Venezuela Urges CELAC to Condemn US Threats Against Regional Zone of Peace
Caracas (OrinocoTribune.com)—On Monday, Venezuelan Minister for Foreign Affairs Yván Gil urged the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to condemn the United States government’s policy of harassment against Venezuela and to demand the immediate withdrawal of US warships from the Caribbean Sea.
“The United States has concentrated military assets near the Venezuelan coast,” Gil stated. “We are speaking of eight vessels with more than 1,200 missiles on board and trained troops who have announced they are ready and prepared to invade the sacred soil of our homeland, violating the Zone of Peace and the Treaty of Tlatelolco.”
He spoke at an emergency virtual meeting convened by the Colombian government, which holds the pro-tempore presidency of CELAC, in response to the US military deployment.
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Warning of regional destabilization
“Any armed conflict against Venezuela, using a false pretext such as drug trafficking, when we have demonstrated significant achievements in this area, would truly mean complete destabilization of the entire region,” Minister Gil warned.
Before the CELAC member countries, the top Venezuelan diplomat reiterated that Venezuela is free of illicit crops.
“We have maintained this over time, thanks to the work of our Bolivarian National Armed Force (FANB) and all the efforts carried out by the national government against drug trafficking gangs,” he added.
Citing UN figures on drug trafficking
In addition, Minister Gil cited UN figures, widely circulated in recent weeks, indicating that only 5% of the cocaine that leaves production centers in Colombia and heads to the United States attempts to pass through Venezuelan territory.
“Of that 5% … 70% is seized thanks to operations” by the FANB and the police, he said.
Minister Gil, who was also representing the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – People’s Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP), thanked Gustavo Petro’s administration for organizing the summit.
Latin America and the Caribbean in the Face of US Desperation
He reiterated Venezuelan support for all actions proposed by Colombia, in its capacity as pro-tempore president of CELAC, to “take a step forward in defense of the Zone of Peace in the event of any armed conflict against Venezuela.”
The extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers of CELAC was held online to allow member states to exchange views on the regional situation within a framework of respect for the principles of international law, state sovereignty, cooperation, and integration.
Featured image: Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil addressing participants in an emergency CELAC meeting convened by Colombian President Gustavo Petro to address US military threats. Photo: Venezuela’s Foreign Ministry.
Special for Orinoco Tribune by staff
OT/JRE/SL
