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EU urges Venezuela to reverse decision on Spanish envoy expulsion

Iran Press TV

Fri Jan 26, 2018 01:51PM

The European Union has lashed out at Venezuela for expelling Spain's ambassador, urging Caracas to reverse the decision and retain diplomatic relations.

"The EU firmly condemns the decision by the Venezuelan authorities to declare the Spanish ambassador in Caracas a persona non grata," European Commission spokeswoman Catherine Ray said at a regular news conference on Friday.

She added, "We call for the decision to be reversed as it goes against the need to keep diplomatic channels open."

Venezuela's Minister of Foreign Affairs Jorge Arreaza announced on Thursday that his country is expelling the Spanish ambassador, Jesus Silva Fernandez, following a move by Madrid and other European Union countries to impose sanctions on Venezuelan officials over alleged human rights violations.

His expulsion came in response to Spain's "continual aggressions and repeated meddling in the internal affairs of our country," said the minister.

Venezuela acted three days after the 28-nation bloc decided to include some senior Venezuelan officials in its sanctions blacklist over an ongoing political conflict in the country.

Diplomatic sources said Thursday that new sanctions would be imposed on seven senior Venezuela officials over their alleged role in rights abuses committed against opponents since a new wave of anti-government protests erupted in the South American country last year.

Venezuela believes that Spain has played a leading role in imposing the EU restrictions.

The Commission spokeswoman also said, "We recall that the decisions taken by the EU in matters of foreign affairs are taken unanimously by all member states."

In December, the Venezuelan government decided to expel the top diplomats of Brazil and Canada over accusations of meddling in Venezuela's domestic affairs.

Venezuela's Constituent Assembly decided to expel Brazil's Ambassador Ruy Pereira and Canadian chargé d'affaires, Craig Kowalik, on December 23, declaring them "personae non gratae."

Venezuela has been gripped by political bickering in recent months. There has also been political violence in the country, where the opposition has led street protests against Maduro in the past months over an acute economic crisis that has led to a fall in living standards in the oil-rich country.

Maduro's government maintains the protests, which cost the lives of 125 people last year, are meant to undermine the rule of law in the country and are backed by some foreign powers.

Maduro accuses the opposition of capitalizing on economic woes of Venezuela, which he says are directly linked to a slump in the global oil prices, to topple his government.

The Venezuelan president sent his government representatives to a new round of talks with the opposition Democratic Unity Roundtable in the Dominican Republic on Thursday, in a bid to find a negotiated settlement.