Citing crime, Norway to close Venezuela embassy

[Bacchus4.0]

Source: AP

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Norway is planning to close its embassy in Venezuela because of rampant crime in the South American country and move the diplomatic mission to neighboring Colombia, its ambassador said Wednesday.

Ambassador Lars Vaagen said the decision to move the embassy to Bogota next year was made after analyzing the pressing problem of widespread violent crime in Venezuela.

‘‘We see the security situation as increasingly difficult,’’ Vaagen said in a telephone interview.

Norway’s embassy in Caracas has been operating for almost 45 years.



Read more: Link to shttp://www.boston.com/news/world/latin-america/2012/12/05/citing-crime-norway-close-venezuela-embassy/C7fyd02JGEPXvPgy0nJK9M/story.htmlource

[Diclotican]

1. Bacchus4.0

Bacchus4.0

Not good at all... But it is properly true, as the Norwegian government seldom do this things, without a cause for it....

Diclotican

[iandhr]

2. So the ambassador to Columbia will also be ambassador to Venezuela?

[Bacchus4.0]

3. could be although it sounds like they are moving the entire mission

and will no longer have an embassy in Venezuela so no ambassador. They may keep a consulate there. Not sure.

[wordpix]

4. the Chavez lovers will soon be all over this to defend their champion - meanwhile, "express kidnap-

pings" are the norm in Venez ---- kidnappers pick you out of the crowd just because you look middle class, and then kidnap you. I know of a group of young men who were kidnapped after being followed in their car. Within several hours, they were released after their families paid the ransoms. Thus the name, "express kidnapping."

If any of the young men were discovered to have come from a wealthy family, they would have been sold off to more professional kidnappers who know how to get a higher ransom.

This is the latest in Venez.'n employment.

[Bacchus4.0]

5. The kidnappings contributed to Norway's decision according to the story

in addition to the overall horrendous crime there. Diplomats from other missions have been targeted for kidnapping.