The People’s Power Ministry for Foreign Relations reports that this morning, the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro Moros held a phone conversation with the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, in which they discussed joint efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as a shared analysis of the international situation and the progress of cooperation projects between the two countries.
President Maduro thanked from the heart of the Venezuelan people the support of Russia through the provision of thousands of diagnostic tests for COVID-19. The Russian President guaranteed new shipments of health supplies and materials and expressed the need of greater cooperation between the medical and scientific teams of both countries, though contacts and videoconferences to be held in the coming days. The Russian leader recognized that the health strategy adopted in Venezuela by President Maduro has been adequate and consolidates the stability and peace of the country.
Both leaders condemned the continuation of illegal and inhumane unilateral coercive measures during such difficult times for humankind. In this regard, President Putin referred to one of his suggestions before the G-20, in coordination with proposals from the G-77 + China, on Green Corridors that would allow countries under sanctions and trade wars to acquire the necessary supplies to attend their peoples during the pandemic, without restrictions, including a moratorium on the application of sanctions, so that affected countries could have free access to their funds and international accounts to face the COVID-19.
The Presidents discussed the situation of the oil market and agreed on total support for the OPEC+ mechanism which comes into force on May 1st. In this regard, President Maduro recognized the decisive role of Russia in the consensus reached among all actors and proposed a meeting of the Monitoring Committee of the mechanism for May 10, in order to ensure the early assessment of the effect of the agreements on the global energy market.
The Presidents agreed on the good progress of bilateral cooperation, which both leaders are attending to and adjusting personally. They agreed that in 2020, beyond the health situation and any global circumstance that may arise, both parties must advance in the consolidation of the strategic level of the relationship in all areas of joint work under development, including its new modalities.
President Nicolás Maduro thanked President Putin and his government for the firm support they have shown in all international forums in defense of Venezuelan sovereignty and democracy, while assuring him that they will work tirelessly on humanitarian political agreements with all sectors of the Venezuelan opposition, in the face of the challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic. In saying goodbye, President Putin ratified his support to the Bolivarian Government, insisted on consolidating the common front with Russia and reiterated the invitation to President Maduro to visit Moscow during the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the victory of the Great Patriotic War, whose reschedule dates will be announced soon.
Caracas, April 20, 2020
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