Venezuelas udenrigsminister Jorge Arreaza
Venezuelas udenrigsminister Jorge Arreaza
Den venezuelanske opposition har "lobbyet for sanktioner" i Washington imod Maduro regeringen, beskylder nu Maduro for de økonomiske sanktioner som Trump har påført, fortalte udenrigsminister Jorge Arreaza til RT.

I et interview med spansk RT, talte Arreaza om de massive krigsøvelser som er sat istand på tværs af Venezuela tidligt i lørdags, bringende 900.00 mennesker sammen, deriblandt 200000 soldater og hundredtusinder af civile militsmedlemmer.

"Alle mennesker i Venezuela, alle højtstående militært personel vil tage del i disse øvelser til at forberede at forsvare os, vores territorie, vores suverænitet, inklusiv med miltære midler," fortalte han RT efter mødet med FNs Generalsekretær Antonio Guterres i New York.


Kommentar: Denne artikel er delvis oversat til dansk af Sott.net fra: Venezuela - 'opposition lobbied in US for sanctions, now they blame Maduro'


Earlier in August, Donald Trump said that Washington has prepared a range of measures against Venezuela, "including a possible military option if necessary."

"I hope that we won't experience such barbarity in our age,"the minister said, but warned that "if Venezuela is attacked, rest assured that the Armed Forces of the Bolivarian Republic, the people of Venezuela, would defend their territory, their integrity, dignity, independence and sovereignty to their last breath."

On Friday, the White House also announced a new batch of painful sanctions against Venezuela, which banned the new bonds issued by the country's government as well as dealing with the state-run Venezuelan oil company, PDVSA.

The US has labeled Venezuela's leader, Nicolas Maduro, a dictator over his handling of the political crisis in the country, which has seen over a hundred people killed in clashes this year.

"We will take all possible steps to protect our citizens. We have all the resources required to do so," Arreaza said.

In case the US the sanctions have a negative effect on Venezuela's economy and its population, "the responsibility for this will be borne exclusively by US President Donald Trump and the military-industrial complex, which is in control of US policy," he added.

The Foreign Minister urged the people of Venezuela to "take a unified stance" on the issue of US sanctions, adding that "we'll need all our wits to resist the threats and consequences of those measures."

According to the diplomat, the country's pro-American opposition has played a key role in restrictions being introduced against Caracas.

"So that you understand what kind of opposition we have - they have been lobbying, going to Washington to achieve those sanctions against Venezuela," he said.

"Now they are trying to convince the people of Venezuela that the sanctions are the fault of (Venezuela's president) Nicholas Maduro. This is completely absurd... and the world must know this," the FM added.

Maduro's political rivals have "betrayed their homeland" by urging sanctions against their own country and should be held accountable for this, he said.

"We need a serious opposition in Venezuela... which loves its homeland despite all the ideological differences that we have," Arreaza explained.

Caracas wants the international organizations, like the UN, to "performed the function, which they were created for" and condemned the US actions, the FM stressed.

"The most natural reaction would be to recognize that sovereignty of our country must be respected, curb attempts of interfering into the internal affairs of Venezuela and refrain from adopting a policy of unilateral sanctions that violate the principles of international law," he said.