- Title: Venezuela summons group of European Ambassadors to protest 'meddling'
- Date: 4th September 2017
- Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (SEPTEMBER 4, 2017) (REUTERS) VENEZUELAN FOREIGN MINISTRY INTERIOR COURTYARD STATUE IN FOREIGN MINISTRY VENEZUELAN FOREIGN MINISTER, JORGE ARREAZA, ARRIVES AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN FOREIGN MINISTER, JORGE ARREAZA, SAYING: "We summoned these ambassadors, we handed them a strong and blunt note of formal protest for their meddling, for their conduct in Venezuela, involving themselves in Venezuela's internal problems, as well as to the authorities within their countries who have voiced opinions on the same (subject)." VARIOUS, ARREAZA AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN FOREIGN MINISTER, JORGE ARREAZA, SAYING: "We want to have the best relations, not only with Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom; with all the countries on planet earth, but they should be founded in respect towards our sovereignty, in respect for Venezuelan democracy, and to the functioning of its institutions. We told the ambassadors that we hope these situations do not repeat themselves, and if that were the case, we will have to evaluate diplomatic measures of greater and deeper magnitude." ARREAZA SPEAKING AT NEWS CONFERENCE CLOSE-UP OF ARREAZA ARREAZA AT CONCLUSION OF NEWS CONFERENCE
- Embargoed: 18th September 2017 20:03
- Keywords: Venezuela Foreign Ministry diplomatic complaint Jorge Arreaza
- Location: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- City: CARACAS, VENEZUELA
- Country: Venezuela
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016X6LWZR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: In Caracas on Monday (September 4), Venezuela's Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza summoned ambassadors from Spain, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom to issue a note of protest accusing them of meddling in Venezuela's internal affairs.
The Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Jorge Arreaza held a news conference Monday (September 4) after lodging the formal diplomatic complaint with the four European countries.
There has been widespread criticism of Maduro around Europe, with French President Emmanuel Macron last week saying his administration was "a dictatorship trying to survive at the cost of unprecedented humanitarian distress."
Last week Venezuelan human rights activist Lilian Tintori, the wife of Venezuela's best-known detained political leader, was barred from flying out of the country to go to Paris, Madrid, Berlin and London even after several European ambassadors accompanied her to the airport.
Arreaza said Tintori was not able to leave the country because she was due in court this week to answer questions over a stash of cash that police had found in her car.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is expected to address the opening day of a three-week U.N. Human Rights Council session on September 11. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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