Paraguay Withdrew its Ambassador of Venezuela

Paraguay Ambassador Augusto Ocampos

Paraguay on Wednesday decided to withdraw its ambassador to Venezuela and declared persona non grata to the Venezuelan diplomat, in an escalation of mutual accusations arising from the impeachment of President Fernando Lugo.

“Given the serious evidence of involvement by officials of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in the internal affairs of the Republic of Paraguay, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to inform that ordered the withdrawal of its ambassador,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Hugo Chavez government Ambassador in Asuncion, Joseph F. Arrúe Javier De Pablo, was recalled for consultations a week ago. It was declared “persona non grata” and “not currently in the country, it is unnecessary to set a deadline for him to leave.”

The distance between Paraguay and Venezuela had its origin when Lugo was dismissed on 22 June by the Senate in an accelerated impeachment on charges of malfeasance in office. (FL)