Itamaraty sees with surprise the offensive tone of Venezuela’s demonstrations about Brazil
Itamaraty released a note this Friday, the 1st, in which it says that the Brazilian government “notes with surprise the offensive tone adopted by demonstrations by Venezuelan authorities in relation to Brazil and its national symbols”.
This Thursday, the 31st, the Bolivarian National Police of Venezuela published on its social networks a photo with the Brazilian flag in the background and the silhouette of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT) along with the message: “Who messes with the Venezuela is doing badly”, highlighting the country’s Interior Minister, Diosdado Cabello.
The message comes amid the escalation of diplomatic tensions between the PT member and the neighboring country following the Brazilian veto on Caracas’ entry into Brics. The relationship between Lula and Maduro has been shaken since the elections in Venezuela in July, permeated by allegations of fraud. The Brazilian government has not yet recognized the Venezuelan president’s victory.
Also read: Maduro’s police send a message to Lula on the networks: “Anyone who messes with Venezuela will be in trouble”
“The option for personal attacks and rhetorical escalations, replacing political and diplomatic channels, does not correspond to the respectful way in which the Brazilian government treats Venezuela and its people”, adds the note.
Itamaraty also said that Brazil “has always had great appreciation for the principle of non-intervention and fully respects the sovereignty of each country and especially that of its neighbors”.
Regarding the Venezuelan elections, Itamaraty said that the Brazilian government’s interest is justified by “the status of witness to the Barbados Agreements, for which it was invited, as well as for monitoring the July 28 election”.
“The Brazilian government remains convinced that partnerships must be based on frank dialogue, respect for differences and mutual understanding”, concludes Itamaraty in the note.
‘Persona non grata’
On Tuesday, after the special advisor to the Brazilian Presidency, Celso Amorim, confirmed that the veto was a government decision, Venezuela raised its tone once again.
The president of the National Assembly, Jorge Rodríguez, proposed that a motion be approved declaring Amorim persona non grata in the country, while the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry called the ambassador to Brazil, Manuel Vadell, back to Caracas for consultations, and summoned the charge d’affaires of the Brazil at the embassy, Breno Herman, for talks.
In diplomatic language, the movement is a strong demonstration of displeasure with the actions of another country.
Brazil, however, until now had opted for silence. The change of decision came with a threatening post made by the Venezuelan National Police on its social networks, according to a diplomatic source.
The decision to respond was taken this Friday, in a meeting between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mauro Vieira, and President Lula, when it was assessed which limits had been crossed, said the Brazilian diplomatic source.
The relationship between Brazil and Venezuela has been deteriorating since the controversial elections in the neighboring country, when the Brazilian government began demanding the release of the minutes of the election, which has not happened to date. Lula then decided not to recognize the results of the elections, in which Maduro was declared re-elected.
(with Reuters and Estadão Conteúdo)
