Venezuela’s Chavez without Abassador Here
by Rod Hughes
Although no Costa Rican government official will confirm it, the newspaper Al Dia today reported that this country had rejected credentials of the ambassador Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez named nearly a year ago.
Jose Huerta, 66, was tapped in February, 2007, by Chavez as his government’s representative in Costa Rica. “Well, there’s no legal limit attached,” mused international analyst Nuria Marin, “but a year is more than enough time and the lack of a response is a message he wasn’t acceptable.”
It is no secret that no love is lost between Chavez and Costa Rican President Oscar Arias, who have sniped at each other for years in public forums. Chavez urged the local voters to reject the Central American trade treaty with the United States (CAFTA) before last October’s referendum on the subject, which did not endear him to Arias who had bet a big stack of political chips on the outcome.
Whether this is the reason, or the accusation by his ex-secretary for sexual harrassment when Huerta was envoy to Paraguay is unknown. The diplomat was also accused of meddling in Paraguay’s internal affairs, reported Al Dia.
Marin suggests that not proposing another name to substitute for Huerta’s indicates that Chavez has “no interest in maintaining cordial and friendly relations with this coiuntry.”