Venezuelan dissent: Eviction of Paraguayans disregards diplomatic practice

According to Edmundo González, the member of the international area of the opposition Unified Democratic Panel (MUD), the democratic coalition was surprised at learning from some press releases of international news agencies that four Paraguayan diplomats were warned "unofficially of a potential eviction from Venezuela."

González deems it "not so serious" that such a decision was notified to the diplomatic agent in a telephone call. He admitted that while the Venezuelan State does not have to explain its decision, pursuant to Article 9 of Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, there should be an official notice from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The opposition leader remembered that under the international law, the expulsion of a diplomatic agent is an extreme, serious step that should be preceded by a declaration of persona non grata in order to be effective.

"Such situations show disregard of rules, uses and customs of the diplomatic practice and endanger the country trustworthiness and dependable management of international relations," he concluded.