Events in Venezuela Reminiscent to What Happened at the Beginning of Crisis in Syria: Diplomat

DAMASCUS, (ST)- The Venezuelan Ambassador to Syria Imad Saab has stressed that the US sanctions on his country reflect “a policy based on threat, violence and foolishness,” calling for respecting Venezuela’s sovereignty and independence.

In a press conference at the embassy headquarters in Damascus on Wednesday, Saab said the sanctions imposed by the United States on President Nicolas Maduro are “an aggression, because sanctions are imposed by the party which has a right to, but the United States can’t sanction the Venezuelan people and their president.”   

Saab  talked about the violent events in Venezuela over the past months and the attacks on unarmed civilians and security forces with arms by opposition-backed armed groups that get their orders from imperialism. He said “what is going on in Venezuela is reminiscent to events at the beginning of the crisis in Syria.”

 The Venezuelan diplomat referred to the continuous calls of President Maduro on the opposition to sit to dialogue table and to abandon all things that lead to violence and extremism. He stressed that Maduro had called for holding the elections of the constituent Assembly in order to rebuild the Venezuelan state and prepare a new constitution for the country.

 He mocked at the remarks made by some countries’ leaders who claimed that the elections were illegal, saying that the “turn out in these elections reached 41,5% despite the opposition’s threats.”

He concluded his statement by stressing that the Venezuelan army and armed forces are the only guarantor for security in the country and for protecting citizens, noting that the procedures adopted recently by the Venezuelan government aimed at preventing the flow of gunmen across borders.

Following the press conference, Saab read the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry’s statement that condemned the US decision to impose sanctions on President Maduro and the Venezuelan government, stressing that these sanctions are flagrant violation of international law and human rights.

Hamda Mustafa