The Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, has confirmed that former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero led a «humanitarian mediation» so that former Chavista minister Miguel Rodríguez Torres could be released from prison in Venezuela and could fly to Spain.
Albares explained that Rodriguez Torres arrived in Madrid early Sunday morning, although he avoided confirming under what circumstances, appealing to the right to privacy. He did remind, however, that Spain has a specific statute for Venezuelans -there are some 70,000 beneficiaries-, which, for example, guarantees the right of residence.
Zapatero, who last week met with the President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, «has played a very important role» in this case, according to Albares, who at a press conference reaffirmed Spain’s efforts to ensure that there are no people imprisoned for «political crimes» in Venezuela.
The head of the Spanish diplomacy will receive next Sunday a delegation of the Venezuelan opposition headed by Gerardo Blyde, main opposition representative in the dialogue with Maduro’s government.
Albares explained that the initiative for the meeting came from the opposition delegation and that it has accepted the offer «very gladly». Spain, the minister stressed, «welcomes and congratulates» the negotiating process opened in Venezuela.
On the role that Spain can play in this dialogue, the Minister clarified that «it is not looking for a specific role». «Spain is ready for whatever the Venezuelans believe we can be useful», he added.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
