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Venezuela officially objects to U.S. decree, with message to embassy

Xinhua, March 28, 2015 Adjust font size:

Venezuela on Friday officially objected to a White House decree labeling it a "national security threat", by delivering a "note of protest" to the U.S. embassy in Caracas.

Foreign Affairs Minister Delcy Rodriguez said at a press conference that the note "vehemently rejects" the assertion and calls on the U.S. to revoke the March 9 executive order signed by President Barack Obama.

Venezuela also wants Washington to lift sanctions it imposed the same day against seven Venezuelan officials for alleged human rights violations and corruption.

The decree "interferes with Venezuela's internal affairs, by calling it 'an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security' of the United States," said Rodriguez.

"We are delivering this note of vehement protest against the government of the United States, in response to this legal blight, " Rodriguez added, referring to the decree.

The minister noted international and regional blocs, such as the Non-Aligned Movement, Group of 77 plus China, Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas, Union of South American Nations, and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) have all condemned the White House decree.

Rodriguez displayed a map of the world marking the 183 nations belonging to these organizations.

"This widespread support should make the government of the United States of America rethink and repeal the executive order. The world is telling Obama and his administration to stop the aggression against Venezuela," she added.

Venezuela is willing to have dialogues with Washington over their differences, she said, adding President Nicolas Maduro plans to take his demand to repeal the decree next month to the Organization of American States (OAS) summit in Panama, which is to be attended by leaders in the region, including Obama.

In the last few days more than 4 million Venezuelans have signed a petition to repeal the executive order. The signature drive is to last until April 9, a day before the April 10 summit, where Maduro hopes to present Obama with 10 million signatures.

Diplomatic ties between Caracas and Washington have been tense since Venezuela's socialist party came to power in 1999. Enditem