Those responsible for the aggression are war criminals, the Bolivarian diplomat stressed.

On Saturday, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil stated that the U.S. military aggression against Venezuelan territory, along with the kidnapping of President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, has revealed the true face of imperialism.

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In remarks to teleSUR, the top diplomat asserted that those responsible for these acts are “the true aggressors and war criminals” and demanded proof that the Venezuelan leader and the first lady are alive.

Gil said this vile and criminal attack has the central objective of seizing Venezuela’s strategic natural resources. To this end, the Trump administration has been spreading false narratives to justify its criminal actions within Venezuelan territory.

“Venezuela remains firm in the defense of its sovereignty and of the peace championed by President Maduro,” the diplomat said, reaffirming the determination of the Bolivarian government and people to confront any attempt at foreign subjugation.

“We know that behind this attack there is no other reason, no other motive, than the intention to appropriate natural wealth,” Gil said and lamented that the attack occurred just hours after President Maduro issued a message in favor of peace, dialogue and diplomacy.

“We are for peace and democracy, but we are also firm in defending our nation. We also know where the aggressors are,” the Venezuelan foreign minister said.

For several weeks, Venezuela had been denouncing before various international forums an escalation of U.S. illegal actions, including veiled threats, intimidating military movements and covert operations aimed at destabilizing the South American country.

Venezuelan authorities repeatedly warned that these maneuvers violate international law and the United Nations Charter, while alerting about the risk of direct aggression.

The U.S. military attack on Jan. 3 confirms the prior denunciations and demonstrates that the pressure strategy against Venezuela has escalated into open criminal action.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: teleSUR

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