Venezuela: Resistance or disintegration?

[angelburst29]

Colombia rebels' new offensive brings back bad memories for businesses

FILE PHOTO: Former FARC commander known by his alias Ivan Marquez reads a statement that they will take they insurgency once again, in this undated screen grab obtained from a video released on August 29, 2019. FORMER FARC DISSIDENCE HANDOUT/Reuters TV via REUTERS/File Photo

When Colombian businessman Christian Ulloa heard that former members of the FARC rebels had rejected a peace deal with the government and launched a new offensive, he could not help but feel alarm.

Two decades ago, Ulloa’s father was held captive for seven months by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a Marxist rebel group that financed itself through kidnapping, extortion of businesses and drug trafficking.

A 2016 peace deal with the government was meant to end the FARC’s five decades of war but last week several former commanders announced they have rearmed because of what they said was the government’s failure to comply with the deal.

The offensive - which drew condemnation from other former fighters and the FARC’s new political party - could give pause to investors who have begun to look to Latin America’s fourth-largest economy as a stable destination for capital, according to industry groups and analysts.

The energy and agriculture sectors - which operate in rural places that often lack state presence - could in particular face security risks.

“It creates some uncertainty, some insecurity and some fear towards the future,” said Ulloa, who runs his family’s civil engineering consultancy, which advises oil, gas and infrastructure companies.

Some 13,000 ex-guerrillas are involved in a reintegration process. but it has been troubled by delays in payments to fund businesses for ex-fighters, plus the killing of dozens of ex-rebels and right-wing President Ivan Duque’s unsuccessful attempts to toughen the terms of the deal.

The former commander Luciano Marin, known by his nom de guerre Ivan Marquez, announced the return to arms in a video on Thursday and said his group would no longer use kidnappings as a financing tool, but would tax multinationals and illegal economic activity.

Marquez - one of the negotiators of the 2016 peace deal - did not specify what kind of illegal activity would be taxed. Before the peace deal the FARC regularly denied participating in drug trafficking, saying that it merely levied duties on traffickers.

The breakaway armed group will seek dialogue with business owners, ranchers, merchants and wealthy individuals to secure contributions to “the progress of communities,” Marquez added, without providing further details.

Some business leaders are confident the dissidents pose no major threat but said investors are watching cautiously nevertheless.

Juan Camilo Narino, the head of the Colombian Mining Association, said Duque’s government would be able to contain small groups of dissidents.

“If you look back a decade, one of the biggest worries for the private sector was insecurity because of these groups. It’s not like that now,” Narino said. “But without a doubt these are incidents, messages, which investors will note and based on which they’ll make future decisions.”

Dissident FARC rebels who reject the deal are unlikely to affect security in large urban areas, strategic consulting firm Control Risks said, but the guerrillas will likely stage attacks against energy infrastructure in rural areas.

“The new FARC is particularly likely to target mining and oil companies, especially fracking activity,” it added.

State-run Ecopetrol, the country’s largest oil company, suffers frequent pipeline bombings which authorities attribute to the leftist National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels - with whom the dissidents in the video said they would seek alliances.

Two FARC dissident fighters were recently convicted for an attack on Continental Gold Inc that killed three employees last year.

Dissident rebel forces number some 2,300, according to the military, with some based in areas important to the oil, gas and mining industries. Not all dissidents are under the command of the group of former FARC commanders.

The dissidents’ request for dialogue with business is “surely them looking to coerce in terms of extortion, in terms of kidnapping,” said Jorge Enrique Bedoya, the head of the Colombian Agricultural Society.

“The important thing is to back the government, back public institutions to fight against any criminal presence that is presented by these bandits and maintain investor confidence,” he said.

The government says dissidents are unlikely to affect investor confidence or the economy, which the International Monetary Fund says will have one of the highest growth figures in the region this year.

“There are deeper reasons for the investment dynamic in a country,” Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister Jose Manuel Restrepo told journalists last week. “Reasons related to monetary policy or fiscal policy, with the opportunities there are in an economy.” But despite government reassurance, some investors remain cautious.

“You can’t overestimate the capacity of these criminals in the face of a firm government and a committed armed forces,” said Colombian Ranching Association President Jose Felix Lafaurie. “But you can’t underestimate them either.”

Slideshow (2 Images)
Colombia rebels' new offensive brings back bad memories for businesses

 

[angelburst29]

U.S. to give additional $120 million to help Venezuelan migrants
The United States will give an additional $120 million in humanitarian assistance to help Latin America cope with the arrival of millions of Venezuelan migrants fleeing a crushing economic crisis, the State Department said on Wednesday.

Venezuela's Armed Forces Bank slams Mastercard for halting card service

A Venezuelan bank run by the troubled country's military on Wednesday slammed Mastercard for cutting off service to the bank's credit cards following U.S. sanctions against the government of President Nicolas Maduro.

Venezuela should spend money on food, not missiles: Colombia president

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro should spend his country's money on food, not on missiles, Colombian President Ivan Duque said on Thursday, amid renewed verbal sparring between the neighboring countries.

Venezuelans in Argentina get sense of deja vu as crisis builds

Andreina Pirrone left Venezuela for Argentina six years ago as her country was spiraling toward the worst humanitarian crisis in its history. She did not know what the future would hold, but she was certain it would be brighter.

Of interest on Argentina:
Argentina opposition front-runner strikes populist tone in Madrid, markets hold steady

Argentina's likely next president, opposition front-runner Alberto Fernandez, laid out his populist credentials during a visit to Madrid on Thursday, saying local Argentine interests would trump those of creditors and energy investors.

 

[1peacelover]

The United States said on Wednesday it will provide thousands of doses of HIV medication to treat Venezuelans in Colombia as part of regional efforts to manage care for millions of migrants fleeing the crisis-hit nation.

Hope its not the same medication they were giving out to the South Africans.

 

[angelburst29]

Sep 05 2019 - Russia: Many of Guaido’s Ministers Work for Organisations Funded by US NGOs

The US interference in Venezuela's internal affairs is confirmed by the fact that many ministers in a parallel government announced by Juan Guaido, the leader of the National Assembly, work for organizations funded by the US non-governmental organizations, Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said.

"We consider this decision [on a parallel government] yet another dangerous attempt to legitimize the existence of two separate powers and create a quasi-legal reality that will lead to the further polarisation of the Venezuelan society," Zakharova stated, Sputnik reported.

She added that there was no doubt as to who had encouraged this statement. "Apparently, the United States, having seen that using force to oust the legitimate Venezuelan authorities does not work, is trying to work out a new strategy to 'restore democracy' in this state," she continued.

"Of course, the lack of any legal basis in the actions of Washington can be seen clearly. Many of the so-called 'Guado's ministers' have long worked for the organizations that are being sponsored by the US NGOs," the spokeswoman noted.

Zakharova also stated on Wednesday that the new US representative office for Venezuela in neighboring Colombia is illegitimate, Sputnik reported.

"It is an absolutely illegitimate construct … We have questions about how exactly it will deliver on its stated objective of the so-called restoration of democracy, the constitutional order, the security and well-being of the Venezuelan people," Zakharova told reporters.
The US State Department announced last week the opening of the Venezuela Affairs Unit in Bogota, saying it would support Guaido.

Sep 05 2019 - Venezuela’s Maduro Deploys Air Defenses to Colombian Border Amid False Flag Attack Fears

Thu Sep 05, 2019 - President Nicolas Maduro is deploying missile defenses along Venezuela’s border to ward off a potential attack launched under false pretenses, he announced after declaring an “orange alert” over the Colombian threat.

Colombian President Ivan Duque has not only put his country “into a war that is raging, but now aims for a false positive to attack Venezuela”, Maduro said in an address broadcast on state TV on Wednesday,

Maduro warned that Duque could use a phony incident to “put together a cheap political show at the cost of an armed conflict” and hoodwink the international community into backing him.

Maduro ordered the deployment of Venezuela’s missile defense system and commanded the military to patrol the Colombian border for two weeks starting on September 10, without specifying any details. Earlier he declared an “orange alert against the threat of aggression of Colombia against Venezuela” on Tuesday, two days after Communications Minister Jorge Rodriguez presented satellite photos charging Colombia with harboring terrorist training camps.

Last week, the US opened a “Venezuela Affairs Unit” in its Colombian embassy, signaling that the effort to depose Maduro with the help of Venezuela’s neighbors is not winding down any time soon despite the repeated failure of US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido’s efforts to seize power.

Meanwhile, the US Air Force has completed its first deployment to Guyana in over a decade, having sent 600 service members on a four-month “humanitarian outreach” mission with an eye toward forging a lasting alliance with the country’s military.

The US has also stepped up its “humanitarian assistance” to Venezuelans living everywhere in the region except Venezuela, supplying $120 million through USAID as Washington continues to exert “maximum pressure” through choking Caracas with sanctions. The latest round, announced last month, included the seizure of all Venezuelan government assets in the US and threats to Venezuela’s allies that they will be hit with secondary sanctions if they continue to do business with Caracas, while Presiden Donald Trump floated the idea of a naval blockade.

Venezuela opposition parties back Guaido as congress chief in 2020

Venezuelan lawmakers from small opposition parties on Friday said Juan Guaido should continue as head of congress in 2020, waiving their option to lead the legislature under an informal agreement to rotate leadership between parties.

 

[angelburst29]

Sep 07 2019 - Venezuela Prosecutors to Charge Guaido with 'High Treason'

Venezuelan prosecutors announced on Friday they would charge opposition leader Juan Guaido with "high treason" for planning to renounce the country's claim to a disputed border area controlled by Guyana.

Guaido, the National Assembly speaker who proclaimed himself the interim president, is being investigated for negotiating to renounce "the historical claim our country has on the territory of Esequibo", Attorney General Tarek William Saab told reporters, Sputnik reported.

"We have initiated an investigation," Saab said at a televised press conference, of Guaido's involvement “in an illegal negotiation behind the country's back that intends to withdraw the historical claim our country has on the territory of Esequibo”, adding that “the facts imply a crime of treason”.

State prosecutors successfully petitioned the country's Constituent Assembly to lift Guaido's parliamentary immunity in April. Aside from treason, he already faces several other charges, including one of "usurping the functions of the president".

While the United States, the European Union and the majority of Latin American countries recognise Guaido, Russia, China, Turkey, Iran and a number of other nations view Nicolas Maduro as the only legitimate president of Venezuela. He remains free, continuing to rally support against Maduro.

Maduro also appeared on television on Thursday to call on prosecutors to file treason charges on Guaido for allegedly plotting to hand over Esequibo to multinational companies, including Exxon Mobil.

The current case is based on audio recordings which allegedly involve a US administration official urging an advisor to Guaido to "deliver the Esequibo" to Exxon Mobil and other multinationals, according to the prosecutors.

Esequibo is a resource-rich 159,000 square kilometre territory, which has been disputed between Guyana and Venezuela since the 19th century. The dispute escalated in 2015 after a "significant" oil discovery announced by Exxon Mobil.

Maduro also stated that the Venezuelan government will not re-engage in its talks with opposition as long as Guaido refuses to abandon his intentions to sell the disputed Guayana Esequiba region.

The government and the opposition have held several rounds of talks mediated by Norway to resolve their disagreements which led to the eruption of a political conflict in Venezuela in January, when Guaido proclaimed himself an interim president at the criticism of Maduro.

 

[angelburst29]

Killings, torture still going on in Venezuela: U.N. rights chief

The United Nations human rights chief said on Monday that extrajudicial killings appeared to be continuing in Venezuela and the Special Action Forces (FAES) presumed to be responsible had received support from the highest levels of government.

Comment - Nothing but pure speculation - no facts and no evidence - to back up her claims! Bachelet is a disgrace to her U.N. position and duties. The U.N. needs to do an internal audit and investigation into her activities?

 

[angelburst29]

Sep 11 2019 - Lavrov: US Seeks to Rewire Latin American Landscape for Its Own Needs

Washington's Policy in Latin America is only aimed at pursuing selfish US interests in the region, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with the National Institute of Information of Suriname published on Wednesday.

"Unfortunately, Latin America and the Caribbean now find themselves under serious pressure. We are deeply concerned over the US attempts to rewire Latin American political landscape for its own needs, in the spirit of the revived Monroe doctrine. What Washington has done is to usurp the right to use force where it sees fit based on its own assumptions in order to overthrow governments it is not satisfied with for whatever reason," the Russia’s top diplomat noted, according to TASS.

Lavrov emphasized that that such Washington’s steps "disrupt the foundations of regional security and stability, lead to the polarization of Latin American societies".

The foreign minister recalled that in its relations with the countries of this region, Russia, on the contrary, adhered to the principles of respect for sovereignty and honoring international law.

"Russia has consistently advocated a politically united and economically stable Latin America - only under this condition the region will be able to assert itself as one of the pillars of multi-polar world order. We aim to work collaboratively with everyone who shares our approaches in order to maintain peace and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean," he pointed out.

Lavrov also noted that such cooperation is facilitated by the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (the Treaty of Tlatelolco), which is the first international instrument that makes an entire region a nuclear-free zone.

"We are ready for further fruitful cooperation with our Latin American partners on strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime," Lavrov added.

Venezuela's Maduro says he will skip U.N., but envoys will slam U.S. sanctions

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said on Thursday he will not travel to New York for the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly later this month, but that two of his envoys would attend to denounce U.S. sanctions on the OPEC nation.

EU to give Colombia 30 million euros in aid for Venezuelan migrants

The European Union will give 30 million euros ($33 million) in aid to Colombia to help the Andean country grapple with an influx of Venezuelan migrants fleeing economic and political strife at home, EU Foreign Policy Chief Federica Mogherini said on Thursday.

Venezuela ex-general fights U.S. extradition, cooperation in doubt

Venezuela's ex-military intelligence chief told a Spanish court that Washington was fabricating drug-trafficking charges in its extradition request, throwing into doubt future cooperation with the U.S. push against Venezuela's socialist rulers.

Venezuela government, opposition talking despite stalled Norway-backed dialogue: sources

A group of Venezuelan government officials and opposition activists are quietly holding talks focused on the economy despite the stalling of a formal dialogue mediated by Norway, according to nine sources involved.

Colombia's armed forces on alert over Venezuela military exercises

The Colombian military is on alert in response to Venezuelan armed forces exercises along the two nations' border that Colombia considers an open threat, a senior military commander said on Wednesday.

 

[angelburst29]

Venezuela investigates Guaido over photo with suspected Colombian criminals

Venezuela's state prosecutor's office said on Friday it would open an investigation into Juan Guaido after the interior minister presented photos on state television showing the opposition leader in the company of two suspected members of a Colombian drug-trafficking group.

Sep 14 2019 - Venezuelan Prosecutors Say Opened Probe Into Guaido Alleged Links to Colombian Drug Cartel

The Venezuelan Prosecutor General’s Office opened an investigation into suspected links between opposition leader Juan Guaido and the Colombian drug cartel of Los Rastrojos, Prosecutor General Tarek William Saab said.

After receiving strong evidence of Juan Guaido’s links to the Los Rastrojos drug cartel that was published within recent hours, the Prosecutor General’s Office announces a decision to open a criminal investigation,” Saab declared on Friday, quoted by a tweet from the Prosecutor General’s Office, RIA Novosti reported.

The prosecutor general cited photos published by the Spanish newspaper El Pais which show Guaido together with the leaders of Los Rastrojos. The photos were reportedly made in February.

According to Saab, it was the drug cartel that helped Guaido to cross the Colombian-Venezuelan border despite the entry ban imposed on the opposition leader by Caracas.

Guaido told the Blu radio broadcaster that he had made hundreds of photos with various persons during a humanitarian concert in the Colombian border city of Cucuta. “It was difficult to understand, who asked me for photos,” the opposition leader stated.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro stated that allegations suggesting Guaido was linked to Los Rastrojos resulted in a significant scandal in Colombia. "The criminal alliance [of Guaido] with Los Rastrojos armed drug gang caused a huge high-level scandal in Colombia," Maduro insisted, addressing a meeting of unidentified political activists.

The Venezuelan president stressed that the Colombian people were aware of crimes committed by Los Rastrojos. "The Colombian people know that this is a gang that kills people every day. Guaido made a photo with four most dangerous criminals, not one of them," Maduro added.

The Colombian foreign ministry announced that two people who were in a photo with Guaido had been detained in June. "Two men from the photo, disseminated by media, have been detained to date. They are suspected of illegal arms trafficking and criminal group's membership," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

According to the statement, Bogota did not assist Guaido in crossing the border with Venezuela but did ensure his safety when he was in Colombia.

Sep 14 2019 - Venezuela Says It Will Defend Itself After US Invokes 1947 Defence Pact

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza stated on Friday his country is ready to defend itself if invaded.

We are ready to protect ourselves, we are ready to react," Arreaza said at a news conference in the wake of meeting with United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet in Geneva, according to AFP.
"We will let no one trample sacred Venezuelan soil, we will respond and hope that never happens,” he added.

Arreaza’s comment comes in response to the invocation of a 1947 Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, known as TIAR or the ‘Rio Treaty’, earlier this week, by the US and ten other nations. According to the treaty, of which Venezuela is a party, every country must treat an attack on any member as an attack on itself.

"Recent bellicose moves by the Venezuelan military to deploy along the border with Colombia as well as the presence of illegal armed groups and terrorist organizations in Venezuelan territory demonstrate that [Venezuelan President] Nicolas Maduro not only poses a threat to the Venezuelan people, his actions threaten the peace and security of Venezuela’s neighbors," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced in a statement retweeted by US President Donald Trump on Thursday.

On Tuesday, Venezuela's armed forces said they had begun mobilizing 150,000 troops for military exercises on the Colombian border, after accusing Colombia of attempting to spark a military conflict, according to the Buenos Aires Times report.

On Friday, Arreaza stated that the military exercise is Venezuela’s “constitutional obligation to protect its territory”, adding that “it is not a provocation” to a military conflict.

 

[Voyageur]

Arreaza’s comment comes in response to the invocation of a 1947 Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance, known as TIAR or the ‘Rio Treaty’, earlier this week, by the US and ten other nations. According to the treaty, of which Venezuela is a party, every country must treat an attack on any member as an attack on itself.

"Recent bellicose moves by the Venezuelan military to deploy along the border with Colombia as well as the presence of illegal armed groups and terrorist organizations in Venezuelan territory demonstrate that [Venezuelan President] Nicolas Maduro not only poses a threat to the Venezuelan people, his actions threaten the peace and security of Venezuela’s neighbors," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced in a statement retweeted by US President Donald Trump on Thursday.

On Tuesday, Venezuela's armed forces said they had begun mobilizing 150,000 troops for military exercises on the Colombian border, after accusing Colombia of attempting to spark a military conflict, according to the Buenos Aires Times report.

Invoking reference to the 1947 treaty with the other moves by Columbia - with the mobilization (for self-protective reasons) of Venezuela's troops, seems a new level of this high stakes situation. Provocations and false flags may also be high in effort to grab world headlines and promote hardlines.

 

[angelburst29]

Venezuela's opposition says Norway-mediated dialogue with Maduro 'is finished'
Venezuela's opposition said on Sunday a dialogue mediated by Norway to try to resolve a political crisis had ended, six weeks after President Nicolas Maduro's government suspended participation.

Venezuela's Guaido considering attending U.N. general assembly: envoy

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido is considering attending the United Nation's General Assembly in New York this month but has not yet reached a decision, the opposition envoy to the United States, Carlos Vecchio, said on Monday.

 

[angelburst29]

Venezuela releases opposition lawmaker after four months in custody

Venezuelan authorities released opposition lawmaker Edgar Zambrano from custody on Tuesday, four months after his arrest on treason charges, a move his allies said was a result of popular pressure, not a sign of goodwill from President Nicolas Maduro.

Florida banking group pushed for sanctions exemption for ordinary Venezuelans
An industry group representing Florida banks pushed for an exemption to U.S. sanctions on Venezuela that were issued last week, executives said on Tuesday, arguing the measures had affected customers with no ties to President Nicolas Maduro.

Spanish court calls U.S. extradition request for Venezuela ex-spymaster politically motivated
Spain's High Court rejected a U.S. request to extradite Venezuela's former spy chief on drug trafficking charges this week after determining the U.S. action was politically motivated, according to a court document released on Tuesday.

U.S. targets three people, 16 groups in new Venezuela sanctions
The United States imposed sanctions on Tuesday on three people and 16 groups it says helped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his government profit from food aid in the economically struggling country, the Treasury Department said.

Venezuelan government mulls sending lawmakers back to opposition assembly

Venezuela's government said on Monday it was evaluating sending some of its lawmakers back to the opposition-controlled National Assembly, which President Nicolas Maduro has called an illegal institution, as part of new talks with one opposition faction.

 

[angelburst29]

Kremlin says Venezuela's Maduro due in Moscow soon for talks

MOSCOW September 20, 2019 - The Kremlin said on Friday that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was due in Moscow soon for talks.

Russia has been one of Maduro’s biggest backers in the face of what it has described as unacceptable U.S. efforts to undermine him, providing loans and help for Venezuela’s military and oil industry.

Maduro left Norwegian mediators in the dark about side deal: Venezuela opposition negotiator

Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro attends a rally against U.S. President Donald Trump in Caracas, Venezuela September 12, 2019. Miraflores Palace/Handout via REUTERS

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro did not inform Norway's foreign ministry, which is mediating a dialogue between his government and opposition leader Juan Guaido, about a side deal with a smaller sector of the opposition before it was announced earlier this week, a member of Guaido's negotiating team said on Wednesday.

Guaido, leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, over the weekend declared the Oslo-backed talks dead more than six weeks after Maduro walked away in protest over U.S. sanctions. The opposition said the government had no interest in discussing their main priority: a new election.

The government responded on Monday by announcing a deal with smaller opposition parties to resolve the South American country’s deep political divide by reforming the National Electoral Commission, accused of bias in favor of the ruling socialists. That deal was not backed by Guaido’s allies.

“The Norwegians had no idea what was happening,” Gerardo Blyde, one of Guaido’s representatives to the talks, said in an interview. “There is bad faith on Maduro’s part. He was playing on two fields. When it became difficult for him he secretly created another option.”

 

[angelburst29]

Sep 21 2019 - Drug Cartel Member Captured on Photo with Guaido Detained in Venezuela
Deputy Minister of Communications Jorge Rodriguez stated that Venezuelan security forces have captured Colombian drug cartel Los Rastrojos Ivan Posso Pedrozo in an operation conducted in Zulia state.

Rodriguez showed a video where Ivan Posso Pedrozo, also known as "Nandito", speaks about an operation where he participated in transporting US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido from Venezuela to Colombia, Sputnik reported.

According to the report, Los Rastrojos kept the photos with Guaido "for the future", since they agreed that "when Guaido was president of Venezuela the cartel would have a free corridor".

Prior to this, the president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Diosdado Cabello, shared some photographs of Guaido with leaders of the Los Rastrojos drug cartel, apparently taken on 22 February, the day when Guaido arrived in the Colombian border town of Cucuta, where so-called humanitarian aid from the United States and a number of other countries was being collected, in order to help deliver the supplies to Venezuela despite the fact that the legitimate government had refused to accept the aid.

Sep 22 2019 - 13 Million Venezuelans Sign Petition to Protect Sovereignty

More than 13 million Venezuelans signed the petition to protect national sovereignty against US economic sanctions, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced on Saturday.

"I extend my congratulations to the great anti-imperialistic march of our people that filled the streets of Caracas with a beautiful act of love and patriotism to deliver 13,287,742 signatures for peace and national sovereignty," the Venezuelan leader stated, according to TASS.

It is noted that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will receive all the signatures.
The petition was opened for signing on August 10 after US imposed a new package of economic sanctions on Venezuela, where approximately 28 million people reside.

Venezuela has been enduring a severe social and economic crisis in the last few years, accompanied with a sharp devaluation of national currency - Bolivar. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is predicting that inflation on Venezuela can reach 10 million percent by the end of the year. The UN estimates that around 4 million people have already left the country.

 

[angelburst29]

Sep 25 2019 - Putin: Russia Backs Venezuela's Legitimate Authorities, Welcomes Dialogue with Opposition

Moscow supports Venezuela's legitimate authorities, including the institution of the president, as well as the dialogue of the country's leader Nicolas Maduro with the opposition forces, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with Maduro on Wednesday.

Putin backs Venezuela talks rejected by opposition leader

Russian President Vladimir Putin backed negotiations between Venezuela's government and opposition groups that have been rejected by the leader of the main opposition to President Nicolas Maduro.

On Tuesday, Maduro arrived in the Russian capital of Moscow, accompanied by Oil Minister Manuel Quevedo. Both Venezuelan officials are likely to visit the office of Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA, opened in Moscow earlier in September, according to a source.

Sep 25 2019 - Venezuela Delegate Reads Book to Snub Trump during UN Speech

A member of the Venezuelan delegation attending the United Nations General Assembly has apparently snubbed US President Donald Trump while he was addressing the international body.

Sep 25 2019 - US Triples Regime-Change Aid to Guaido, Doling out $52mln to Restore ‘Democratic Governance’ in Venezuela

The US announced it’s giving another hefty allowance to the Venezuela opposition in addition “to hundreds of millions of dollars” it already provided, pledging “full support” to self-declared ‘interim president’ Juan Guaido.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) earmarked $52 million “in development assistance” to help Guaido and his supporters “restore citizen-responsive, democratic governance to their country”, Administrator Mark Green announced Tuesday, according to RT.

The funds would go towards supporting the opposition-controlled National Assembly, declared illegitimate by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in 2017, as well as to prop up “independent media, civil society, and restoration of the health sector”.

Sep 24 2019 - Venezuela to Prosecute Politicians Who Smuggled Guaido into Colombia

Venezuelan state prosecutor Tarek William Saab issued arrest warrants on Monday for officials thought to have helped opposition leader Juan Guaido sneak into Colombia despite a travel ban.

A member of the criminal gang, identified as Ivan Posso, testified on camera that several senior Venezuelan officials had contacted Colombian paramilitary to smuggle Guaido to the concert.

"Arrest warrants were issued for Tachira deputy governor Loryis Silva, Boca de Grita prefect Luz Marina Pernia, La Fria prefect Camilo Roso Suarez and driver Jonathan Zambrano Garcia, known as Poor Patron," the attorney general’s office tweeted.

Saab stated that the four-faced treason charges for helping Guaido cross the state border illegally.

Sep 24 2019 - Maduro: US Plans to Disrupt Venezuela’s Parliamentary Polls in 2020

The United States seeks to disrupt the 2020 parliamentary polls in Venezuela, the Latin American country’s President Nicolas Maduro said in an interview with Rossiya-24 TV channel broadcast on Monday.

"I can personally warn the international community that the US government with its extremist policy and non-traditional war against Venezuela is already considering plans of disrupting the parliamentary elections," Maduro stated, noting that Venezuela has data confirming these plans. (Guess - that's what the (USAID) is earmarked for?)

 

[angelburst29]

Sep 27 2019 - Maduro: Caracas Has Moscow's 'Full Support' on Defense Industry Cooperation

Venezuela has Russia's full support on bilateral defense industry cooperation, the Latin American country's President, Nicolas Maduro, said after returning from his trip to Moscow.

"We have received the full support of Russia and President Vladimir Putin in all areas of defense industry cooperation [...] Venezuela has one of the most advanced armament systems in the world," Maduro stated after arriving in Caracas from Moscow, Sputnik reported.

"I discussed this issue with President Putin and he reaffirmed Russia's full support to allow Venezuela to strengthen its combat readiness and armament systems for protecting the sovereignty and national peace," Maduro added.

Moreover, a Venezuelan delegation also discussed investment in the Latin American country's mining and food products industries with Russia's leadership.

"We discussed all the issues concerning investment to unlock opportunities for the involvement of the Russian capital and technologies in projects to develop Venezuela in various areas - gold, aluminum, coal, nickel and food products industry," Maduro said.

Maduro added that during his recent visit to Russia, Caracas and Moscow had agreed upon a new road map of cooperation in economic and industry, as well as the transfer of technologies and new investments in the Latin American country, which would help it grow and recover.

"A part of our delegation stayed in Moscow — a group of ministers, deputy ministers, heads of organizations — to discuss the details [of cooperation] with Russian ministers," Maduro continued.

The president also noted that the sides had agreed upon a cooperation plan for various industries which "guarantees a fruitful end of the year".

Maduro visited Moscow for talks with Putin, which were held on Wednesday. During the negations, the two presidents agreed upon a plan of economic and industrial cooperation, according to Maduro.

The Kremlin Spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, has noted that Maduro and Putin had also discussed the "continued" defense industry cooperation.

Venezuela opposition leaves U.N. with 'gestures of support' but no breakthrough
During their week representing Venezuelan congress chief Juan Guaido at the U.N. General Assembly, an opposition delegation received words of support from U.S. President Donald Trump, funding from the United States, and pledges of stronger action from Latin American and European countries.

U.N. launches investigations into killings, torture in Venezuela
The United Nations Human Rights Council agreed on Friday to set up an international fact-finding mission to document violations in Venezuela, including torture and thousands of summary executions.

Leader of Colombia's Los Pelusos crime gang killed, president says

The top leader and founder of Colombia's Los Pelusos crime gang has been killed in an operation led by the national police, President Ivan Duque said on Friday.