Venezuelan Government Repudiates Statements by Barack Obama

Today, Venezuela’s government rejected statements by U.S. President Barack Obama on the situation in the country, noting that they represent a “new and rude interference … in the internal affairs” of the Caribbean nation.

“The Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela emphatically rejects declarations made on Wednesday, February 19th, by the President of the United States, Barack Obama,” the Ministry said in a statement, EFE reported.

The report states that the statements made by Obama on Wednesday are based on “false information and unsubstantiated assertions,” and regretted that [Obama] “continues assaulting a free and sovereign country of Latin America and the Caribbean whose policies, directions and decisions are the result of a democratically expressed popular will.”

The report also accused the United States of funding, encouraging and defending “the opposition leaders who promote violence” and notes that the Venezuelan government will “[take] necessary actions to impede U.S. agents from instilling violence and destabilization.”

Yesterday from Mexico, Obama condemned the violence in Venezuela and requested that Nicolás Maduro’s government address the “legitimate greivances” of its people, rather than divert attention by expelling U.S. diplomats with “false accusations.”

The president also urged the Venezuelan government to release protesters who have been arrested in opposition protests and to engage in “meaningful dialogue.”

The Venezuelan government blamed the U.S. for the violence that has marred the peaceful marches in Venezuela. On Sunday, it announced the expulsion of U.S. diplomats Breeann Marie McCusker, Jeffrey Gordon Elsen, and Kristofer Lee Clark.

The anti-government protests have been going on in Venezuela since Feb. 12, when a march organized by students and the opposition ended in violence, which Maduro attributed to the opposition’s plan to oust him with the consent of the United States.

Minister Elias Jaua accused officials at different levels of the U.S. of promoting violent groups and giving them financial support through “front organizations.”

Meanwhile, Maduro said this weekend that the United States made “unacceptable” demands for him to talk with the opposition and to stop legal action against opponent Leopoldo López.