Khaberni - Delcy Rodriguez, the interim President of Venezuela, said that she has received an invitation to visit the United States, during a visit by the US Energy Secretary Chris Wright to Caracas for a direct assessment of the country's oil industry, reaffirming the innocence and legitimacy of the detained President Nicolas Maduro in New York.
Rodriguez, in an interview published by "NBC" news on Thursday, said: "I have received an invitation to visit the United States. We are thinking of going there as soon as this cooperation is established, and moving forward on all matters."
Rodriguez -who is Maduro's deputy and former oil minister- was sworn in as the interim president of Venezuela in early January, following a special operation in which the United States arrested the country's president Maduro and transferred him for trial in New York.
Rodriguez and the US Energy Secretary "face a daunting task" to organize the recovery of the Venezuelan oil sector, after decades of underinvestment and US sanctions, while providing opportunities for US investors.
Rodriguez earlier admitted that relations between Venezuela and the United States have had "ups and downs," but said that the two countries are now working on an energy agenda that benefits both sides, adding, "Let the diplomatic dialogue and energy dialogue be the proper channels to determine how to move forward between the United States and Venezuela."
"Maduro and his Wife's Innocence"
Meanwhile, Rodriguez told the network that she still believes that Maduro -detained in the United States on charges related to drugs and weapons- is the legitimate leader of the country.
"I can tell you that President Nicolas Maduro is the legitimate president. President Maduro and First Lady Celia Flores are innocent," she added.
Rodriguez discussed bilateral relations and energy issues with Minister Wright, in the presence of the national oil company CEO Hector Obrien Perez, and the Venezuelan diplomatic representative to the United States, Felix Plasencia.
Wright told reporters while standing alongside Rodriguez with the flags of both countries behind them: "I bring a message from President Trump today. He is passionately committed to transforming the relationship between the United States and Venezuela, as part of a broader agenda to make the Americas great again, to bring our countries closer, and to bring trade, peace, prosperity, jobs, and opportunities to the people of Venezuela."
Both sides agreed on the importance of continuing smooth and meaningful dialogue for stabilizing the regional energy market, by leveraging extensive reserves and existing infrastructure to secure safe hydrocarbon supplies.
