Venezuela to limit US diplomat number, require tourist visas

[Janelle2002 3,865]

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — President Nicolas Maduro announced Saturday that he will limit the number of U.S. diplomats allowed to work in Venezuela and also will require U.S. citizens to apply for visas if they want to visit.

Relations between the two countries have been steadily deteriorating. Earlier this month, Maduro accused the U.S. of working with local opposition groups to stage a coup that involved bombing the presidential palace. Washington called the accusation ludicrous.Maduro said that U.S. meddling in the internal affairs of his country has forced him to adopt the series of restrictive measures.

The two countries have not exchanged ambassadors since 2010. Nonetheless, they have continued to exchange diplomatic staff. On Saturday, Maduro said the U.S. has far more officials in Venezuela than his socialist government has in the U.S.

"They have 100 diplomats and we have 17," Maduro said.

In an address that all Venezuelan television and radio stations were required to carry, Maduro addressed Obama directly, saying the U.S. president has "arrogantly" refused to engage in talks to resolve the issues between the two countries.

View gallery

An opposition member wearing a pot on her head shouts slogans against Venezuela's President Nico …

"I'm very sorry, Mr. President, that you have gone down this dead end," he said.

Maduro asked that the changes regulating diplomats be implemented immediately, within the limits of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. Among other things, U.S. diplomats will be required to seek approval from the Foreign Ministry for meetings they conduct here.

Venezuela will also start charging tourists the same visa fees the U.S. charges Venezuelans. Maduro did not specify when the changes for tourist visas would take place.

Americans have been staying away from Venezuela as crime has soared, exchange rates have become difficult to navigate and Maduro has stepped up attacks on the U.S. government. Only 36,000 U.S. citizens visited in the first nine months of 2014, about half the number that visited two years earlier, according to Venezuela Tourism Ministry data. Overall, some 950,000 foreigners visited Venezuela last year.

The move could have a bigger impact on business travelers than holiday beach-goers. As one of the world's largest oil producers, Venezuela remains an important destination for executives, and the new restrictions could affect U.S. companies investing here.

View gallery

A supporter of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro holds a picture of the late President Hugo C …

Also on Saturday, Venezuela released four missionaries from North Dakota who were detained several days ago. They were banned from the country for two years.

Earlier in the day, Venezuelans took to the streets of Caracas in dueling demonstrations, with one group calling attention to a crackdown on government opponents and another showing support for the embattled socialist administration.

Government supporters marched to the presidential palace to commemorate the anniversary of a convulsion of violence in Caracas known as the "Caracazo."

In 1989, police fired indiscriminately on people demonstrating against austerity measures, killing hundreds. The event is widely seen by government backers as evidence of the brutality of the administrations that preceded the revolutionary government launched 16 years ago by the late President Hugo Chavez.

Opposition activists, meanwhile, gathered to denounce the Feb. 19 arrest of Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma and the death on Tuesday of a teenager who was shot during an anti-government protest.

http://news.yahoo.com/government-supporters-opposition-march-caracas-155505611.html

to be continued at yahoo

test in Caracas, Venezuela, …

[TBoneTX 43,022]

Post edited and returned to thread:

Bleep Venezuela.

(edited for language by VJ Moderation)

Post quoted (to remove original language) and returned to thread:

Show us how you really feel when you are ready.

Post quoted (to remove original language) and returned to thread:

lol how did you get around this site's filter?

Edited March 1, 2015 by TBoneTX

[LibCampFireClub 635]

Just open the refugee gate, which is already open anyway, and let them come to the US. Then, in the middle of the night, when they are all sleeping, we can move America down there.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Just open the refugee gate, which is already open anyway, and let them come to the US. Then, in the middle of the night, when they are all sleeping, we can move America down there.

Why don't you move there first to scout things out?

[LibCampFireClub 635]

Why don't you move there first to scout things out?

We have your application on file and will notify you when a position becomes available. In the meantime, continue writing meaningless one-liners.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

We have your application on file and will notify you when a position becomes available. In the meantime, continue writing meaningless one-liners.

Meaningless one liners! From the coloring book king, that's comical. Go search for a stupid picture to post.

[LibCampFireClub 635]

Meaningless one liners! From the coloring book king, that's comical. Go search for a stupid picture to post.

Congratulations! We have raised your fog index level from drool to 1. However remember to keep your napkin handy when trying to speak.

Edited March 1, 2015 by ExExpat

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Congratulations! We have raised your fog index level from drool to 1. However remember to keep your napkin handy when trying to speak.

I'll bet you don't get any laughs at the home either.

[LibCampFireClub 635]

I'll bet you don't get any laughs at the home either.

Don't forget to take your afternoon meds. Your frontal lobe damage is starting to show from all that MD 20-20 you guzzled with your imaginary friends.

[spookyturtle 9,465]

Don't forget to take your afternoon meds. Your frontal lobe damage is starting to show from all that MD 20-20 you guzzled with your imaginary friends.

Lame. You're no fun.

[LibCampFireClub 635]

Lame. You're no fun.

Don't worry, just take your pill.

[Ban Hammer 12,830]

ahem you two