Gold Release Appeal
Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, said on Wednesday that she would ask King Charles III to help release Venezuelan gold held at the Bank of England, arguing the funds are needed for recovery after the June 24 earthquakes.
Speaking during a virtual meeting with coordinators of 87 temporary camps in Caracas, Rodriguez said the gold belonged to the Venezuelan people and should be used to address the disaster.
“We have the resources, and I have decided to send a letter, among others, to the King of England, so that they release the gold that is being held at the Bank of England. That gold belongs to our people, and that gold must be available to address the terrible, tragic consequences of this double earthquake,” she said.
Longstanding Gold Dispute
The request has renewed attention on a long-running legal and diplomatic dispute over about 31 tonnes of Venezuelan gold held at the Bank of England.
The UK has refused to recognise Venezuela’s post-Maduro leadership, and British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told parliament in January that London would continue to withhold recognition of the Venezuelan authorities.
Rodriguez said she had also spoken by phone with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva about accessing Venezuelan resources blocked at the fund.
“Venezuela has the resources to recover, to rise again. And yesterday I also held a call with the director of the International Monetary Fund, whom I thank for her attention and her understanding in releasing Venezuela’s blocked resources that are in the Monetary Fund,” she stated.
Recovery Funding Calls
She repeated calls for international sanctions on Venezuela to be lifted, saying frozen assets should be used for reconstruction.
“Venezuela has resources blocked around the world with which to address this reconstruction and recovery process.”
Earthquake Death Toll
Venezuelan authorities say the June 24 earthquakes have killed at least 3,811 people, injured more than 16,000 and left thousands homeless.
VTV, via Viory.Video
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