CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela and the United States said Wednesday that they will return expelled ambassadors, moving to repair relations that deteriorated sharply amid hostility between Washington and socialist President Hugo Chavez.
Chavez — fierce opponent of U.S. policy who once likened President George W. Bush to the devil — has expressed hope for improved relations with Washington following years of tensions with the Bush administration. President Barack Obama says his government wants to improve ties with all nations in the Western Hemisphere.
Chavez’s foreign minister, Nicolas Maduro, said the two nations have agreed to overturn the “persona non grata” status given each other’s ambassadors in September, when Chavez expelled U.S. Ambassador Patrick Duddy and recalled his envoy to Washington.
Chavez acted then to show solidarity with Bolivia after President Evo Morales ordered out the top U.S. envoy in his country, accusing him of helping the opposition incite violence.
