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(CNN Spanish) - The president of the National Assembly of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó, said Friday that "the interim government reiterates its commitment to the alliance with our Republic of Colombia and the transparency of our management." The opposition National Communication Center itself presented this brief statement as a response to the explosive statements of former ambassador Humberto Calderón Berti.
The former foreign minister and oil expert was the representative of Guaidó in Colombia until November 26. That day, Guaidó informed him that due to “modifications in relation to our foreign policy in order to achieve the objectives set by our Legitimate Government” it had been decided “to appoint a new ambassador to the Republic of Colombia, a position that you have played with dignity till the date".
After the dismissal, Calderón Berti made explosive statements at a press conference in Bogotá. There, he said that since several months before he was cast, he no longer had a relationship with Guaidó, recognized as interim president of Venezuela by more than 50 countries. He added that the Colombian authorities had informed him that Caracas had been misusing public funds. And then, he asked himself: "What did I have to do? Send an audit that was known in Caracas."
Before the journalists, and in a broadcast issued by social networks, the dismissed official also marked his differences with the conversation table held in Norway and with its members to reach an agreement with Nicolás Maduro. “I cannot be submissive to anyone, no matter how much power they have. My obligation to Venezuela is to say what I think, we don't want to get out of this to fall into something worse. We do not want to continue having a country plagued by corrupt. Venezuela has many accomplices. They are those who have robbed and looted the country. ” Without lowering his guard, the former ambassador revealed that he recommended Guaidó to review “his environment and to act without guardianship of any kind”.
Without going into more detail, the statement of the Guaidó team emphasizes that since the “first moment of the so-called 'Cúcuta Case' it has evidenced its willingness for the authorities to investigate until the last consequences”. In that regard, he warned that he awaits the results of the Colombian Prosecutor's Office and hopes that the conclusion issued by this judicial body will be “respected”.
Juan Guaidó