CARACAS, Venezuela – President Hugo Chavez insisted on Friday that he won’t accept the U.S. government’s nominee for ambassador and condemned President Obama’s designation of Venezuela as a country failing in counter-drug efforts.

Chavez dismissed the White House’s criticism of Venezuela on drugs, calling it a “new attack by the Yankee empire.”

Obama, in a memorandum released Thursday, named Venezuela along with Bolivia and Myanmar as “countries that have failed demonstrably during the previous 12 months to adhere to their obligations under international counternarcotics agreements.”

In response, Chavez lashed out at the Obama administration, calling it “an irresponsible government .”

Chavez has long said the U.S. uses the drug issue against him for political reasons, saying Venezuela is making significant drug efforts.

Chavez said the U.S. has wrongly appointed itself a judge of other nations, and asked: “Who gave the United States government that right?”

He read aloud a statement protesting the White House’s stance, and reiterated that his government will not accept nominee Larry Palmer to be U.S. ambassador.

“We wouldn’t allow him to enter Venezuelan territory,” Chavez said, adding that if Washington decides not to send an ambassador, that is the U.S. government’s prerogative.