City
Epaper

Venezuela's envoy to Italy resigns over lack of funds

By IANS | Updated: May 21, 2019 23:45 IST

Venezuela's Ambassador to Italy, Isias Rodriguez, has written a resignation letter to President Nicolas Maduro after US sanctions against the socialist government left the embassy in Rome unable to pay staff salaries and rent.

Open in App

The letter states "immense respect" for Maduro's "valiantly fought" battle against the "decaying empire".

"Your cause is mine and has bound me like a magnetic field...but I have understood that you cannot turn water into wine or revive the dead.

"Please know, Mr President, that I am and will be at your side. But spiritually," the Ambassador said.

The Venezuelan embassy had been in arrears in payments of rent and staff salaries for several months due to the US sanctions and faced eviction, Rodriguez said at a press conference in Rome on May 8.

Eleven Italian employees have received no wages for four months, and two of them said they could no longer survive economically, Rodriguez said.

Maduro says the US is leading an "economic war" against his county. The sanctions have made it harder for the crisis-hit South American country to export oil but have also hampered imports of the diluents it needs to process its heavy crude oil.

Soon after a failed rebellion against Maduro led by opposition leader Juan Guaido at the end of April, the administration of US President Donald Trump on 10 May extended its Venezuela sanctions to the defence and security services sectors.

Since Maduro took office 2013, Venezuela's economy has halved in size amid hyperinflation and shortages of food, power, water, medicine and fuel, while several million people have left the country.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: RodriguezRome
Open in App

Related Stories

EntertainmentIulia Vantur Becomes First Artist To Perform a Bollywood Song at the Vatican, Meets the Pope

InternationalRome Tower Collapse: One Killed, Several Injured After Torre dei Conti Collapses Near Colosseum (Watch Video)

EntertainmentSaiyami Kher Turns Her Roman Holiday into a Marathon Milestone, Completing the Rome 2025 Run

EntertainmentNeha Dhupia & Angad Bedi Jet Off to Rome for Birthday Celebrations , Calls It Their First Honeymoon After 8 Years of Marriage!

EntertainmentPriyanka Chopra Stuns in Plunging-Neck Gown and Bvlgari Jewels at Rome (See Pics)

International Realted Stories

InternationalExposition of holy relics of Lord Buddha in Bhutan extended by a week following public demand

International"Honoured to showcase IAF's competence on global stage": Wing Commander Tejeshwar Singh at Dubai Air Show 2025

International"I have actually stopped eight wars": Trump repeats claims he stopped war between India and Pakistan

InternationalUS House passes bill to release Epstein files, will now move to Senate

InternationalHigh-level delegation led by Andhra Governor to visit Saudi following tragic accident