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VENEZUELA-EU-POLITICS
Venezuela expels EU ambassador over fresh sanctions
CARACAS, Feb 25, 2021 (BSS/AFP) – Venezuela on Wednesday expelled the
European Union’s ambassador to Caracas in response to new sanctions, giving
the Portuguese envoy 72 hours to leave the country and raising the bloc’s
renewed ire.
Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza announced the move against ambassador
Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa two days after EU foreign ministers agreed to
sanction 19 Venezuelan officials for “undermining democracy.”
“Today, by decision of President Nicolas Maduro, we presented to Mrs
Isabel Brilhante… her declaration as persona non grata,” Arreaza told
journalists.
“She has been given 72 hours to leave Venezuelan territory.”
In Brussels, the EU demanded Venezuela reverse its decision.
“The EU profoundly regrets this decision, which will only lead to further
international isolation of Venezuela. We call for this decision to be
reversed,” said spokeswoman Nabila Massrali.
“Venezuela will only overcome its ongoing crisis through negotiation and
dialogue, to which the EU is fully committed but which this decision
undermines directly.”
Maduro issued a warning in a televised address.
“We would not have wanted to do this, we’re doing it against our will,
because we want to have the best relations with all of Europe,” said Maduro.
“But we cannot accept that anyone attacks Venezuela, sanctions Venezuela.
“Either you rectify it or there will be no relationship with you, of any
type.”
– ‘Arrogance of the dictator’ –
Venezuela’s National Assembly, controlled by Maduro’s party, called
Tuesday for the government to expel the ambassador following Monday’s
decision by the EU, which brought to 55 the number of regime members targeted
by asset freezes and travel bans by the bloc.
The EU expanded the list after rejecting a December legislative election
that saw Maduro win control of parliament after an opposition boycott.
The election results were not recognized by the EU, the United States or
several Latin American countries.
Until the win, the National Assembly had enjoyed an opposition majority
with Juan Guaido at the helm as speaker — the only branch of government not
under Maduro’s control.
Guaido is considered Venezuela’s legitimate head of state by some 50
foreign governments, while Maduro is subject to Western sanctions and labeled
a dictator over alleged voter fraud and other abuses.
“The arrogance of the dictator after the (electoral) fraud is isolating
him ever more from the world and he plans to drag the country down with him,”
Guaido wrote on Twitter.
– ‘Illegal’ –
The EU said Monday that individuals on the expanded list are “responsible,
notably, for undermining the opposition’s electoral rights and the democratic
functioning of the National Assembly, and for serious violations of human
rights and restrictions of fundamental freedoms.”
Among the newly-sanctioned officials are two members of the National
Assembly, the governor of Zulia state, the commander of the armed forces and
three members of Venezuela’s electoral council, including its president.
“The sovereign decisions not to deal with those that commit human rights
abuses or undermine democratic institutions, remain an important tool for
restoring democracy,” said James Story, the US ambassador to Venezuela, who
is based in Colombia.
Arreaza on Wednesday described the European measures as “illegal”.
“Hopefully there will be reflection in the European Union, hopefully we
will be able to rebuild the bridges of understanding, of dialogue, hopefully
they will learn to respect,” he said after giving the ambassador her marching
orders.
The bloc began imposing sanctions on Venezuela in 2017 and has also
imposed an embargo on arms that could be used in internal repression.
In June, after a previous round of European sanctions, Maduro had also
declared Brilhante Pedrosa persona non grata and gave her 72 hours to leave
the country. When the deadline passed, however, the government backed down.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 0812 hrs