Venezuela sends 'deepest condolences' to Syria regime

GlobalPost

Venezuela has issued an official condemnation of Wednesday’s bombing in Damascus that injured and killed top security chiefs in Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.

The message comes from one of Assad’s few remaining allies, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. Chavez is an important friend. He has insisted on keeping trade flowing with Syria despite international sanctions. His oil-rich nation ships fuel to Syria, such as the diesel that Syrian military vehicles run on.

Read more: Venezuela fuels Syria crackdown

The following are translated excerpts of Venezuela’s statement, as posted on the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry's website:

“… Comandante Hugo Chavez, in the name of the Bolivarian government and people of Venezuela, vigorously condemns the terrorist attack perpetrated today [Wednesday] in the city of Damascus … causing new deaths of civilians and high officials of the Syrian government.

The Bolivarian government [of Venezuela] wants to give its deepest words of condolences to the valiant Syrian people, and in particular to the families and friends of the victims of this new crime, which has been preceded by massacres and attacks seeking the forceful overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad …

… Venezuelan government is fully confident that the Syrian people and authorities will know how to stand up to this campaign of violence directed at sowing terror and creating a climate of uncertainty in the country; while it also urges the international community to avoid any armed intervention that would only lead to deepening the conflict in the Syrian Arab Republic.

… Venezuela reiterates its commitment to obtain peace and support initiatives that seek a peaceful solution to the conflict that respects the sovereignty and self-determination of the Syrian people, condemning all interventionist and warring action.”

>>More on Damascus bombing

Sign up for our daily newsletter

Sign up for The Top of the World, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.