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VENEZUELA-POLITICS-EU-DIPLOMACY
Venezuela rejects EU plea to reconsider expulsion of German ambassador
CARACAS, March 8, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro’s
government ruled out a change of heart on its expulsion of the German
ambassador Thursday after the European Union urged it to reconsider.
Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza wrote on Twitter that Daniel Kriener “has
been declared persona non grata in strict adherence (to) the Vienna
Convention on Diplomatic Relations.”
His rebuke came after the EU spoke of its hopes Venezuela would change its
mind.
“We regret the fact that the German ambassador to Venezuela is pressed to
leave the country in spite of a tense and complex political context,” said
Maja Kocijancic, spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini.
“The European Union has been keen to maintain lines of communication with
all key parties in Venezuela including the government of Mr. Maduro.”
Maduro’s government on Wednesday gave Kriener 48 hours to leave the country
over “interference” in its internal affairs. He had greeted returning
opposition leader Juan Guaido at Caracas airport on Monday.
Guaido, who is recognized as interim president by more than 50 countries,
has launched a challenge to Maduro’s authority and is trying to force out the
socialist leader to set up a transitional government ahead of new elections.
“Venezuela expects the European Union will rediscover BALANCE and
RECONSIDER its position of permanent interference in our internal affairs,
it’s clear alignment Washington’s aggressive strategy and its support for the
unconstitutional actions of the extremist opposition,” said Arreaza.
Kriener was among more than a dozen foreign representatives who welcomed
National Assembly leader Guaido when he returned to Caracas following a 10-
day tour of South American allies, flouting a government travel ban to do so.
So far, though, Kriener is the only one to have been deemed “persona non
grata.”
Kriener had tried to help bring humanitarian aid to the country, Guaido
said in a speech to opposition lawmakers, adding: “It seems that the Maduro
regime does not forgive anyone who wants to help Venezuela.”
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that kicking Kriener out only
“aggravates the situation.”
Guaido posted a photo of him meeting Kriener at the National Assembly on
Thursday morning and said he was rejecting “the threats from the usurper’s
regime,” in a reference to Maduro.
He and the opposition-controlled legislature consider Maduro illegitimate
over his controversial re-election last May in polls boycotted by the
opposition.
“We remain strongly committed to a peaceful and democratic solution to the
current crisis in Venezuela,” Kocijancic told a press conference in Brussels.
She recalled the EU’s leading role in setting up the international contact
group, where she said Germany plays an “active” role.
Guaido said Kriener’s expulsion will be seen “as a threat to the free
world.”
The European Union last month condemned Caracas for its use of armed
supporters and violence to prevent the entry of humanitarian aid into
Venezuela.
BSS/AFP/GMR/0829 hrs