Defense Minister Margarita Robles “categorically” rejected any type of political negotiation with the government of Venezuela to grant political asylum to the opponent Edmundo González. He stressed that “only the purely technical issues related to flight authorizations have been resolved so that a Spanish plane can land in Caracas.”
“There has been no type of negotiation with the government of Venezuela, whatever the government of Venezuela wants to say,” he said. Thus, Robles ratified Robles ratified the position of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, assuring that “the only thing that has been overflight authorizations, purely technical issues, and so that the planes of the Spanish Armed Forces could reach the airport in Caracas. There, Edmundo González was able to board with his wife for the Torrejón de Ardoz base in Madrid.
The Minister of Defense also stressed that she herself was able to speak by telephone this Sunday with the Venezuelan opponent once he arrived in the country, who spoke to her about the “terrible times experienced by persecution who has suffered these days in Venezuela,” he is therefore “very grateful to Spain.” Likewise, he stressed that González had told him of his “clear and unequivocal commitment to continue working for freedom and democracy in Venezuela.”
In this sense, Robles expressed the opinion that what the Venezuelan government is doing with Edmundo González and many other opponents It is “unacceptable and unaffordable”, which is why he expressed his rejection of “any type of persecution that limits the fundamental rights” for which Spain agreed to grant him political asylum.
“Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak with him on the phone, he is very grateful, he told me about the terrible moments he lived and his commitment to continue fight for the freedom of Venezuela“, Robles said. The Spanish government “has not recognized the Maduro government, let there be no doubt, we request the record and we will act by granting protection and shelter to Venezuelan citizens who suffer persecution in their country.”
Robles made these statements during his appearance before the media during his visit to Brigade of the Legion “King Alphonse XIII” in Almeria, which is currently training 22 Ukrainian fighters and is preparing as a NATO rapid deployment force. “The preparation they have is a sign of tranquility in the face of the geopolitical situation that the world is experiencing, with the war in Ukraine,” Robles said.
He assured the Ukrainian fighters that in the Legion Brigade “they will find the best training” for a war that Robles wanted to end soon and in which the Spain’s commitment to Ukraine It is “total and absolute, as I told President Zelensky last Friday” during the Contact Group meeting.
Robles during a meeting at La Legión this Monday in Almería
The ‘King Alphonse’s’ ability to quick projection that they are currently offering to the Atlantic Alliance “This is essential and NATO knows that it has the best professionals,” said Robles, who stressed the importance of “this capacity for preparation and protection that it has here.”
During his visit to the ‘Álvarez de Sotomayor’ base, Robles was able to attend a demonstration of the combat training in urban areas to the Ukrainian army, as well as the readiness of the NATO rapid deployment unit and the installations of the 8×8 wheeled combat vehicle “Dragon”. A tribute to the dead and a meeting with the relatives of the recently deceased servicemen, among whom was a corporal of the legion who died while serving in Poland, closed the minister’s program.
