QUESTION: Do you have any details on Tom Shannon's meeting this morning with the Venezuelan opposition leader, please? What they discussed.

MR. MCCORMACK: I've actually got something on that and I'm somewhat surprised. No, seriously, let me tell you what's happened. Tom Shannon, our Assistant Secretary for Latin American Affairs, met this morning with Governor Rosales of Zulia state in Venezuela. As you know, he is a member of the opposition in that country and a rather prominent one at that. Tom had a good discussion with him about the general political situation in the country. He continues to hear from a wide range of people in and out of politics in Venezuela about happenings there. I'd note that he did also have a meeting with the Venezuelan Foreign Minister a couple of weeks ago up in New York.

I think Tom's main points in that discussion were to emphasize the desire of the United States to have a good and positive working relationship with Venezuela and that's in keeping with the longstanding friendship between our two countries. He also reiterated, as I think he did for some of your colleagues who were there on the scene, the fact that the United States remains committed to a democratic future and the development of democracy in Venezuela.

QUESTION: Did you offer any funding to the opposition?

MR. CASEY: Sue, we don't fund political parties or "opposition" groups. We provide support, as you know, for civil society organizations in a non-partisan way. The United States does not back any individual candidates or parties in Venezuela or anyplace else.