The U.S. ambassador to Venezuela said Tuesday that America is taking steps to assure its counter-drug planes don't violate Venezuelan airspace again, but President Hugo Chavez's government isn't satisfied.
Patrick Duddy acknowledged an S-3 Navy plane flew into Venezuelan airspace during an anti-drug mission over the Caribbean Sea, saying it was an accident due to a navigational error.
But Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro presented Duddy with a protest letter and said after their meeting that he was not satisfied.
"We've received responses from the U.S. ambassador that do not please us," he said, calling the flyover one of many U.S. "provocations."
The plane was detected by Venezuelan authorities on Saturday near the island of La Orchila, and its crew was questioned over the radio by the Caracas airport control tower.
In the meeting, Duddy said he reiterated the U.S. government's interest in "renewing counter-drug cooperation," which has been scaled back in recent years. He also brought up concerns about alleged links between Venezuela's government and leftist Colombian rebels.
Source:Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article