In Face of US Aggression Against Venezuela, Russia Calls for Dialogue

HAVANA, Cuba, Jan 3 (ACN) The Russian Foreign Ministry today condemned the United States' armed aggression against Venezuela and called for avoiding further escalation and preparing to find a solution through dialogue.

The Moscow government expressed in a statement its willingness to support exchange between the parties and reaffirmed that Latin America must continue to be a zone of peace, as proclaimed in 2014 by all the Heads of State and Government of the region.

It stated that "Venezuela must be guaranteed the right to determine its own destiny without any destructive interference, much less military interference from abroad."

According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Washington's pretexts to justify such actions are unfounded; ideological animosity has prevailed over business pragmatism, the willingness to build relationships of trust and predictability, the statement emphasizes.

Russia reaffirmed its solidarity with the Venezuelan people and its support for the course of its leadership, aimed at protecting national interests and the country's sovereignty.

It also supported the statement by Venezuelan authorities and the leaders of Latin American countries on the urgent convening of a United Nations (UN) Security Council meeting.

Below, the Cuban News Agency transmits in full the Statement of the Russian Foreign Ministry in relation to the armed aggression perpetrated this Saturday by the US against Venezuela:

This morning, the US has committed an act of armed aggression against Venezuela. This causes deep concern and condemnation.

The pretexts put forward to justify such actions are unfounded. Ideological animosity has prevailed over business pragmatism, the willingness to build relationships of trust and predictability.

In the developing situation, it is important, above all, to avoid further escalation and prepare to find a solution through dialogue. We proceed from the basis that all Parties with complaints against each other must seek ways to resolve problems through solutions elaborated by dialogue. We are willing to support them in this.
Latin America must continue to be a zone of peace, as it proclaimed itself in 2014. And Venezuela must be guaranteed the right to determine its own destiny without any destructive interference, much less military interference from abroad.

We reaffirm our solidarity with the Venezuelan people and our support for the course of its Bolivarian leadership, aimed at protecting national interests and the country's sovereignty.

We support the statement by Venezuelan authorities and the leaders of Latin American countries on the urgent convening of a UN Security Council meeting.

The Russian Embassy in Caracas is operating normally, taking into account the situation, maintaining constant contact with Venezuelan authorities and with Russian citizens in Venezuelan territory. So far, there is no information about affected citizens of the Russian Federation.