Baduel urges respect for Venezuelan sovereign decision to purchase weapons
Army major general Raúl Isaías Baduel said Friday
that in view of the recent move by the Venezuelan government
to buy weapons, the only thing he could ask "as a soldier and
a citizen" was respect for Venezuela's sovereign decisions.
About his stance on the remarks made Thursday by Colombian
Defense Minister Jorge Uribe, he warned that he was not an authorized
speaker, but clarified that Venezuelan move should be respected
"as we respect other peoples' decisions."
He stressed that the weapons purchased from Russia, Brazil
and Spain are defensive and noted that Venezuela "has a strong
pacifist vocation, as established in the National Constitution."
Baduel attended Friday a requiem hosted by the government
to honor Pope John Paul II.
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