In a letter sent to the Chairman and CEO of Agence France-Presse (AFP) Fabrice Fries, Venezuela’s Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza protested against the editorial line of the international news agency for its “virulent narrative” against the Venezuelan nation.
In the letter, the head Venezuelan diplomat referred to the AFP’s stance on Venezuela as bordering on “political propaganda and media warfare rather than the full exercise of journalism as set forth in its charter of ethics.”
After evaluating and assessing a series of reports broadcast at the beginning of the year, which reflected an unbalanced representation of the facts, Arreaza urged the media outlet’s board of directors to carry out a thorough review “that would lead to a positive change.” In Arreaza’s opinion, expressed on behalf of the Venezuelan government, the image of the Bolivarian Republic and the morale of the Venezuelan people are negatively affected by AFP, adding to the media game that is being played against the nation.
As reported by AFP:
As an example of AFP’s work, the Minister of Foreign Affairs mentioned the report entitled “Delivery Rooms, Death Rooms in Venezuela,” published at the end of January, in which factors that influence the healthcare situation in the country, such as the unilateral coercive measures imposed by the United States and its allies, were covered up.
In this regard, the Foreign Ministry assures that these criminal policies, which affect the well being of the Venezuelan people in their daily lives, also attack the State’s capacity to import critical products needed in the health sector.
Comparto la carta envié el 10 de febrero al Director de @AFP, con observaciones a su línea editorial sobre Venezuela. Recibimos una respuesta seria y respetuosa en la que reconocen algunos hechos e indican que hablarán con su equipo para revisar el contraste de las informaciones. pic.twitter.com/UtxRJjtDXp
— Jorge Arreaza M (@jaarreaza) February 28, 2021
“To qualify the delivery rooms as death rooms seems to reveal an interest in turning complex and regrettable situations into ‘clickbait,'” wrote Arreaza, referring to the sensationalist and deceptive title of the report.
Arreaza’s letter also mentioned the article “Herbs, ozone and a questioned antiviral, the miraculous promises of Maduro regarding COVID-19,” as an attempt to delegitimize the response of the Venezuelan Executive to the COVID-19 pandemic, which to date has generated positive results.
In addition, the article discredited the scientific work of Venezuelan professionals in effective treatments against the coronavirus. In this manner AFP “contributes to creating a climate of distrust and uncertainty.” Meanwhile AFP fully defended and lent unquestionable credibility to the vaccine created by the Pfizer Corporation one month before its validation by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Disinformation
The Minister asserted that the reporting of the French news agency presents a mixture of disinformation with skewed presentation of facts. Among other disappointing aspects, AFP often neglected to present details within the proper context
In keeping with this critique, Arreaza wrote that the Venezuelan people demand the cessation of the abuse of information to which they are exposed daily, and AFP’s exaltation of an unchallenged version of the country’s salient events.
RELATED CONTENT: Venezuela Condemns Disinformation Campaign by Germany’s DW
More respect from the media
Last February 10, the Chancellor also published a letter to the German media outlet Deutsche Welle (DW). He expressed his opinion that the editorial line of this agency “has fractured the most basic principles of journalism.” In addition to continuing the political and economic war on the Bolivarian Republic, DW “pursues the subjugation of the soul and mind of Venezuelans,” he wrote.
Likewise, he highlighted that its accurate treatment of information is marred by fake news. In addition, Arreaza decried DW’s employment—in common with AFP—of symbolic violence, and its simplification of the economic, financial and commercial blockade suffered by the Venezuelan nation
AFP’s responde
Arreaza did add in a tweet, that unlike DW, Agence France-Press issued “a serious and respectful response in which they recognized some facts, and indicated that they will talk to their team to review the contrasting information.”
Featured image: Headquarters of Agence France-Presse (AFP) in Paris. Photo: AFP/Francois Guillot
(RedRadioVE) by Daniela Jiménez
Translated by Orinoco Tribune
OT/SL/JRE
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