Pretoria, May 2, 2019.-The deputy general director of the United States office in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Johana Tablada, told in a press conference in Havana that "there are no Cuban troops in Venezuela," so it is impossible to withdraw them from that country, as claimed on Twitter the President of the United States Donald Trump.
On Tuesday, the US president threatened Cuba with implementing a "total and complete blockade, together with the highest level of sanctions," if Havana did not withdraw "troops" and "militias" in Venezuela.
Cuba does not participate with troops or troops in military or security operations in Venezuela." "We cannot remove troops from Venezuela that are non-existent," emphasized Tablada.
The official also described as "cruel" the President Trump's statements, taking into account the negative effects that such sanctions can have on the Cuban people. No other country has had to endure such absurd and comprehensive sanctions for so long, she added.
She recalled that the vast majority of the nations of the world have rejected the blockade in the United Nations for 27 consecutive years.
The diplomat denounced the escalation of "accusations, falsehoods and slander about the nature of the cooperation relationship between Cuba and Venezuela" by the current administration of the United States.
"(The policy of lying) is aimed at hiding the real support that exists in Venezuela for the government and the Bolivarian Revolution and the lack of support that exists in Venezuela for the self-proclaimed and designated supposed rulers chosen by the United States," she said.
It is also a way to find the most convenient pretext to impose and justify new measures of hostility against Cuba, she said. "Otherwise it would be impossible to sustain and defend it."
(With information from Cubadebate)