Caracas, October 25th, 2020
[crear_boton_PDF]https://mppre.gob.ve/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Venezuela-denounces-flagrant-violation-of-the-Vienna-Convention-by-the-Kingdom-of-Spain.pdf[/crear_boton_PDF]Venezuela denounces flagrant violation of the Vienna Convention by the Kingdom of Spain
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela denounces the flagrant breach of the fundamental provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations by the Government of the Kingdom of Spain, expressed through incessant interfering actions in its relationship with the Venezuelan State and its institutions. The unprecedented and continuous violation of the international agreement that governs civilized relations between the States dates back to at least to 2017 and has been carried out in Venezuelan territory directly by the Spanish Ambassador accredited in Caracas.
After Ambassador Jesús Silva was expelled on January 25th, 2018, as a result of repeated interferences in internal affairs, it was agreed with the Spanish authorities that the return in April of that year, under a renewed commitment to respect Venezuelan and international laws. On the contrary, the biased diplomatic practice of the Spanish representative became more notable, to the point of sheltering, under a nonexistent and anti-legal figure, in the Spanish residence, a fugitive condemned by the Venezuelan justice, responsible, among other crimes, of the death and injuries of hundreds of Venezuelans in 2014.
Despite the fact that the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation committed on several occasions not to allow the political action of the coup fugitive, Leopoldo López, from his official residence, reality was very different. Just for referring to a single fact, from inside the Spanish diplomatic residence, under the knowledge of Ambassador Silva, at the beginning of 2020 López planned the mercenary Operation Gedeon, a terrorist action with the participation of US mercenaries, whose aim was to assassinate President Nicolás Maduro, as well as other Venezuelan leaders, with the intention of sowing violence and destabilization in the country.
As a consequence of such a grotesque, shameless and gross violation of the Vienna Convention, today it is clearly verifiable that the head of the Spanish diplomatic mission in Venezuela acted as the main organizer and confessed accomplice of the announced escape of the criminal Leopoldo López from Venezuelan territory. This is an unacceptable and incomprehensible action within the framework of a historic bilateral relationship between the two nations.
In this way, the Kingdom of Spain actively participates in the illegal escape of a dangerous criminal and decides to receive him in its territory, without regard to international laws and even Spanish immigration laws and bilateral agreements on justice.
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela considers that the anti-diplomatic and hostile practice of the Spanish State towards Venezuela, in clear disregard to the most elementary principles of International Public Law, will leave a deep and indelible stain that will be the object of study in the institutions dedicated to diplomatic training in the world, as a series of erratic and illegal actions, characteristic of a diplomacy impregnated with anachronistic colonialist reminiscences.
Finally, it is worth emphasizing that the institutions of the Venezuelan State will fulfill their constitutional obligation to carry out the necessary investigations and to establish the responsibilities and sanctions corresponding to the crimes committed, in strict adherence to Venezuelan and international laws and to the guarantee of due process.