Foreign Minister Plasencia: 'Venezuela will exhaust all options to secure the release of diplomat Alex Saab' - MPPRE

Foreign Minister Plasencia: ‘Venezuela will exhaust all options to secure the release of diplomat Alex Saab’

In an interview with RT, Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia assured that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela will exhaust all option to secure the release of Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab, who was kidnapped by U.S. authorities.

In this regard the Venezuelan foreign minister stressed that the Venezuelan authorities will address all bodies “to defend the Venezuelan diplomat. It was an unthinkable kidnapping. We are going to insists on the defense of Ambassador Saab.”

Plasencia explained that the kidnapping of Ambassador Alex Saab affects dialogue; notwithstanding, “it does not mean talks have disappeared,” and said he said that talks will be resumed “at any moment.”

The Venezuelan foreign minister also mentioned the recent visit paid by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to Venezuela, and recalled an agreement was signed “to give relevance to law and work on the basis of complementarity. This means that we’re going to work and make efforts with the ICC prosecutor. We’re going to work with him on the basis of complementarity.”

Regarding Venezuela’s relations with Colombia, Plasencia pointed out that “the Venezuelan and Colombian people are very close; they’re the same people.” Therefore, Venezuela condemns “the destructive rhetoric of Mr. Duque, who doesn’t cease to attack the Venezuelan people.”

Plasencia also recalled that Venezuela has received over 6 million Colombians that have been displaced by the civil war in their country, and added that they have been provided with all the benefits and protections granted by the Venezuelan State such as nationality and housing.

Bilateral relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran

Foreign Minister Félix Plasencia said Venezuela’s and Iran’s commitment is to build a route for the benefit of their people and keep their stance in the face of other countries’ impositions.

“It is easy to understand that we’re aligned to defend the world energy markets. We stand united to reject foreign meddling, unilateral coercive measures and unilateralism.”