Venezuela opposition takes control of diplomatic properties in U.S.

[MRubio]

Representatives of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido have taken control of three of the country’s diplomatic properties in the United States, Guaido’s U.S. envoy said on Monday, as the opposition presses its bid to oust socialist President Nicolas Maduro.

The envoy, Carlos Vecchio, said the opposition had gained control of two buildings belonging to Venezuela’s defence ministry in Washington and one consular building in New York. He added that the group expects to take control of Venezuela’s embassy in Washington “in the days to come.”

“We are taking these steps in order to preserve the assets of the Venezuelans here in this country,” Vecchio said from one of the buildings, the office of Venezuela’s military attache to Washington, after removing a portrait of Maduro from the wall and replacing it with one of Guaido.

Of 55 staff members, 12 decided to remain in the United States and support Guaido, Vecchio said on Monday. He added that his staff would work out of the attache building, which is located in the upscale Kalorama neighbourhood and has an assessed value of $2.2 million (£1.6 million), according to Washington property records.

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-venezuela-politics-vecchio/venezuela-opposition-takes-control-of-diplomatic-properties-in-u-s-idUKKCN1QZ2FJ?rpc=401&

[roody]

1. That's very dirty.

[MRubio]

2. Clever actually. This, on the other hand, is lower than whale shit.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/110866422

[MRubio]

3. Venezuela Denounces Unlawful Seizure of Diplomatic Premises in the US

The Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Jorge Arreaza denounced Monday that the country’s diplomatic premises in the United States have been forcibly seized by Washington-backed agents.

"In a clear violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, our diplomatic buildings have been seized", said Arreaza in an official statement, adding that according to the 1961 Convention "Venezuela's diplomatic assets in the U.S. can only be used by the official personnel that represent the democratic and constitutional government of President Nicolas Maduro."

Representatives of the Venezuelan lawmaker and self-proclaimed “interim president”, Juan Guaido, took control of two buildings belonging to Venezuela’s defense ministry in Washington and one consular building in New York Monday, said Guaido’s envoy Carlos Vecchio, with the connivance of the U.S. government.

This latest attack on Venezuela’s sovereignty comes as a blatant disregard of international law. According to Art. 22 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, “the premises of the mission shall be inviolable.” The article continues by assuring that the receiving State may not enter them, except with the consent of the head of the mission and is under a special duty to protect the diplomatic mission against any intrusion or damage.

https://www.telesurenglish.net/news/Venezuela-Denounces-Unlawful-Seizure-of-Diplomatic-Premises-in-the-US-20190318-0023.html

[roody]

4. The US does not care about international law.