Turnaround in Venezuela. Caracas has given up on expelling the ambassador from the European Union, the Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs and the head of European diplomacy announced on Thursday July 2.

"The Venezuelan government has decided to annul the decision taken on June 29, 2020, by which Ambassador Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa, head of the European Union delegation in Caracas, was declared persona non grata," the statement said. public in Brussels after a telephone interview between the two senior officials.

Minister Jorge Arreaza and Josep Borrell "agreed on the need to maintain the framework for diplomatic relations, especially at times when cooperation between the two sides can facilitate the path of political dialogue," the statement said.

"Both have agreed to promote diplomatic contacts between the parties at the highest level, in the framework of sincere cooperation and in accordance with international law," the statement said.

In response to EU sanctions

The European Union on Tuesday called on Venezuela to reverse its decision to expel its representative in Caracas and warned it was ready to take "reciprocal measures" against the Venezuelan ambassador to the EU. The latter, Claudia Salerno, also represents the interests of Venezuela with Belgium and Luxembourg.

President Nicolas Maduro had given Monday 72 hours to the head of the European Union delegation in Caracas to leave Venezuela, in reaction to the sanctions adopted the same day by the EU against eleven Venezuelan officials involved in actions against opposition.

Several MEPs have been added to the EU blacklist, including Luis Parra who tried to replace Juan Guaido in May as President of the Parliament.

Juan Guaido is recognized as interim president of Venezuela by around fifty countries. 

The head of European diplomacy has repeatedly stated that "only a solution negotiated between the Venezuelans will allow the country to emerge from its deep crisis".

With AFP

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