European Union Ambassador to Venezuela Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa (credit: eeas.europa.eu)
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
Venezuela’s National Assembly called Tuesday for the government to expel the European Union’s ambassador to Caracas, in reaction to new EU sanctions against 19 Venezuelan officials. Isabel Brilhante Pedrosa, ambassador of the European Union, was declared persona non grata by the Venezuelan Government and given 72 hours to leave the Latin American country. The EU approved the new sanctions against Venezuela on Monday after the elections on December 6 that the EU countries do not recognize, as they consider that they did not meet democratic standards. The sanctions list includes the vice president of the regime, Delcy Rodríguez, and Diosdado Cabello, number two from Nicolás Maduro.
#Ahora Canciller Jorge Arreaza entrega una carta de persona non grata a la embajadora de la Unión Europea en Venezuela, Isabel Brilhante Pedroza, en respuesta a las "sanciones" emitidas contra funcionarios venezolanos, entre ellos, la presidenta del CNE.pic.twitter.com/bvOBBoFAqX
— Misión Verdad (@Mision_Verdad) February 24, 2021
The notification was made by the Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jorge Arreaza, during a meeting in Caracas.
.@jaarreaza: "Que Europa deje de ser un apéndice de la élite dominante en los Estados Unidos, que tomen decisiones propias respetando el Derecho Internacional.
¡Ojalá aprendan a respetar a los países soberanos, libres e independientes como #Venezuela!"#UniónRevolucionaria pic.twitter.com/tWCa9H0nBK
— Cancillería Venezuela 🇻🇪 (@CancilleriaVE) February 24, 2021
EUROPEAN UNION Condemns Venezuela’s Expulsion of Ambassador
“The EU profoundly regrets the decision by the Venezuelan authorities to declare the EU Head of Delegation in the country as persona non grata. This will only lead to further international isolation of Venezuela. We call for this decision to be reversdeed. Venezuela will only overcome its ongoing crisis through negotiation and dialogue, to which the EU is fully committed but which this decision undermines directly.”
-Nabila Massrali Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Second Time Venezuela Expelled EU Ambassador
Last June, Ambassador Pedrosa was expelled as Brussels sanctioned several Venezuelan officials for acting against the national assembly headed by opposition leader Juan Guaidó. Restrictive measures by the EU on Venezuela were introduced in November 2017. They include an embargo on arms and on equipment for internal repression as well as a travel ban and an asset freeze on listed individuals. The EU measures have strained relations between Brussels and Caracas. In February 2019, European countries including the UK, Spain, France, Germany, Sweden and Denmark recognised Juan Guaidó as the interim president of Venezuela in a coordinated move made after a deadline for Nicolás Maduro to call presidential elections expired. A diplomatic firestorm erupted between Brussels and Caracas after the EU Council added 11 leading Venezuelan officials to the list of those subject to restrictive measures, because of what the EU said for their role in acts and decisions undermining democracy and the rule of law in Venezuela
Then in July 2020, the government of Venezuelan President Maduro reversed its recent decision ordering the European Union’s ambassador to leave the country after Brussels slapped sanctions against 11 officials of the Maduro regime. As the 72-hours deadline was set to expire, Brussels and Caracas held a high-level phone meeting over the issue that was apparently resolved. Now it is Deja Vu all over again.
