[News] Venezuela Rejects ‘Cynical’ US Report on Terrorism: ‘Sanctions Are the Real Terror’

[Anti-Imperialist News]

venezuelanalysis.com <https://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/15772>
Venezuela Rejects ‘Cynical’ US Report on Terrorism: ‘Sanctions Are the Real
Terror’
By Andreína Chávez Alava
------------------------------

Caracas, May 26, 2023 (venezuelanalysis.com) – The Venezuelan government
has rejected Washington’s continuous weaponization of its alleged fight
against terrorism.

On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken presented
<https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/us-says-cuba-still-not-cooperating-fully-against-terrorism-2023-05-23/>
to the US Federal Register a report singling out Venezuela, Cuba, Iran,
North Korea, and Syria for “not cooperating fully with United States
antiterrorism efforts.” Caracas responded by reaffirming its commitment to
combat terrorism and criticizing the political nature of the US’ “unfounded
accusations.”

“Every year, we have fulfilled our national and multilateral obligations in
this sensitive area,” read the statement
<https://mppre.gob.ve/comunicado/venezuela-rechaza-acusaciones-infundadas-eeuu-compromiso-lucha-terrorismo/>
published by Foreign Affairs Minister Yván Gil.

The communique pointed out Washington’s “cynical” stance on the matter,
recalling that the US government gave refuge to “confessed terrorists” such
as CIA-trained Cuban-born Luis Posada Carriles and Orlando Bosch, involved
in the 1976 bombing of a Cuban airliner that killed 73 people and a string
of sabotage attacks on consulates and travel agencies. Both resided in
Venezuela at the time of the terrorist operations and escaped to Miami,
Florida, where they lived freely. Neither was ever extradited despite orders
<https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/6529> emitted in 2005 by Venezuelan
justice authorities.

“During two centuries of the Monroe Doctrine
<https://venezuelanalysis.com/images/15485>, there are plenty of examples
of terrorist practices against our region that have been covered and
encouraged by Washington,” emphasized the statement.

Caracas likewise condemned the US’ “infamous war on terror” that has cost a
reported 4.5 million lives around the world and exacerbated global
insecurity with the proliferation of extremist groups.

The communique added that “coercion as foreign policy is the real
terrorism,” with one-third of the planet currently targeted by Washington’s
economic, political, and financial measures which have hindered countries’
development.

Since 2017, Venezuela has been under a wide-reaching sanctions program
<https://venezuelanalysis.com/images/15295>. The oil industry
<https://venezuelanalysis.com/images/15301> has been targeted by financial
sanctions <https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/13330>, an oil embargo
<https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/14268>, secondary sanctions
<https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15007> and a bevy of other measures from
the US Treasury Department with the goal of crippling the country’s main
source of foreign income. The blockade exacerbated an ongoing economic
<https://venezuelanalysis.com/images/15339> and migration crisis in the
South American country.

“Venezuela reiterates its call for the US to respect international law and
return to the practice of diplomacy in order to strengthen world peace,”
finished the statement.

The Caribbean nation has repeatedly denounced Washington’s economic war as
well as the illegality of sanctions. On Wednesday, Venezuelan Vice
President Delcy Rodríguez alerted to the dangers of US dollar hegemony as
it allows Washington to control the international financial system through
the SWIFT platform and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF-Gafi), the G7
global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog.

"Twenty-three years ago the world’s main trading partner was the United
States, now that role is occupied by a Eurasian nation," said
<http://www.minci.gob.ve/eurasia-esta-llamada-a-retomar-protagonismo-en-la-economia-mundial/>
Rodríguez in reference to China during the second Eurasian Economic Forum
held in Moscow. Beijing has become a significant ally and trading partner
for Venezuela and Latin America in recent decades.

Rodríguez stressed that the reconfiguration of the world for one where
justice, equality, and respect prevail will always be met with resistance
by the hegemonic power, but reassured that the Eurasian region will
eventually lead the world’s economy.

Over 2,700 representatives from 50 countries participated in the conference
which centered on Eurasian integration in a multipolar world.

In recent years, Venezuela has broken the international diplomatic blockade
imposed by Washington and has been present in the world’s most important
multilateral forums while also re-establishing ties
<https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15710> with Latin American countries.

On Wednesday, President Nicolás Maduro celebrated the renewal of bilateral
relations with Brazil after President Lula da Silva accepted the
credentials of Manuel Vadell, appointed by Caracas as the new Venezuelan
ambassador in Brasilia.

“The reestablishment of bilateral relations between Brazil and Venezuela,
with good spirit and commitment, is a great step forward,” Maduro wrote
<https://twitter.com/NicolasMaduro/status/1661535115347111936> on Twitter.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://freedomarchives.org/pipermail/news_freedomarchives.org/attachments/20230525/c6e5091f/attachment.htm>