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Madrid, 29 (Europa Press)
The Panamanian government announced this Monday that it is suspending diplomatic relations with Venezuela and confirmed that it is withdrawing its diplomatic staff from the Latin American country until the minutes of the presidential elections are reviewed.
“The fragile relationship established in recent years with the Republic of Venezuela has been seriously damaged in recent days. First of all, as a result of the unilateral closure of the airspace by the Venezuelan Government to the flights of our airline Copa Airlines on Friday, July 26th,” explained the President, José Raúl Mulino.
Likewise, he called the elections “a breach of a free, open and transparent democratic system.” He added, “We cannot stand aside and look on as an attempted institutional coup d’état against the sovereign decision of the Venezuelan people.”
Panama’s president has indicated that there is “no other way than this decision” until Venezuelan authorities review the electoral records, as well as the computer systems for counting votes.
“Millions of Venezuelans at home and abroad deserve respect for the genuine popular will. Democratic principles and values are non-negotiable,” he stressed.
When asked about the full break, Mulino explained that relations remain suspended, “which to date have not been of the best or the highest level.” He added, “Venezuela does not have or will not have an ambassador in Panama to date. Panama does not have an ambassador in Caracas and will not have an ambassador in Caracas.”
This comes after several former Latin American presidents aboard a Panamanian airline Copa Airlines flight heading to Venezuela to observe presidential elections were grounded at Panama airport on Friday due to a “blockade of Venezuelan airspace”.
The plane was carrying former Mexican President Vicente Fox, former Panamanian President Mireya Moscoso, as well as former Costa Rican Presidents Miguel Angel Rodriguez and Bolivian Jorge Tuto Quiroga. Former Colombian Vice President Marta Lucia Ramirez was also present.
The episode was condemned by Panamanian Foreign Minister Javier Martínez Acha, who announced that the executive summoned the head of the Venezuelan diplomatic mission in Panama to give explanations for what happened.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has received 5.1 million votes, according to 80 percent of the votes. For his part, opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez came in second with 44 percent of the vote (4.4 million votes).