Venezuela rejects unjust blockade against Qatar

A senior Venezuelan minister has underlined the deep friendship between Qatar and his country, saying both sides support each other.

Ruben Dario Molina, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Asia and the Middle East, said there are many aspects of bilateral co-operation between the two countries in the fields of culture, sport, economy and investments, and in the increase of trade exchange on the basis of mutual benefit.

He said his country rejects the unjust blockade imposed on Qatar, noting that the Venezuelan government, since the beginning of the crisis, has announced its readiness to provide all forms of support and assistance to mitigate the harm caused to Qatar.

The Qatari diplomacy, he said, has succeeded in uncovering the facts and gained the support of the international community, pointing out that there are some countries that seek to dominate and threaten the sovereignty and independence of others.

In an interview with Qatari daily Al-Watan, Molina said Qatar's active diplomacy also won the solidarity of the international community which rejects the philosophy of hegemony and believes in the right of states to defend themselves and protect their people, independence and sovereignty.

He noted that Qatar's development model is worth emulating, and the country has seen a renaissance in sport that will be crowned with a successful and a unique organisation of the 2022 World Cup.

Molina said Qatar and Venezuela hold similar views on international and regional issues noting that for example, in the United Nations Human Rights Council, both countries are keen on their principled and firm positions that human rights should not be compromised.

He said Venezuela attaches special attention to the Palestinian cause, and there is full support and solidarity among the Venezuelans for the right of Palestinians to establish their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital and as a full member of the United Nations.

The Minister said the Arab World Hall will be inaugurated in Venezuela soon in the presence of Arab ambassadors from all the Arab countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

He stressed the strong desire of Venezuelans to have a better understanding of the rich Arab culture and and its religious beliefs and philosophy, especially since there are more than one-and-a-half million Arab immigrants living in Venezuela for more than 130 years.

On the situation in his country, Molina said Venezuela is subjected to a crackdown politically, diplomatically and economically, and is accused of supporting terrorism and for being a hotbed of drugs.

He also said that his country is dubbed as a state without constitutional legitimacy, adding Venezuela faces a threat of military operation by imperialist regimes.