US Ambassador to Venezuela William Brownfield made a public
statement on Thursday, saying the United States respects
Venezuela's sovereignty in oil matters.
He said the US-Venezuela relationship in terms of trade and
gasoline was "positive", and described the countries as natural
partners for geographical reasons.
It was up to the Venezuelan government whether or not it wanted
to retain or change its policies toward the United States, said the
ambassador at a donation ceremony, adding that he did not expect
any change.
On Wednesday, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said in Paraguay
that Venezuela would blow up all its oil wells if the US ordered an
invasion of his country, following US naval maneuvers in the
Caribbean. He described the exercises as a new attempt by "the
empire" to intimidate him.
Washington deployed an aircraft carrier and three other warships
in the Caribbean in April, and exercises in the area will continue
until the end of May. This comes at a time when US government
officials have publicly stated their concern that Chavez is trying
to influence the region's politics.
Venezuela, which has the largest gas fields in South America,
also has the world's largest reserves of extra-heavy crude oils, in
the Orinoco belt, which holds an estimated 325 billion barrels of
oil.
(Xinhua News Agency April 21, 2006)
