VENEZUELA WILL NOT RESTORE DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH PERU UNTIL PRESIDENT-ELECT ALAN GARCIA APOLOGIZES FOR INSULTING REMARKS HE MADE DURING HIS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN, REUTERS QUOTED PRESIDENT HUGO CHAVEZ AS SAYING ON SUNDAY. VENEZUELA AND PERU WITHDREW THEIR RESPECTIVE AMBASSADORS IN MAY IN A DIPLOMATIC SPAT SPARKED BY PERUVIAN ALLEGATIONS THAT CHAVEZ WAS INTERFERING IN THE PERUVIAN PRESIDENTIAL RUNOFF BETWEEN GARCIA AND CHAVEZ-BACKED CANDIDATE OLLANTA HUMALA. "THE ONLY WAY VENEZUELA COULD RESTORE RELATIONS WITH THE NEW GOVERNMENT OF PERU IS THAT THE PRESIDENT-ELECT OF PERU OFFER THE NECESSARY EXPLANATION AND APOLOGIES TO THE PEOPLE OF VENEZUELA," CHAVEZ SAID DURING HIS WEEKLY SUNDAY BROADCAST. GARCIA HAD CALLED CHAVEZ "SHAMELESS" DURING HIS CAMPAIGN, AND CHAVEZ RESPONDED BY CALLING HIM A "THIEF" AND THREATENED TO CUT DIPLOMATIC TIES WITH THE ANDEAN NATION IF GARCIA WON.
