Jan. - The member of the Political Bureau and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, during his speech at the Extraordinary Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), convened following the attack suffered yesterday by Venezuela, in which President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken hostage, warned about the dangers of Washington's intentions to reestablish a policy of interference through the use of force.
The Cuban Foreign Minister called for action with the strength and determination that the current circumstances demand to stop the war and abuse.
Rodríguez Parrilla warned about the dangers to the continent of Washington's intentions to reestablish a policy of interference through the use of force, which promotes interventions in the internal affairs of nations. In response to such intentions, he recalled that "Latin America is not a disputed territory, nor does it belong to anyone other than the sovereignty of its peoples."
The head of Cuban diplomacy emphasized that "Cuba rejects the brutal intention to impose by military force the Monroe Doctrine and its enshrinement in the current U.S. military doctrine."
For his part, the Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Yván Gil, confirmed during his intervention before CELAC members that Nicolás Maduro remains the president of the South American country "in full exercise of his mandate," despite being illegally kidnapped by the United States following the military attack last January 2.
"In Venezuela, there is a constitutional president, Nicolás Maduro Moros, who, although today is illegally kidnapped, continues to be the head of state in full exercise of his mandate," Gil declared.
The head of Bolivarian diplomacy emphasized that "today, Venezuela, despite the attack, is at peace and calm, its institutions function fully."
Gil stressed that the Venezuelan people "are united" and that all state structures are operating normally after the activation of constitutional mechanisms foreseen for this contingency.
In another intervention, the Nicaraguan Foreign Minister, Valdrack Jaentschke, emphasized that "from our Nicaragua, as brothers and sisters of Our Latin America and the Caribbean, we join the outcry of the entire world affirming that we will continue fighting so that International Law and sovereignty prevail. We call upon CELAC to demand respect for the sovereignty of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, a full member state of our organization."
The Nicaraguan diplomat emphasized the vital importance of adhering to the fundamental principles governing the Charter of the United Nations, highlighting the sovereign equality of states, the inalienable right of peoples to self-determination, the territorial integrity of nations, and the principle of non-interference in internal affairs.
“We join the call of the Vice President of Venezuela, comrade Delcy Rodríguez, to defend truth, justice, and life and to demand the immediate release of the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, comrade Nicolás Maduro Moro, and his wife, comrade Cilia Flores,” he concluded.
Representing Brazil, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira reaffirmed on Sunday at the virtual CELAC summit his country’s concern over the creation of a dangerous precedent for the international community with the United States’ attack on Venezuela.
During his speech, the minister also warned about the violation of norms in the aggression and kidnapping of President Nicolás Maduro, which constitute a grave attack against Venezuela’s sovereignty.
Vieira, echoing statements from President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, condemned the military assaults and described the U.S. action as a “serious affront.”
(Information from Granma)
