26 Jul 2010

UN / VENEZUELA

Ambassador Jorge Valero Briceño of Venezuela talks to the press after his meeting with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. UNTV

Posted at: July 26, 2010 4:56 pm

Duration: 01:22

Available in: SD

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Full script

STORY: UN / VENEZUELA 
TRT: 1.22
SOURCE: UNTV
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUIAGE: ENGLISH / SPANISH / NATS

DATELINE:  26 JULY 2010, NEW YORK CITY

SHOTLIST:

RECENT 2010, NEW YORK

1. Wide shot, exterior United Nations New North Lounge Building

26 JULY 2010, NEW YORK CITY

2. Wide shot, Ambassador Jorge Valero Briceño approaches microphone
3. Cutaway, journalists taking notes 
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Ambassador Jorge Valero Briceño, Permanent Representative of Venezuela, United Nations:
"The Venezuelan government has denounced that the Colombian government in alliance with the United States government are trying to go ahead with a war against Venezuela and for that reason the Venezuelan government take into account this aggressive policy has decided to cancel its diplomatic relations with the government of Colombia." 
5. Cutaway, journalists taking notes 
6. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Ambassador Jorge Valero Briceño, Permanent Representative of Venezuela, United Nations:
"The only thing we asked the Secretary-General is to distribute the letter that in the name of President Hugo Chaves Frias we have handed to him; letter where he explains in a detailed manner the reasons that have taken the government of Venezuela to suspend its diplomatic relations and denounce to the world the military aggression plans against Venezuela, plans being undertaken by the government of the United States and the government of Colombia."
7. Cutaway, journalist taking notes 
8. Wide shot, Ambassador Jorge Valero Briceño leaves microphone

STORYLINE:

Venezuela's Permanent Representative, Jorge Valero Briceño met with United Nations (UN) Secretary-General (SG) today at the UN to talk about the suspension of diplomatic ties between his country and Colombia.

Valero Briceño told reporters after the meeting with the SG that the Venezuelan government had denounced that the Colombian government "in alliance with the United States government are trying to go ahead with a war against Venezuela". He said this was the reason for the Venezuelan government to "cancel its diplomatic relations with the government of Colombia."

Venezuela reportedly broke off diplomatic ties with Colombia last week, which accused it of harbouring rebel groups.

Valero Briceño also said that all his government asked of the Secretary-General was to distribute a letter from President Hugo Chavez Frias where he explained with detail the reasons behind the Venezuelan government's decision to suspend its diplomatic ties with Colombia.

According to media reports, during a meeting last Friday of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington, Colombia presented evidence that appeared to support its claim that the rebel Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army had established bases in Venezuela.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez dismissed the allegations in a televised speech later in the day, and declared that Colombian diplomats had until Monday to close their embassy in the capital, Caracas, and leave the country.