Venezuelan foreign minister condemns Colombian statements

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil has condemned the diplomatic stance of Colombian Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo, and said that his country will no longer tolerate an attitude of discredit.

"He has turned Colombian diplomacy into microphone diplomacy, enough of talking about Venezuela, from here we can give the world lessons in true democracy," said the Venezuelan foreign minister.

He also added that "we will not tolerate one more word about the Homeland of Bolívar, he will deeply regret the consequences, we have already warned him. Stop the charlatanry concocted from the north!”

Yván Gil's message took place in response to the statement by the Colombian foreign minister, who pointed out that “diplomacy requires balance and mutual respect. President Gustavo Petro's position remains the same as it has been since the beginning and has not changed, and is guided by principles, not by threats or external pressures.”

The Colombian foreign minister said that “we will continue to promote transparency and democratic legitimacy, always with a focus on non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries,” this after issuing statements on his social network Twitter questioning the Venezuelan electoral system and the election of Nicolás Maduro as president.

For his part, Yván Gil, in response to Colombia's insinuations, said that “it seems that Foreign Minister Murillo acted in a pusillanimous manner when addressing the reality in our bilateral meeting, always adhering to respect for the sovereignty and independence of Venezuela while we reviewed the cooperation between both countries. However, before the microphones of the press, the blackmail he receives from the extreme right and from the United States of America comes to light, attacking him from behind, with false narratives that he is not able to discuss face to face.

Venezuela will respond in due time and will regret the constant interference in our internal affairs," he indicated.