The top US diplomat did not comment on an alleged US intelligence report, according to which Venezuela could be helping Iran to carry nuclear material to Syria (File photo)

Politics
Outgoing US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is leaving office with the feeling that she improved the relation with Latin America, in spite of the fact that the region "antipathy" towards the United States is historical, said Rice in an interview with AFP on Monday.

"We must have some historical perspective. When there was not some dislike towards the United States from Latin America? In the 70's? In the 80's?," wondered Rice.

"We left behind that Cold War period, when the US looked at Latin America in the context of a world fight with the Soviet Union," said Rice.

However, this new era "has released the US policy, allowing the country to have good friends from both left and right," she added.

"As long as they are friends who rule in democracy, who defend free trade, who open markets," said the US Secretary of State.

"No doubt, we are not very popular in Venezuela," Rice added.

The top US diplomat did not commented on an alleged US intelligence report, according to which Venezuela could be helping Iran to carry nuclear material to Syria.

"It is really remarkable that conditions in Venezuela keep worsening and that the Venezuelan government energy seems directed outwards, instead of facing those significant problems," she said.