Venezuela declares person 'non grata' to European envoy 0:31
(CNN Spanish) ––
The European Union declared Claudia Salerno, head of the mission of the Venezuelan government to the bloc, a person not grata on Thursday.
The EU explained in a statement that the decision is given "at the initiative of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy."
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«The Council has agreed that the head of the Mission of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela to the European Union declare himself
persona non grata
.
This is a response to the decision of the Venezuelan government to declare
the head of the EU delegation in Venezuela
persona non grata
, "the official note reads.
"The EU considers this statement to be totally unjustified and contrary to the EU's objective of developing relationships and establishing partnerships in third countries," the statement added.
The European Union does not mention an expulsion from Salerno.
A day earlier, the government of the questioned president of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro declared the head of mission of the European Union in the country, Isabel Brilhante, a person not grata.
In addition, it gave him 72 hours to leave the country.
The Foreign Minister of Venezuela, Jorge Arreaza, explained that the measure is given in rejection of the sanctions imposed by the bloc against citizens of the country.
Nicolás Maduro European Union