Venezuelan Deputy FM: Military Forces to Remain Loyal to Maduro

“The government and its leadership are also ready to defend the country if attacked. Venezuela’s peaceful history shows that we will defend our country to our last men,” Molina said in an exclusive interview with the Tasnim News Agency.

The full interview is as follows:

Tasnim: Thank you very much for taking the time for the interview with Tasnim. What is the purpose of your visit to Iran and your meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif?

Molina: Our meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was a very good meeting. In this gathering, we exchanged views and information about the conditions that we have been put into by imperialism, those favoring imperialism, and their friends in Latin America and the European society. Iran has a very important position in terms of international geopolitics and leadership, and has been always respected during these 40 years after victory of the Islamic Revolution. Iran has been always respected in political and diplomatic terms for defending human rights at the United Nations. The measures taken by the (Venezuelan) opposition was even in violation of the international law and the United Nations Charter’s laws. In the conversation with Dr. Zarif, we discussed the establishment of peace in Iran, in Venezuela and around the world.”

Tasnim: Would you please specify what issues you discussed? Has Venezuela asked Iran for help? Iran and a number of other countries like Russia, Turkey and China have supported Mr. Maduro’s government and have issued statements against the riots and unrests.

Molina: Yes. Venezuela has had and will always have growing and developing ties with these very important countries like Iran, Russia, Turkey, and China. Apart from the countries that you mentioned, which have been always at the forefront of supporting Venezuela, a series of countries in Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Latin America and Oceania have also voiced their support (for Venezuela). I have announced earlier and stress again that safeguarding the international law is in fact safeguarding peace, and supporting peace is also support for Venezuela, and if the international law and peace and Venezuela are supported, the independence of Venezuela and its right to determine its own fate and sovereignty will be in fact protected.”

Tasnim: In the last few days, we have seen that the US has been trying to force its so-called “humanitarian aid” into Venezuela, and its attempts have failed. Many countries have condemned these attempts and say the US is pursuing some evil goals by the move. What is your opinion about this?

Molina: It's totally false and wrong to suggest that they (the US) want to give humanitarian aid to Venezuela. Humanitarian aid is offered in a situation where a country is either in a civil war or in a foreign war. Any country has the right to accept it or not. We do not need any humanitarian aid in Venezuela, and we are not in a war situation that even any aid would be suggested. Each country has the right to accept it or not. Venezuela also has the right not to accept.

The United States imposes a series of unilateral compulsory measures on Venezuela. Sanctions on Venezuelan banking accounts have led to the blockage of Venezuela's $30 billion and problems in buying medicines and food, and therefore the US wants to show that Venezuela is now in need of the humanitarian aid because it is in these conditions. They (the US officials) have created these conditions, themselves, and they want to say that Venezuela needs humanitarian assistance. These sanctions do not allow the country to properly proceed with its accurate plans to provide food for its people. They have created these sanctions and now, they want to say that the country needs humanitarian assistance.

If the imperialist countries really want to help us, they should free the $30 billion that they blocked. In fact, that would not be assistance but a right that all countries should have and respect others’. If they really want to help, they should not interfere in Venezuela's economy, politics and foreign relations.

Tasnim: You spoke about interference. Recently, we saw that John Bolton, the White House’s national security advisor, on his twitter account, called on the military to join the people and stand against Maduro. How do you assess the interference?

Molina: First of all, we condemn all these calls by Mr. John Bolton because he is not in a position and has not the right to interfere in the internal affairs of another country, and here, we are asking him to stop interfering in the internal affairs of another country and instead, deal with his own domestic affairs.

Tasnim: Mr. Bolton said that in case a regime change happens in Venezuela, the US oil companies can work in the country.

Molina: This is exactly what North America (the US) wants, which is to bring its oil companies to Venezuela with the goal of plundering natural, oil, gas, gold, diamond and mineral resources and gaining access to them. According to our constitution, we are responsible and will maintain our God-given natural wealth. We do not accept this blackmail by the United States, which sends its agents to Venezuela in order to plunder our wealth. Under international negotiation and legal terms we are open to win-win cooperation in international level, but we will never accept the opposition’s terms like what Mr. Bolton wants.

Tasnim: We are witnessing how the pro-US Western media are trying to magnify the differences between the military forces and the Venezuelan government. John Bolton for example has specifically mentioned that four military figures were separated from the army and recommended others to do the same. How do you assess this? Will Venezuelan army back Mr. Maduro?

Molina: This (difference) is totally false. National Army, National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela, Navy, Air and National Guard have always been loyal and stood firm under the constitution and will support the legitimate president Nicolas Maduro and we want to send this message to the international community not to be fooled by the negative propaganda that says the armed forces became separated or divided. This will never happen and the armed forces of Venezuela will always remain beside people of Venezuela and keep them secured as they stand ally to president.

Tasnim: Does Venezuela have any plans to appeal for help from other countries, including Russia, if the situation gets worse?

Molina: Venezuela is fully prepared for any attack (by the United States). It has been the target of interventions and systematic invasions for the past 20 years. We have been fighting for our freedom for 20 years. We have one motto: If we want peace, we should be ready for peace and every country that favors peace in fact favors calmness (and stability). I think Russia backs the international law and Venezuela’s armed forces are 100 percent ready (to defend their country). The government and its leadership are also ready to defend the country if attacked. Venezuela’s peaceful history shows that we will defend our country to our last men.

Tasnim: Please add anything you deem necessary to be mentioned.

Molina: Venezuela has always been pursuing peace and favors peace. Our military doctrine is based upon defense and our diplomacy pursues peace. We believe that all problems could be resolved via dialogue and discourse. We seek to promote peace and strengthen our sovereignty, and this is our right and should be supported, which means support for peace.