN that Venezuela, along with several other countries, were conducting a Å“crackdown on civil society.”
As recently as last Monday, foreign ministers from the South American trade bloc Mercosur complained to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon against the US global espionage practices.
Å“This absolutely violates the international laws and the sovereignty and independence of nations… it violates the fundamental rights of the citizens of our countries, and of all the countries of the world,” Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Elias Jaua said.
The ministerial delegation further expressed indignation over Washingtonâ„¢s monitoring of phone calls and emails in Latin America under the PRISM program, as revealed by US leaker Edward Snowden.
Venezuela and the US have not exchanged ambassadors since 2010. However in June, US Secretary of State John Kerry and Venezuelan Foreign Minister Elias Jaua agreed on the sidelines of a regional summit in Guatemala that officials would Å“soon” meet for talks that could lead to an exchange of envoys.
In March, Caracas expelled two US military attachés over reports of attempts to foment instability in Venezuela.
GMA/KA
Republished from: Press TV