(Adnkronos) – The release of four Italian prisoners from jail in Venezuela in recent days “is an important step towards rebuilding a strong bridge” between Italy and the crisis-hit South American country, foreign minister Antonio Tajani said on Monday.
“We welcome the release of our citizens, and this should enable us to transform relations. An important step has been taken towards rebuilding a strong bridge between Italy and Venezuela,” Tajani told reporters.
“Now we must work towards a change of pace in relations with Venezuela. We welcome the release of our citizens, and this should enable us to change (bilateral) relations,” Tajani continued.
The shock deposal and capture of Venezuela’s leftist leader Nicolas Maduro in a United States attack on 3 January and the appointment of his deputy(Delcy Rodriguez) as interim president is a “change”, Tajani said.
“We need to transform the change that has taken place in Venezuela into a phase of stability, and then move on to a phase of growth and transition, which will lead to elections,” Tajani added.
Venezuela’s interim leadership said on Friday it would release a significant number of prisoners including foreign nationals, as a gesture of good will. The move followed demands from human rights groups, international bodies and opposition figures after Maduro’s ousting and transfer to the US for trial on drugs, weapons and ‘narco-terrorism’ charges.
