The Venezuelan government decision not to renew a broadcast license for private TV channel Radio Caracas Televisión (RCTV) is beyond a bilateral issue with the United States, said Tom Shannon, US Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs.

Shannon expected that the member countries of the Organization of American States (OAS) would include this item in their agenda.

"As far as we are concerned, thinking that two countries have a quarrel is a mistake. On the contrary, it has nothing to do with bilateral relations; it is linked with a much bigger issue," Shannon told reporters on the occasion of the 37th Meeting of the OAS General Assembly held in Panama.

"It is important to understand that the point at issue is not between the United States and Venezuela. It is an internal affair of Venezuela that has attracted the attention, not only of the countries in the Americas, but also Spain, the European Union (EU),  and many non-governmental organizations, such as Reporters Without Borders, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International."

"What we are proposing then, is to give OAS and the Secretary-General the opportunity to consult and report, and based on this information, to reach a better understanding (about the RCTV case) among OAS member states, but also of all other countries and organizations concerned," Shannon said in Spanish.