Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs Yván Gil. Photo: Venezuelan Ministry of Foreign Affairs/File photo.
On Monday, Foreign Minister Yván Gil outlined Venezuela’s reality amid the threat posed by the United States military deployment in the Caribbean. He noted this during a meeting of foreign ministers of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) held in New York City within the framework of the United Nations General Assembly.
“There is no dispute between Venezuela and the United States. It is false that there is. What exists is an attempted military aggression, promoted by political elements within the United States against a sovereign country,” he said.
Gil noted that humanity is currently experiencing difficult times, and it seems that international law is “systematically violated by the powerful.” He addressed the threat to CELAC’s Zone of Peace, proclaimed in 2014, and expressed his gratitude for the nearly unanimous statement of CELAC countries in defense of the proclamation.
“In recent weeks, we have seen how the military deployment, promoted by certain sectors of the United States, has become the greatest threat to the zone of peace in Latin America and the Caribbean, so to speak, since the notorious missile crisis of the 1960s, including the current deployment of a nuclear submarine in this area,” he explained.
He emphasized that this action not only threatens the peace and stability of Venezuela but also threatens the entire region.
Lies to justify military aggression
The Venezuelan foreign minister reiterated that a blatant lie has been used as an excuse to carry out this military deployment. “The pretext of combating illicit drug trafficking, specifically narcotics, originating in South America, has been used. Venezuela has been falsely accused of facilitating these routes, which is why it must be militarily threatened,” he said.
Gil emphasized that in the 25 reports from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) prior to this year, Venezuela has been declared a territory free of illicit drug cultivation, free of narcotic production, and that it plays a marginal role in money laundering and transport for drug trafficking.
“Venezuela’s commitments are absolutely aligned with the commitments we have made as an international community to combat drug trafficking,” he said, adding that the same report from the aforementioned agency states that 87% of drug trafficking leaving South America transits through the Pacific Ocean, contrary to the location of the US military deployment. Meanwhile, 8% leaves through Colombia’s La Guajira, and only 5% attempts to pass through Venezuela.
He highlighted the highly effective drug control program implemented by Venezuela, “and 70% of the drugs that attempt to pass through Venezuela, 5%, are actually captured.”
He also asserted that this United Nations data is supported by reports from the United States, the country that carried out this deployment. Yet, their reports do not mention Venezuela as a relevant territory in the trafficking, processing, or laundering of drug proceeds.
“The huge lie that has been woven about Venezuela has been evidenced. It has become the argument to threaten the zone of peace we proclaim in Latin America.”
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Venezuela bets on peace
Gil also reported on President Nicolás Maduro’s efforts to deter and prevent any attempt to generate conflict in the Caribbean region.
“We have prepared our nation with the means at our disposal, with the available mobilization, with all our people active to deter and prevent a conflict from breaking out in our region. We have committed to peace,” he reaffirmed.
He added that the Venezuelan president sent a letter to Trump, “leaked by the United States itself, in which he details the falsity they are trying to fabricate against the country regarding drug trafficking. He asks that dialogue and peace be the path to be taken in this situation.”
The foreign minister asked CELAC to commit to developing a peace agenda in the region to preserve this precious asset.
(Ăšltimas Noticias) by MarĂa Eugenia RodrĂguez
Translation: Orinoco Tribune
OT/JRE/SF
