Venezuela’s Vice President Delcy Rodríguez convened an emergency session of the country’s National Defense Council on Jan. 3 and delivered a nationwide TV address to make it clear that the government is still standing, that they denounce the U.S. aggression, that they back kidnapped President Nicolás Maduro, and that they are prepared to dialogue with the Trump administration to try to resolve the crisis.
“The government of the United States launched an unprecedented military aggression against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. This constitutes a terrible stain on the development of bilateral relations…. It had only one objective, which was regime change in Venezuela, and that regime change would also allow the seizure of our energy resources, our mineral resources, our natural resources….
“We have convened this National Defense Council, in which the various branches of the Venezuelan State are participating.... From here, we demand the immediate release of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flor, the only president of Venezuela, President Nicolás Maduro. With us here are the most important high command of the Venezuelan State, the high military command, the high command of the Council of Vice Presidents. All the political factors of national power in Venezuela, but also in the streets of Venezuela there is a people that has been activated….
“As our heritage, we have the sacred duty to protect our national independence, our sovereignty, our territorial integrity, which has been savagely attacked in the early hours of today. The international community has joined together and raised its voices in support of Venezuela. From China, Russia, Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, the governments of the world are simply shocked that the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is the victim and target of an attack of this nature, which undoubtedly has a Zionist component. It is truly shameful….
“If there is one thing that the Venezuelan people and this country are very clear about, it is that we will never again be slaves, that we will never again be a colony of any empire, whatever its nature.
“I echo the words of President Nicolás Maduro when, just two days ago, he publicly confirmed in a television interview this government’s willingness to maintain relations of dialogue to address a constructive agenda.… We call on the Venezuelan people to remain calm ... to defend the dignity of a people who will not surrender, a people who will not give up and who will never again be a colony of anyone, neither of old empires, nor of new empires, nor of empires in decline.
“We are determined to be free. What is being done to Venezuela is barbaric. To besiege it, to blockade it is barbaric, violating all mechanisms of the international human rights system, violating and constituting crimes against humanity.”
