In response to an article on the travel section of The Independent, the Venezuelan Ambassador to the UK, Samuel Moncada, sent a letter to the editor of the paper.

The letter, published yesterday in the printed edition of The Independent, reads as follows:

This state hasn't failed yet

In an otherwise positive piece in the Traveller magazine (3 October), I was disappointed by your description of Venezuela as a "failing South American state" which is increasingly isolated internationally, a claim of which it fails to provide credible evidence.

Venezuela enjoys excellent relations with countries worldwide. No country has broken diplomatic relations with Venezuela, and we are a member nation of the most important and prestigious international and regional organisations, such as the United Nations Organisation and the Organisation of American States. Furthermore, Venezuela has been a leading nation in promoting Latin American integration, taking on relevant roles in such organisations as the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and the Bolivarian Alternative for Latin America and the Caribbean (ALBA).

As for being a failing state; by nearly all indices, including economic and those regarding quality of life, Venezuela has made considerable progress in recent years, achievements that have been recognised by international organisations.

Samuel Moncada
Venezuelan Ambassador

Press Office of the Venezuelan Embassy in London, Thursday 5 November 2009