Venezuelan Envoy: Maduro to Counter US Interference

Alcalá Cordones made the remarks on Monday, on the sidelines of a meeting with university students at Venezuela’s embassy in Tehran, where Iranian academicians and college-goers voiced their support for the people of Venezuela.

“Some early measures and solutions have been undertaken and devised under the guidance of President Nicolás Maduro,” the diplomat told FNA, adding, “In addition to the national army of Venezuela, an army is being formed by common people volunteers to counter any probable move of the US” against the oil-rich country.

The envoy also added that there are some measures being put into practice in areas of economy, specially in empowering sectors of agriculture and animal husbandry.

Alcalá Cordones added that some move are being carried out to support the masses of people socially.

“Our late commander, Hugo Chávez made great efforts and restored the historical bonds of our people,” he said, when asked what measures were put into practice in terms of increasing cultural awareness for fighting colonization and preventing the deception caused by US propaganda.

“The people of Venezuela are very wise and vigilant and the Constitution has encompassed in all its letters the rights of people. So the decisions of the Venezuelan people are based on their high level of understanding and wisdom,” he highlighted.

He underlined that the number of people fallen into US propaganda is small, adding, “Even the small number of opposition groups and protestors have enjoyed the benefits of the cause of President Chávez.”

“The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela belongs to all people of this country. We are not going to allow a small fraction benefit from interests. Both the majority of Venezuelans who are supporting the Bolivarian Revolution and the current administration and the small number of protestors are to benefit from their country,” he asserted.

In a related front, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, in a phone conversation with his Venezuelan counterpart Jorge Arreaza on Friday, voiced Tehran’s strong support for the legal government in Caracas, and condemned the US’ interfering role in the Latin American country.

Zarif said that Iran supports the legal government in Venezuela and the country’s people in the face of all plots, particularly those hatched by Washington.

The top Iranian diplomat made the remarks in a phone conversation with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza on Friday amid massive protests organized by the US in the Latin American country.

The Iranian and Venezuelan foreign ministers discussed possible avenues for countering the US plots against independent countries, particularly Venezuela, through international channels.

Zarif and Arreaza also exchanged views about ways to strengthen negotiations between the Venezuelan government and the opposition groups and find a political solution to the ongoing conflict between the two sides.

At least 10 countries, including Russia, Turkey and Iran, have expressed their support for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and condemned outside interference in Caracas.

China, which has backed Venezuela’s sovereignty, said it opposed any outside interference. Bolivia, Mexico and Cuba all supported the Venezuelan president.

Maduro on Friday ordered the closure of Venezuela’s embassy and consulates in the US after Washington threw its weight behind opposition leader Juan Guaido, who declared himself interim president earlier this week.

Earlier on Friday, Advisor to the Iranian Parliament Speaker Hossein Amir Abdollahian said that the US’ role in instigating riot and chaos in Venezuela epitomizes Washington’s double standard approach to international relations.

“Trump continues his intervention and the blatant abuse of Venezuela’s internal conditions and insists on instigating riots and civil war in the country, instead of respecting democracy and pushing the opposition towards a national dialogue,” Amir Abdollahian wrote on his Twitter page.

“This is another example of the United States and its allies’ double standards,” he added.

In a related front, Iranian foreign ministry called for the peaceful settlement of the crisis in Venezuela, stressing support for the country’s government and nation against foreign intervention.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi reacted to the recent political developments in Venezuela and the US overt and unlawful interventions in the country’s domestic affairs on Thursday.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran supports the government and the nation of Venezuela in the face of any foreign intervention in the country’s internal affairs or any illegal or anti-popular actions, such as attempts to stage coups,” he said.

Qassemi expressed the hope that any political disagreements in Venezuela would be resolved as soon as possible by the people and government of the country through adoption of legal and peaceful solutions.

Following the US’ recognition of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the interim president of the country, Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro said Wednesday that Caracas was breaking diplomatic relations with the US, giving American diplomatic personnel 72 hours to leave the country.

Maduro stressed that the US had attempted to stage a coup in Venezuela, and vowed to fight for the Venezuelan people’s right to peace and a sovereign government of their choosing.

“We’ve had enough interventionism, here we have dignity, damn it!” he said in a televised address from the presidential palace.