US senator ends visit to Venezuela, warns of more suffering
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) – The Republican chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has wrapped up a trip to crisis-plagued Venezuela with a warning that the country could be in store for more suffering until President Nicolas Maduro’s government takes steps to guarantee free elections and respect for human rights.
Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee issued a statement Thursday upon his return from Caracas, where he met with members of the opposition and government officials.
He called on authorities to avoid continuing on a “destructive path” and said a key test of its commitment to moderation would be its actions ahead of December’s legislative election.
Corker’s surprise visit follows several high-level meetings between Maduro and State Department envoys as the Obama administration seeks to reduce tensions with its fiercest critic in Latin America.
