U.S. Says Venezuela Now An Unreliable Oil Supplier

www.click10.com Posted: 8:07 a.m. EST February 27, 2003

WASHINGTON -- Some State Department officials say Venezuela needs to rebuild its status and reliability as an oil supplier.

Top officials told a Venezuelan delegation in Washington that the South American nation's political disruptions have created serious doubts about its standing in the oil world.

They were told the way to restore the reputation was for the government and opposition to work out their differences.

The Venezuelan delegation passed on that word to officials in their nation.

Venezuela has been a leading source of U.S. oil imports. But a general strike in Venezuela paralyzed the oil industry for a time -- and many analysts chalk that up for part of the low supply of oil in the United States.