The US charge d’affaires and two US politicians will make up America’s delegation to the funeral of Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, a top official said Thursday.
US charge d’affaires James Derham will be accompanied by New York Representative Gregory Meeks and former Massachusetts lawmaker Bill Delahunt, according to the State Department.
Derham has held his post in Caracas since 2011, and Delahunt launched a program in 2005 providing subsidized fuel to low-income families in US cities via Venezuela’s Citgo, a subsidiary of Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA).
Meeks met Chavez in 2006 during a visit to Caracas, and is considered a progressive wing lawmaker of the Democratic Party.
Washington has had testy relations with Caracas in recent years, and has run the embassy without an ambassador since 2010 after a diplomatic spat.
Some analysts have argued the United States should send a high-level delegation to Friday’s funeral to show it is serious about wanting to open a new chapter in ties once there is a new government in Venezuela.
Chavez, 58, who had run the country for 14 years, died Tuesday after a battle with cancer.
“With the passing of Hugo Chavez, Venezuela faces a number of important challenges,” State Department official Victoria Nuland told reporters.
“These days are a time of some emotion and discussion with his passing, and there are many vital decisions ahead.”
She renewed America’s call for free and fair elections, and stressed that “we’d like to get to a place where we can improve our bilateral relationship.”
“But in order to get there, we have to get past the kind of zero-sum accusations against the United States that we’ve seen in the last couple of days.”
Caracas has accused the US of being behind a conspiracy to kill Chavez and has expelled two Air Force officers accusing them of a plot. Washington has categorically denied the accusations.
US charge d'affaires to head team to Chavez funeral
