The Venezuelan government has slammed Prime Minister Stephen Harper鈥檚 statement on the death of President Hugo Chavez, calling it 鈥渋nsensitive.鈥�
The country has sent 鈥渁 card of protest鈥� to the Canadian government over Harper鈥檚 remarks, issued hours after Chavez鈥檚 death was announced late Tuesday afternoon.
Venezuela鈥檚 vice-minister for North America, Claudia Salerno, said in a statement that her government is protesting "in a blunt and categorical way,鈥� because Harper expressed 鈥渋nsensitive and impertinent sentiments at a time when the Venezuelan people are grieving and crying over the irreparable physical loss of the Commander President Hugo Chavez Frias."
Chavez, 58, died at a military hospital in Caracas after a battle with cancer, which included trips to Cuba for surgeries and treatments.
In his statement, Harper offered his condolences to 鈥渢he people of Venezuela,鈥� not Chavez鈥檚 family or members of his administration. He also expressed hope that Chavez鈥檚 death would lead to a better future for Venezuela.
"Canada looks forward to working with (Chavez鈥檚) successor and other leaders in the region to build a hemisphere that is more prosperous, secure and democratic,鈥� Harper said.
"At this key juncture, I hope the people of Venezuela can now build for themselves a better, brighter future based on the principles of freedom, democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights."
Harper has criticized Chavez and his leftist economic policies in the past.
With files from The Canadian Press
