CARACAS, VENEZUELA (BNO NEWS) -- The Venezuelan government on Wednesday confirmed that its ambassador to the U.S. had his visa revoked by the U.S. State Department.
"I confirm. USA revoked the visa of ambassador Bernardo Alvarez," Temir Porras, Venezuela's Deputy Foreign Minister, said through his Twitter account.
Following the U.S.' decision to revoke the envoy's visa, State Department spokesman Mark Toner recalled that the department "said there would be consequences when the Venezuelan government rescinded agreement regarding our nominee, Larry Palmer."
"We have taken appropriate, proportional and reciprocal action," Toner stated.
The decision comes only one day after Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez during a national TV broadcast dared the U.S. to cut diplomatic ties.
"If the [U.S.] government wants to expel our ambassador over there, go ahead. If they cut diplomatic relations, go ahead," Chavez stated on Tuesday.
The two countries began their diplomatic disputes when President Chavez was angered by President Barack Obama's nomination of Larry Palmer as ambassador to the South American country at the end of June to replace Patrick Duddy.
Chavez went on to reject Obama's nominee, saying the country had denied permission to the aspiring ambassador, after disagreeing with some of his previous comments. In August, Chavez was angered after Palmer said Colombian guerrillas were present in Venezuela and the country's armed forces had low morale.
"They will do what they want," Chavez said on Tuesday, in regard to a possible U.S. retaliation. "But that man is not coming here as ambassador. Anyone who comes here as an ambassador has to show respect. This is a country that must be respected."
Venezuela's envoy Bernardo Alvarez Herrera is thought to be currently outside the U.S., but following the decision, he will be unable to return to the country.
However, the decision to revoke Herrera's visa is less drastic than expelling an ambassador o completely cutting off diplomatic ties. While the decision is firm, the country can reissue the visa rather quickly, but the reinstatement of an ambassador could take several months of diplomatic negotiation.
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