Caribbean Net News: Venezuela to reconsider anti-drug accord with U.S

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters): Venezuela has doubts about signing a stalled anti-drug accord with the United States after Washington last week opened a special intelligence bureau for Venezuela and Cuba, a Venezuelan minister said on Monday.

Interior and Justice Minister Jesse Chacon said the drug accord and other agreements with Washington should be reviewed in light of a move last week by the United States' director of intelligence to create a new "mission manager" for Cuba and Venezuela.

The decision effectively gives a similar U.S. intelligence priority to the two Latin American nations as to Iran and North Korea.

"Following the most recent statements by the United States, we have to analyze whether or not it makes sense for us to sign that (anti-drug) accord," Chacon told reporters. "I think we have to re-evaluate all the accords that we could sign with the U.S."

President Hugo Chavez, a persistent critic of Washington, last year halted cooperation with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and accused it of spying on him. The DEA is one of the agencies that reports to the U.S. national intelligence director.

Earlier this year, Chavez also declared the U.S. naval attache persona non grata on similar spying accusations.

The United States and Venezuela have been working to amend a previous drug accord to allow the DEA to resume activities in Venezuela, but signing of the agreement has been repeatedly delayed as ties between the two nations have soured.

Venezuela, the world's No. 5 oil exporter, has become a popular transit route for drugs flowing from neighboring Colombia toward the United States.

The White House said last year Venezuela had failed to provide adequate cooperation in the war on drugs and Washington's ambassador said authorities had revoked visas for several Venezuelan military officers because of suspicions they may have been involved in the drug trade.

Chavez has repeatedly accused the United States of plotting to oust him, while the State Department accuses Chavez of violating democratic principles and questions his warm relations with Cuba and growing ties with nations like Iran.

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