US state governor advocates approach to Venezuela

Bill Richardson, governor of US New Mexico state, lobbied on Monday in Madrid for a dialogue between the next US government and Cuba and Venezuela. 'In my view, we should start a dialogue with Venezuela and Cuba,' said Richardson during an informational breakfast in Casa de América, AFP quoted. The Secretary of Energy during the administration of Democrat Bill Clinton said that the diplomacy to be built by Washington after the government of President George W. Bush in January 2009 should 'approach Cuba in a realistic way, sensibly dealing with economic and personal issues, such as trade and family relations.' 'The embargo has been unsuccessful, but I would like Cuba also to move on, to be more democratic, act to release more political prisoners. But if I can give any advice to the new president is that the embargo has not been positive at all. Therefore, such policy needs to change,' said Richardson. 'In Venezuela, we have disagreements with President (Hugo) Chávez, but I would favor a direct dialogue with him, to see if we can solve our differences,' he added.