The Minister of Defense, Vladimir Padrino López, responded Monday to the calls made by the United States to the Venezuelan military high command.
“They have come out with the blackmail of telling us, if you announce yourself against the Constitution and legitimate authorities, you will be exempt from what they call sanctions, and we have responded loud and clear telling them that we prefer sanctions but also, the fatherland,” he said. He also emphasized that “there are no sanctions that disrupt or break the dignity of the fatherland”
Padrino López ordered military barracks through out the nation to begin the collection of signatures, calling for peace, to be delivered to the White House “to make clear for history what the people want: their dignity and the desire to wind up with prosperity, harmony and peace in a united Venezuela.”
On Monday, US Senator Marco Rubio assured the Venezuelan military high command that they will have “immunity” and the United States will “honor” them if they recognize the opposition leader Juan Guaidó as “interim president of Venezuela.”
Translated by JRE/EF
