Venezuelan president demands the return of Citgo

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has demanded the return of the company Citgo, a subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), after denouncing that it was stolen by the United States.

During his intervention in the program Con Maduro Más, the Bolivarian president rejected the coup plot to keep Citgo as a hostage, which has caused millions of dollars in losses to the Venezuelan oil company.

"The United States is not a safe country to make investments, to make purchases of companies, or to have economic activity.  But the United States gave Citgo to the extremist right-wing opposition and, simply, they are stealing a company that costs more than 12 billion dollars and that belongs to the Venezuelan people.  Citgo has been kidnapped by the United States."  

President Maduro stressed that Citgo was purchased, well managed and run by Venezuela and, in addition to the profits, it brought other benefits to Venezuela.  "Venezuela demands the immediate return of the company Citgo and the return of the 4 billion dollars owed to us after these four years of kidnapping," demanded the Venezuelan leader.

Nicolas Maduro said that despite the attacks from national and international media and social networks, the right wing will not install fascism in the Venezuelan streets.  "In Venezuela there is a consensus on four issues.  The first, to continue the path of construction and economic growth; the second, the rejection of the criminal sanctions imposed on the country; the third, the need to preserve peace and, the fourth, the need to completely rescue the social welfare state."

In this regard, he stated that his country will follow a path of peace, harmony, recovery, solidarity and love, in search of greatness, solidarity, life and progress.  Likewise, the President referred to the installation of peace dialogues between the Government of Colombia and the guerrilla of the National Liberation Army (ELN) and ratified all Venezuela's goodwill and willingness to help Colombia build peace.

"Peace in Colombia is urgent, it cannot be postponed, it is emerging, it is necessary.  Peace in Colombia cannot be delayed any longer.  It is a great opportunity that the government of President Petro is giving to achieve total peace," he said.