Venezuela Initiates Establishment of Diplomatic Mission in the U.S.
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Caracas, March 28 (NationPress) A diplomatic delegation is presently in Washington, D.C., to set up Venezuela's official diplomatic mission in the United States, as confirmed by the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry.
The team includes Vice Foreign Minister for Europe and North America, Oliver Blanco, along with Felix Plasencia, who has been designated as the charge d'affaires for the Venezuelan embassy in the U.S.
In a video posted on social media on Friday (local time), Blanco indicated that the delegation has engaged in discussions with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau and other high-ranking officials as part of their agenda.
Plasencia emphasized that the purpose of this visit is to tackle issues affecting Venezuelan citizens, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
Venezuela's acting President Delcy Rodriguez announced earlier this week that the delegation is prepared to reactivate operations of the diplomatic mission in the U.S., following a March 5 agreement between Caracas and Washington to restore their diplomatic ties after a prolonged period of severed relations.
Rodriguez also disclosed a cabinet reshuffle last week, introducing new ministers for defense, housing, and electric energy.
Gustavo Gonzalez Lopez has been appointed as the new defense minister, taking over from Vladimir Padrino Lopez, who served for over ten years.
Gonzalez Lopez previously held the position of commander of the Presidential Honour Guard after U.S. military actions against Venezuela in January.
Additionally, Jorge Marquez Monsalve has been appointed as the minister for habitat and housing, responsible for ensuring dignified housing rights for Venezuelans.
The reshuffle also includes the appointment of electrical engineer Rolando Alcala as the minister of electric energy, according to Rodriguez.
On January 3, U.S. military forces conducted a significant strike against Venezuela and apprehended President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, subsequently transporting them to the United States.
On January 31, a U.S. diplomatic team arrived in Caracas, marking the resumption of diplomatic interactions between the two nations.