Washington denies attempts at isolating Venezuela

The United States is not trying to isolate Venezuela, "Venezuela is isolating itself," said Tuesday US Under-Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns.

"We are not obsessed with (President) Hugo Chávez," Burns added during a press conference with foreign correspondents at the US Department of State, when asked about the nationalization policy undertaken by the Venezuelan Government.

"Venezuela is isolating itself," the official commented in reference to what he views as the Venezuelan Government reluctance to join efforts with the US Embassy.

The statements coming from Caracas "do not mirror properly the potential of the relation" between the two countries, said for his part US Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere Tom Shannon.

"Two are needed for dialogue," Shannon added, as quoted by AFP.

As for the nationalization wave including the purchase of shares owned by private shareholders in telecommunications company Cantv and electricity utility La Electricidad de Caracas, Burns thinks that such a policy has failed in the rest of the world.