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Cuba rejects "physical aggressions" against top diplomats at Mercosur meeting

Xinhua, December 15, 2016 Adjust font size:

Cuba rejected the "physical aggressions" against the foreign ministers of Venezuela and Bolivia at a meeting of the regional trade bloc Mercosur in Argentina, the Cuban Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez and Bolivian Foreign Minister David Choquehuanca attempted to participate in the meeting Wednesday with their South American counterparts, but were blocked by Argentine police and security forces.

The excessive use of force against the two top diplomats and their delegations "constitutes an act of violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," the Cuban Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

"Cuba condemns these actions which would not have taken place if the understandable claims of Venezuela had been met," the statement said.

The Cuban government urged all Mercosur members that have excluded Venezuela from the bloc to promote dialogue and negotiations with the country.

Rodriguez arrived in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires despite the fact that she had not been invited to take part in the Mercosur meeting over Venezuela's suspension from the bloc.

Rodriguez, accompanied by Choquehuanca, was injured when several Argentine security service officers physically attacked her as she tried to get into the meeting room. Choquehuanca also suffered aggressions from security officials.

Earlier this month, the other four Mercosur members -- Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay -- agreed to suspend Venezuela for allegedly failing to comply with the bloc's regulations.

Rodriguez posted a letter on Twitter after the suspension, requesting talks to resolve the dispute.

Venezuela joined Mercosur in 2012, and claimed that it took over the rotating presidency on July 30 from Uruguay. But Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay refused to recognize Caracas' presidency, saying the country's political and economic woes prevented it from playing an effective role. Endi