In the opinion of US Ambassador William Brownfield, Venezuelan Vice-President José Vicente Rangel was kidding when he labeled as "toilet paper" the annual report on human rights issued last week by the US State Department.

"I think that my good friend, the Honorable Vice-President was joking a little bit with us when he referred himself to the report as toilet paper, because, as you know, my government is a government of the 21st Century and we do not use paper for our reports. It is an electronic report. Therefore, in no way he was serious," Brownfield said.

The diplomatic noted that his government is ready to discuss the report and that they respect the right of the Venezuelan Government to give its opinion.

"All in all, we are willing, ready and eager to have a public and private dialogue on the report. The Government has the right to express and give its opinion."