The acting president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, asserted that the recent events leave a stain on the history of bilateral relations: “This is not revenge, it is vindication; we will give lessons in international diplomacy.”
“Bolívar never taught to use supremacy to humiliate anyone; there was always respect for the dignity of the adversary.” For Rodríguez, “freedom is the only objective worthy of men’s sacrifice.”
The Acting President affirmed that the men and women in arms in Venezuela wear their uniforms to protect the Republic and defend the national morals: “We are neither subordinate nor submissive; we have historical dignity and a commitment of loyalty to the Constitutional President Nicolás Maduro and to the First Lady Cilia Flores, who have been kidnapped”, emphasizing that “we have pledged not to rest until seeing them free and back in their Homeland.”
She sent a significant message to the families and friends of the victims of January 3rd: “Dear families, draw strength from the fact that means an entire country that, in unity and cohesion, recognizes the worth of your loved ones who died in this combat. Know that the whole Venezuela has rejected this vulgar violation of our sovereignty, our sky, and our territory. Be certain that Venezuela is also with you on this journey, and that is why we have decided to build a monument in honor of our heroes, heroines, and martyrs. Honor and glory to the men and women who died in combat.”
She stressed that “these wounds will stay with us forever, but knowing that the loved ones we have lost died for a just cause, for a noble cause, inspires us. That cause is called Venezuela; it is called the independence and freedom of Venezuela. It can only motivate us to become Venezuelan men and women of good, to build a future and bequeath it to our children.”
“In here nobody surrendered; in here there was a combat, and there was a combat for this homeland!” emphasized the Acting President.
