Brazil declared itself “surprised” this Saturday by the Venezuelan government’s decision to revoke the authorization he had to represent Argentina’s interests in Caracas and guard its diplomatic facilities, which he recalled are “inviolable.”
«The Brazilian Government stresses the inviolability, in accordance with the Vienna Convention, of the facilities of the Argentine diplomatic mission, which currently houses six Venezuelan asylum seekers, as well as its assets and archives»the Foreign Ministry said in a note.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that “will remain in charge of the custody and defense of Argentine interests until Argentina designates another acceptable State” for the President’s Executive Nicolas Maduroin order to carry out these functions.
Since August, Brazil has been responsible for safeguarding the diplomatic missions of Argentina and Peru in Venezuela, as well as representing their interests and citizens in the Caribbean country, following the expulsion of members of both delegations, after rejecting the proclamation of Maduro as the winner of the July 28 elections.
However, several opponents of the Maduro government have denounced that since Friday night security agents have surrounded the Argentine embassy in Caracas, “taken over” the accesses to it and cut off the electricity.
Edmundo Gonzalez
This episode represents a new point of friction in the relationship between Lula and Maduro, which has been strained in recent months due to the Venezuelan electoral process.
Lula has not recognized either Maduro’s victory or that of opposition leader Edmundo González Urrutiathe latter supported by part of the international community, and has insisted on the publication of the electoral records in a detailed manner.
“I think Maduro’s behavior is disappointing (…) As president, he should prove that he was the favorite of the Venezuelan people, but he does not do it.”Lula said on Friday in an interview with a local radio station.
Lula, along with his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petroand to a lesser extent with the Mexican leader, Andres Manuel Lopez Obradorhave unsuccessfully attempted to mediate between the parties for the disclosure of these minutes, which the opposition made public on the Internet with a result largely in favour of González Urrutia.
Following the publication of these documents, the Prosecutor’s Office opened a criminal investigation and issued an arrest warrant against González Urrutia, accusing him of “usurpation of functions”, “forgery of public documents”, “inciting disobedience”, “conspiracy”, “sabotage to damage systems” and “association to commit crimes”.
Maduro’s victory was declared by the National Electoral College (CNE) and later ratified in a controversial process that Maduro himself promoted before the Supreme Court. EFE
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