2018 Panama–Venezuela diplomatic crisis

2018 Panama–Venezuela diplomatic crisis
Part of Crisis in Venezuela
Panamanian president Juan Carlos Varela (left) and Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro (right)
Date29 March 2018 (2018-03-29) – 26 April 2018 (2018-04-26)
Caused bySanctions imposed by the Panamanian government against President Nicolás Maduro and key government officials.
StatusRelations restored following mediation by the Dominican Republic
Parties
Lead figures

The 2018 Panama–Venezuela diplomatic crisis was a diplomatic stand-off between Panama and Venezuela after the Panamanian government imposed sanctions on President Nicolás Maduro and several key officials of the Bolivarian government over alleged involvement with "money laundering, financing of terrorism and financing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction" on 29 March 2018.

On 5 April 2018, Maduro imposed sanctions on Panamanian companies and as well as prominent Panamanian officials, including President Juan Carlos Varela in response to the sanctions imposed by Panama.

The diplomatic crisis ended on 26 April 2018 when President Maduro announced that he had called President Varela and agreed to the return of the ambassadors and the return of air communication between both countries.[1]

Background

Bilateral relations between the Panama and Venezuela have been suspended on two previous occasions under the Bolivarian government. In 2004, diplomatic relations were suspended by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez (together with Cuba), when the Panamanian government refused to extradite a Cuban exile militant and CIA agent Luis Posada Carriles, claiming his life was in danger if extradited to those countries.[2]

In March 2014, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro broke off diplomatic relations between the two countries, after President Ricardo Martinelli expressed support for the demonstrators during the 2014 Venezuelan protests.[3] Relations were later restored in July 2014, after Vice President Jorge Arreaza attended the inauguration of President Juan Carlos Varela.[4][5]

Start of the crisis

On March 29, 2018, the Ministry of Economy and Finance in Panama published a list of Venezuelan people, for their history of banking operations, were subject to investigations by cash or bank fraud laundering, so the list sought to warn both public and private institutions that limit their economic and financial operations with the listed group, considering them to be "high risk".[6] The Panamanian government accuses these officials for alleged involvement with "money laundering, financing of terrorism and financing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction."[7]

The list contained high-profile officials of the Bolivarian government including president Nicolás Maduro,[8] 2017 Constituent National Assembly President Delcy Rodríguez, Vice President of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) Diosdado Cabello, Head of Local Committees for Supply and Production (CLAP) Freddy Bernal, ANC member and brother of former President Hugo Chávez Adán Chávez, Prisons Minister Iris Varela, President of the TSJ Maikel Moreno, Attorney General of Venezuela Tarek William Saab, President of the pro-government CNE Tibisay Lucena, Minister of Interior Néstor Reverol and Head of SEBIN Gustavo González López.[7]

A group of Venezuelan opposition deputies, Freddy Superlano, Luis Florido and Ismael García traveled to Panama on April 3 to request the Panamanian Vice President and Foreign Minister, Isabel Saint Malo, the detailed list of the 55 Venezuelan officials. included in the list and the express reasons. In response, the foreign minister promised to provide all possible information in the way of cooperation between both countries, always respecting the applicable law.[9]

Venezuelan government reaction

On 5 April 2018, the Venezuelan government imposed sanctions on 22 people and 46 Panamanian companies, among which were key officials of the government, including the President and Foreign Minister or Panama-based companies operating in Venezuela, such as Copa Airlines.

Panamanian government reaction

On 6 April 2018, the Panamanian government ordered to recall its ambassador to Venezuela, Miguel Octavio Mejia Miranda, in Caracas and urged the Venezuelan government to do the same with the Venezuelan ambassador, Jorge Luis Durán Centeno, in Panama City.[10]

Copa Airlines was forced to suspend its operations from Caracas, Maracaibo and Valencia in response to the sanctions[11] but resumed on 1 May 2018.[12]

According to President Varela, the sanctions imposed against Copa Airlines by the Maduro government will hurt Venezuelans since Panama is a logistic route for supplying medicine and food in response to the outgoing shortages.[11]

Sanctions between both countries

Sanctions on Panama by Venezuela

Venezuela imposed commercial sanctions by breaking commercial relations with Panama to 22 personalities and 46 Panamanian companies in response to the sanctions that Panama had imposed on Venezuela while reporting on the future publication of the list of Venezuelan personalities susceptible to money laundering.[13]

Venezuelan Vice President Tareck el Aissami announced that President Maduro has suspended commercial relations with several Panamanian companies, which will be added to the list of 46 announced originally on April 5.[14]  The measure became effective on April 13, 2018, adding 50 more companies.[15]

Sanctions on Venezuela by Panama

Panamanian president Juan Carlos Varela indicated that his government would not recognize the 2018 Venezuelan presidential election results to persist the bilateral conflict.[16]  In addition, it is reported that his executive is preparing new sanctions in response to the "aggressive and disproportionate" measures that Venezuela done before the imposition of sanctions by Panama.[17]

The Government of Panama approved retaliation measures against the Venezuelan government, based on the Panamanian retaliation law and by virtue of the principle of reciprocity that governs international relations. The Cabinet Council ordered the suspension, for a period of ninety (90) days extendable, of all activities of air transport, passengers and cargo of Venezuelan airlines operating in Panama, the companies are as follows:

The measures took effect from April 25, 2018.[18][19][20]  In addition, the government approved an extension of 60 days tourist visa for Venezuelans stranded in Panama.[21]

Reactions

On March 28, 2018, the government of Switzerland imposed economic sanctions on Venezuela and froze the accounts of several senior government officials.[22]

The Lima Group quickly positioned itself on the Panamanian side, condemned the Venezuelan sanctions imposed against Panama and assessed the possibilities of imposing additional international sanctions on the Maduro government, while at the same time recalling its non-recognition of the 2017 Venezuelan Constituent Assembly election and the repudiation of the upcoming presidential elections in Venezuela scheduled for May 20.[23][24][25]

The United States has welcomed the measures taken by Panama to expose and block Venezuelan money laundering and urged the international community "to follow Panama’s example and stand together against the Maduro regime’s corruption and illegitimate rule.” It also reiterated that Venezuela must restore democracy and end the repression and suffering of the Venezuelan people.[26]

Mediation by Dominican Republic

At the request of President Maduro, the President of the Dominican Republic, Danilo Medina, was asked to act as mediator in a meeting in order to resolve the conflict with Panama.[27]

The meeting was held on April 11 in a secret manner by both sides, between Venezuelan Minister Wilmar Castro Soteldo and Panamanian Vice President Isabel Saint Malo, mediated by Dominican Foreign Minister Manuel Vargas.[28]

However, the talks collapsed on April 18, President Maduro himself revealed the existence of this meeting and blamed the head of the Panamanian delegation for "insults". Subsequently, the Panamanian government confirmed the meeting and argued that the commercial list published by Panama only formalizes lists published by the international community.[27]

End of the crisis

On April 26, President Maduro announced that he made a phone call with President Varela and agreed to the return of the ambassadors of both countries, including the restitution of air communication between both countries, which was being affected from day.[1] Likewise, an open diplomatic channel was left to discuss other pending issues, with a progress report that will be made in the next 30 days. The agreement was confirmed by the Panamanian Foreign Ministry.[29]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Venezuela, Panama to restore envoys and resume airline service". Reuters. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  2. ^ Venezuela envoy to leave Panama, BBC News, August 28, 2004.
  3. ^ "Venezuela's Maduro breaks diplomatic links with Panama". BBC News. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  4. ^ "Venezuela restores diplomatic ties with Panama". Reuters. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  5. ^ Lee, Brianna (2 July 2014). "After President Varela's Inauguration, Panama and Venezuela Are Friends Again". International Business Times. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  6. ^ "Panamá publicará lista de venezolanos políticamente expuestas al blanqueo". La Estrella de Panama. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Estos son los 55 "rojitos" que Panamá puso en la mira por fondos dudosos | El Cooperante". El Cooperante (in European Spanish). 2018-03-29. Archived from the original on 2018-04-02. Retrieved 2018-04-01.
  8. ^ "Panamá incluyó a Maduro en lista de blanqueo para proteger sistema financiero". Panorama.com.ve. 3 April 2018. Archived from the original on 8 April 2018. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  9. ^ Bustamante, Aminta (7 April 2018). "Oposición venezolana le pide la lista a Panamá". La Prensa (Panama). Retrieved 12 April 2019.[permanent dead link‍]
  10. ^ "Panama withdraws its ambassador to Venezuela in response to Maduro's economic retaliation". El Nuevo Herald. 5 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  11. ^ a b "Venezuela hurts its own with Copa airline suspension: Panama's Varela". Reuters. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  12. ^ "Copa Airlines resumes operations in Venezuela". Copa Airlines. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  13. ^ "Panamá sanciona a 55 fucnionarios venezolanos y 16 empresas relacionadas con el riesgo de «blanqueo de capitales". Runrun.es. 30 March 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  14. ^ "Venezuela suspende relaciones con más empresas de Panamá y congela cuentas". 11 April 2018.
  15. ^ "Venezuela suspende relaciones con 50 empresas de Panamá | la Prensa Panamá". 13 April 2018.
  16. ^ Morales, Jason (6 April 2018). "Crisis diplomática: Presidente Varela reitera que no reconocerá las elecciones en Venezuela". Panamá América. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  17. ^ "Panamá prepara sanciones económicas contra Venezuela si el gobierno de Maduro no se retracta". El Nuevo Herald. 9 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  18. ^ "Panamá aprueba medidas de retorsión contra Venezuela". 10 April 2018.
  19. ^ "Panamá adopta medidas de retorsión contra Venezuela".
  20. ^ "Panamá suspende operaciones de aerolíneas venezolanas". 10 April 2018.
  21. ^ "Migración ajusta visa de turista a venezolanos | la Prensa Panamá". 13 April 2018.
  22. ^ "Swiss impose sanctions on seven senior Venezuelan officials". Reuters. 28 March 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2019. Also at Diario Las Americas
  23. ^ "Grupo de Lima: Sanciones de Venezuela a Panamá carecen de sustento". El Universal (Caracas). 6 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  24. ^ "Crisis diplomática: Gobiernos latinoamericanos se solidarizan con Panamá". Panamá América. 6 April 2018.
  25. ^ "Gobierno evalúa nuevas medidas contra Venezuela". La Estrella de Panamá. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  26. ^ "US Applauds Panama, Its Actions Against Venezuela's Maduro Regime". VOA News. 7 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2019.
  27. ^ a b "Panama confirms the failed meeting with Venezuela to resolve the commercial and diplomatic crisis". La Prensa (Panama) (in Spanish). 19 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  28. ^ "Maduro reveals a failed appointment to resolve the crisis with Panama". TeleMetro (in Spanish). 18 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  29. ^ "Panama and Venezuela reestablish relations". La Prensa (Panama) (in Spanish). 26 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2019.

Read other articles:

Final Piala FA 2017

Final Piala FA 2017TurnamenPiala FA 2016–2017 Arsenal Chelsea 2 1 Tanggal27 Mei 2017StadionStadion Wembley, LondonPemain Terbaik Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal)WasitAnthony Taylor (Cheshire) [1]Penonton89.472CuacaBerawan20 °C (68 °F)[2]← 2016 2018 → Final Piala FA 2017 adalah pertandingan sepak bola antara Arsenal dan Chelsea yang diselenggarakan pada 27 Mei 2017 di Stadion Wembley, London. Pertandingan ini merupakan pertandingan final ke-136 Piala FA sebag...

 

Plinius Tua

Gaius Plinius Secundus (Plinius Tua)Plinius Tua, sketsa imaginatif abad ke-19. Tidak ditemukan lukisan Plinius pada masa hidupnya.Lahir23 MComum (Como), Italia, Kekaisaran RomawiMeninggal25 Agustus 79Stabiae, Campania, Kekaisaran RomawiSebab meninggalMati akibat letusan gunung berapi yang menghancurkan kota PompeiiPenemuan jasadoleh para sahabat, di bawah puing kebakaranTempat tinggalRoma, beberapa lokasi provinsial, MisenumWarga negaraRomawiPendidikanRetorika, tata bahasaPekerjaanAhli ...

 

Strada statale 698 del Porto di Civitavecchia

Strada statale 698del Porto di CivitavecchiaLocalizzazioneStato Italia Regioni Lazio Province Roma DatiClassificazioneStrada statale InizioPorto di Civitavecchia FineSS 1 presso Pantano Lunghezza7,200[1] km GestoreANAS (2011-) PercorsoStrade europee Manuale La strada statale 698 del Porto di Civitavecchia (SS 698), già nuova strada ANAS 248 del Porto di Civitavecchia (NSA 248), è una strada statale italiana, di servizio al traffico diretto da e verso il porto di Civit...

Merlin (mesin roket)

Merlin adalah mesin roket yang dikembangkan oleh perusahaan SpaceX untuk digunakan pada roket Falcon 1, Falcon 9 dan Falcon Heavy. Merlin menggunakan RP-1 dan oksigen cair sebagai propelan dalam siklus power gas-generator . Mesin Merlin ini dirancang untuk sea recovery dan dapat digunakan kembali . Pada Juni 2015, SpaceX memproduksi mesin Merlin 1D dengan kecepatan empat mesin per minggu, dengan total kapasitas produksi di pabrik maksimum lima mesin per minggu. Pada Februari 2016, SpaceX men...

 

كأس ألبانيا 1988–89

كأس ألبانيا 1988–89 تفاصيل الموسم كأس ألبانيا  البلد ألبانيا  المنظم اتحاد ألبانيا لكرة القدم  البطل دينامو تيرانا  كأس ألبانيا 1987–88  كأس ألبانيا 1989–90  تعديل مصدري - تعديل   كأس ألبانيا 1988–89 (بالألبانية: Kupa e Republikës 1988-89‏) هو موسم من كأس ألبانيا. أشرف على تن...

 

Ithaca (island)

Greek island For the mythical island, see Homer's Ithaca. Regional unit in Ionian Islands, GreeceIthaca Περιφερειακή ενότητα / ΔήμοςΙθάκηςRegional unitView of VathyIthaca within the Ionian IslandsCoordinates: 38°22′N 20°43′E / 38.367°N 20.717°E / 38.367; 20.717CountryGreeceRegionIonian IslandsCapitalVathyGovernment • MayorDionisios StanitsasArea • Total117.8 km2 (45.5 sq mi)Population (20...

Michèle Alliot-Marie

French politician (born 1946) You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in French. (February 2011) Click [show] for important translation instructions. View a machine-translated version of the French article. Machine translation, like DeepL or Google Translate, is a useful starting point for translations, but translators must revise errors as necessary and confirm that the translation is accurate, rather than simply copy-pasting machine-translat...

 

Sentiments Songes

Cet article est une ébauche concernant une chanson française et le Concours Eurovision de la chanson. Vous pouvez partager vos connaissances en l’améliorant (comment ?) selon les recommandations des projets correspondants. Sentiments Songes Chanson de Fanny auConcours Eurovision de la chanson 1997 Sortie 1997 Langue Français Genre Pop, chanson française Auteur-compositeur Jean-Paul Dréau Chansons représentant la France au Concours Eurovision de la chanson Diwanit bugale(19...

 

Shooty Babitt

American baseball player Baseball player Shooty BabittBabitt in 1984Second BasemanBorn: (1959-03-09) March 9, 1959 (age 65)Oakland, CaliforniaBatted: RightThrew: RightMLB debutApril 9, 1981, for the Oakland AthleticsLast MLB appearanceSeptember 4, 1981, for the Oakland AthleticsMLB statisticsBatting average.256Home runs0Runs batted in14 Teams Oakland Athletics (1981) Mack Neal Shooty Babitt (born March 9, 1959) is an American former second baseman who played...

Scultura

Disambiguazione – Scultore rimanda qui. Se stai cercando la costellazione, vedi Scultore (costellazione). Questa voce o sezione sull'argomento scultura non cita le fonti necessarie o quelle presenti sono insufficienti. Puoi migliorare questa voce aggiungendo citazioni da fonti attendibili secondo le linee guida sull'uso delle fonti. Segui i suggerimenti del progetto di riferimento. Trapezophoros con due grifoni che sbranano una cerva. Scultura in marmo policromo (IV sec. a.C.)...

 

La Niña

La Niña Réplica de la carabela la Niña en el Muelle de las Carabelas, La Rábida, Palos de la Frontera (Huelva).Banderas HistorialAstillero astilleros del Puerto de MoguerTipo CarabelaOperador Juan NiñoIniciado entre 1487 y 1490Destino desconocidoCaracterísticas generalesDesplazamiento entre 51 y 120 toneladas[1]​Eslora 22 metrosPropulsión velaTripulación 20 hombres aprox.[editar datos en Wikidata] Para otros usos de este término, véase La Niña (desambiguación). La ...

 

جيانلوكا برامبيلا

جيانلوكا برامبيلا   معلومات شخصية الميلاد 22 أغسطس 1987 (37 سنة)  بيلانو  الطول 170 سنتيمتر  الجنسية إيطاليا  الوزن 57 كيلوغرام  الحياة العملية الفرق دكونيك كويك ستب (2013–2017)بردياني سي إس إف فايزاني (2010–2012)تريك سيغافريدو (2018–2022)  المهنة دراج  نوع السباق سباق ال�...

2007 Beninese parliamentary election

Politics of Benin Constitution Human rights Government President (List) Patrice Talon Vice President Mariam Chabi Talata Cabinet of Benin Parliament National Assembly President: Louis Vlavonou Administrative divisions Departments Communes Arrondissements Elections Recent elections Presidential: 20162021 Parliamentary: 20192023 Political parties Foreign relations Ministry of Foreign Affairs and African Integration Minister: Aurélien Agbénonci Diplomatic missions of / in Benin Passport Visa r...

 

Gwanbok

GwanbokHeuk dallyeongpo pada akhir abad ke-18Nama KoreaHangul관복 Hanja官服 Alih AksaragwanbokMcCune–Reischauerkwanbok Gwanbok (bahasa Korea: 관복 Pengucapan Korea: [goanbok]) adalah istilah Korea untuk kata bahasa mandarin guanfu (冠服/官服, pakaian mahkota/baju dinas).[1] Gwanbok merupakan istilah umum yang mengacu pada pakaian resmi bersejarah,[1] yang dianugerahkan oleh pemerintah Korea, termasuk oleh kekaisaran Tiongkok kuno.[2][3] Beb...

 

List of museums in New York (state)

This list of museums in New York is a list of museums, defined for this context as institutions (including nonprofit organizations, government entities, and private businesses) that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Museums that exist only in cyberspace (i.e., virtual museums) are not included. Also included are non-profit art centers and galleries. The following ...

Geography (Ptolemy)

Treatise on cartography by Claudius Ptolemaeus The Geography of Ptolemy in a c. 1411 Latin translation by Jacobus Angelus with 27 maps by Claus Swart. The Geography (Ancient Greek: Γεωγραφικὴ Ὑφήγησις, Geōgraphikḕ Hyphḗgēsis, lit. Geographical Guidance), also known by its Latin names as the Geographia and the Cosmographia, is a gazetteer, an atlas, and a treatise on cartography, compiling the geographical knowledge of the 2nd-century Roman Empire. Original...

 

Pyramid Head

Fictional video game character Fictional character Pyramid HeadSilent Hill characterPyramid Head as he appears in Silent Hill 2First appearanceSilent Hill 2Designed byMasahiro ItoPortrayed byRoberto Campanella Pyramid Head, also known as Red Pyramid, Red Pyramid Thing (赤い三角頭, Akai Sankakutō),[1] or Triangle Head (三角頭, Sankaku Atama) is a character from the Silent Hill series, a survival horror video game series created by Japanese company Konami. Introduced in the 200...

 

Griffith Institute

Griffith InstituteHistoireFondation 1939CadreType InstitutPays  Royaume-UniOrganisationSite web www.griffith.ox.ac.ukmodifier - modifier le code - modifier Wikidata Le Griffith Institute est une institution fondée dans le musée Ashmolean de l'université d'Oxford pour la promotion de l'égyptologie en tant que discipline. Il a été nommé d'après l'éminent égyptologue Francis Llewellyn Griffith, qui a légué des fonds dans son testament à la fondation de l'Institut. Il a été in...

Stevenson High School (Lincolnshire, Illinois)

Secondary school in the United States Adlai E. Stevenson High SchoolAddress1 Stevenson Drive, Lincolnshire, ILLincolnshire, IL 60069United StatesCoordinates42°11′57″N 87°56′44″W / 42.1993°N 87.9455°W / 42.1993; -87.9455InformationTypePublic high schoolEstablished1965School districtAdlai E. Stevenson High School District 125SuperintendentEric Twadell [1]PrincipalTroy Gobble [1]Faculty252.63 (on FTE basis)[2]Grades9–12Enrollment4,489...

 

À l'ombre

2012 single by Mylène FarmerÀ l'ombreSingle by Mylène Farmerfrom the album Monkey Me B-sideInstrumentalReleased26 November 2012Recorded2012GenreElectropopLength4:51 (album version) 4:45 (radio edit)LabelPolydor, Universal MusicSongwriter(s)Lyrics: Mylène Farmer Music: Laurent BoutonnatProducer(s)Laurent BoutonnatMylène Farmer singles chronology Du temps (2011) À l'ombre (2012) Je te dis tout (2013) Music videoÀ l'ombre on YouTube À l'ombre (English: In the Shadow) is a song recorded ...