Venezuela rebuffs threats on Argentina - Gayo Lues

Caracas rejects “the threats and attempts at intimidation that are taking shape in Europe,” AP quoted Venezuelan Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro as saying on Monday.

However, Maduro did not specify what country the threats originated from.

The remarks come a week after Argentinean Foreign Minister Hector Timerman criticized Britain for setting up a “blockade” against all Argentineans.

“I’ve seen that many are saying that Argentina has set a blockade to the Malvinas Islands, thus isolating the islanders, but that’s far from true as it turns out to be the other way around. The one setting a blockade here is the United Kingdom,” said Timerman.

“It’s the Argentineans that for the past nine generations… couldn’t live in the islands because of the blockade of a military power against Argentina,” Timerman said.

The Malvinas Islands, located about 300 miles off Argentina’s coast and home to about 3,000 inhabitants, have been declared as part of the British Overseas Territories since Britain established its colonial rule in the islands in 1833.

Tensions between the two countries have escalated since 2010, when Britain authorized the exploration of oil in Malvinas waters. The deployment of Britain’s most sophisticated warship, HMS Dauntless, and a nuclear submarine to the islands have also mounted the tensions over the Malvinas Islands in recent months.

Buenos Aires and London also fought a 74-day war in 1982 over the islands, which ended with the British side claiming victory over the Argentines.

The United Nations has called on Britain to discuss decolonization. The UK has so far refused to do so.

Regional blocks, including the Common Market of the South (MERCOSUR), Union of South American Countries (UNASUR) and the recently-created Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) have all supported Argentina’s position on dialogue and negotiations with the UK.

PM/MFB