Venezuela sends protest note to EU delegation for Borrell's statements
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"Venezuela respects itself, we will no longer tolerate interference in our country, the European Union must address its problems, [and] its plans against our democracy have failed as always," Venezuela's FM said on X
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European Union Foreign Policy chief Josep Borrell speaks during a joint press conference wit Lebanese Foreign Minister Abdallah Bouhabib, in Beirut, Lebanon, on September 12, 2024. (AP)
The Venezuelan government sent a protest note to the EU delegation in Caracas against the bloc's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell's interference in the country's affairs, according to Coromoto Godoy, vice minister for european affairs of the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry.
The note was sent in response to the EU diplomat's recent statements describing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's government as a dictatorship and authoritarian regime.
"I handed a note of protest to the head of the European Union delegation, Rachel Roumet, after the ongoing interventionist statements of High Representative Josep Borrell. Venezuela respects itself, we will no longer tolerate interference in our country, the European Union must address its problems, [and] its plans against our democracy have failed as always," Godoy wrote on X on Tuesday.
Hice entrega de una Nota de Protesta a la Jefa de la Delegación de la Unión Europea, Rachel Roumet, tras las continuas declaraciones iinjerencistas del Alto Represente Josep Borrell. Venezuela se respeta, no vamos a tolerar más intromisiones en nuestra patria, la Unión Europea… pic.twitter.com/n8RN5YZ1RK
— Coromoto Godoy Calderón (@GodoyCoromotoVE) September 17, 2024
EU's Borrell in 'ash heap of history': Venezuela's FM
Borrell "is leaving politics with blood on his hands," having failed in his repeated attempts to harm the Venezuelan people by inventing fictional governments, Venezuela's Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto said.
"When we refer to the 'ash heap of history,' we are pointing to the place where Borrell is—going from one interview to another as the spokesperson for evil," Gil Pinto said.
He took aim at the EU foreign policy chief, who "doubly failed in his attempts to harm the Venezuelan people, inventing fictitious governments [Guaido 1.0 and 2.0]."
The top Venezuelan diplomat indicated that Borrell "has turned the European Union into a crumbling, pro-war colonial institution."
"Pathetic! This is how we in Venezuela describe the dark legacy of someone like Borrell," he added.
Venezuela warns Spain against 'interference'
On Thursday, Venezuela recalled its ambassador to Madrid for consultations and summoned Spain’s envoy to Caracas for discussions, following remarks by Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles, who referred to Maduro’s administration as a "dictatorship" and expressed support for "the Venezuelans who had to leave their country" due to his government.
Addressing the matter during an interview for private Spanish television channel Telecinco, Borrell cited that over 2,000 individuals had been "arbitrarily detained" since Venezuela’s presidential election on July 28, which the opposition claims were rigged.
He claimed that political parties in Venezuela are "subjected to a thousand limitations on their activities" and opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia "has had to flee" to Spain.
"What do you call all this? Of course, this is a dictatorial, authoritarian, dictatorial regime. But just saying so doesn't solve anything. What we need to do is to try to solve it," said Borrell.
Following a meeting with Spain's ambassador, Venezuela's top diplomat released a statement asserting that Caracas would "accept no interference from the Spanish government" and would "take the necessary steps... to protect its sovereignty."
Spain granted asylum to Venezuelan opposition figure Gonzalez Urrutia, with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez meeting with the far-right opposition candidate on Thursday.
