Caracas, April 27 (teleSUR-RHC)-- Tensions that erupted last week between Spain and Venezuela after the Spanish government's attempts to meddle in the Latin American country's internal affair appeared to lessen on Sunday after conciliatory statements from both nations.

“Once President (Nicolas) Maduro has said that we will conduct our relations with mutual respect, we are more than happy to pick of up on his offer,” Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia said Sunday.

Garcia responded to Maduro's recent statement reaching out to Rajoy, adding that “with all probability, the ambassador to Venezuela will return to Caracas in the coming hours.” Maduro announced on Saturday that he seeks to improve diplomatic relations with the Spanish government after tensions flared following attempts by Spanish lawmakers to meddle in the Latin American country's internal affairs.

During a televised speech, the Venezuelan leader said: "Yesterday (Friday), the Spanish government issued a statement expressing its willingness to maintain positive relations with our government; and I welcome positive relations but they must be based on mutual respect. " Maduro added that his government is willing to cooperate in any efforts to improve diplomatic relations but emphasized that Venezuelan sovereignty must be respected.

Spain and Venezuela summoned each other’s ambassadors April 15 as accusations flew back and forth of a Venezuelan opposition crackdown and Spanish “racism” and “meddling.” Tensions rose over Spain’s support for jailed opposition leaders Antonio Ledezma, the mayor of Caracas, and Leopoldo Lopez, a right-wing political leader.

Lopez is accused of playing a role in protests against the government that left 43 people dead last year, while Ledezma has been linked to a recent coup attempt thwarted by the Maduro government.