Venezuelan Foreign Minister Describes Relations With Russia as Fraternal

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Venezuela has brotherly ties with Russia and is willing to continue developing this strategic partnership, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza said on Tuesday during a meeting with top Russian diplomat Sergei Lavrov in Moscow.

“Our strategic partnership is a brotherhood. It was confirmed in difficult times… We have more than 260 signed agreements, and 50 agreements are in the process of discussion,” Arreaza said.

“Multilateral coordination, bilateral relationship, we are always on the path of justice together,” he concluded.

“Of course, the main issue on the global agenda today is to ensure that no one questions the right of countries and nations to independently choose their path of development,” Lavrov said.

In January 2019, Venezuela was plunged into a political crisis when the former head of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, Juan Guaido, proclaimed himself interim president in a bid to oust re-elected President Nicolas Maduro from power. The United States and most Western countries endorsed Guaido and imposed crippling sanctions on Venezuela. The restrictions specifically targeted the country’s oil and financial industries. As a result, a total of $5.5 billion of Venezuelan assets have been frozen in international banks. Russia, China, Turkey, and several other nations have been supporting Maduro.

The Venezuelan minister is in the Russian capital on an official visit from June 21-23.

Sourse: sputniknews.com