US Senator met with Venezuelan Congress Vice-president

US Senator Arlen Specter (R- PA) and Saúl Ortega, the first Vice President of the Venezuelan National Assembly, met on Thursday and vowed to relaunch the Parliamentary Group for Friendship and Cooperation between Venezuela and the United States, Ortega said. Specter arrived in Caracas last Wednesday in a visit is aimed at seeking rapprochement between Chávez's government and Washington in some specific areas such as anti-drug cooperation. However, the US Senator has not been received by any member of the Venezuelan Executive Branch. Ortega said, referring to his encounter with the US Senator, that the meeting was informal. The Venezuelan legislator noted that Specter intended to 'improve the relationships between the United States and Venezuela.'