Foreign Minister Heraldo Muñoz received today at Arturo Merino Benitez Airport four of the five Venezuelan magistrates who requested asylum from Chile, which was granted to them in due course, and who stayed for nearly 80 days as guests at the residence of the Ambassador of Chile in Venezuela. They are Elenis del Valle Rodríguez, José Fernando Núñez, Beatriz Ruiz Marín and Zuleima del Valle González. Meanwhile, Judge Luis Marcano will arrive to the country during the afternoon.
"On behalf of the President of the Republic and the Government of Chile, feel at home in Chile, which we hope will be your second nation from now on", said Foreign Minister Muñoz after their arrival. "Chile, as its national anthem states, is a sanctuary against oppression and that's why we receive them in the tradition of international law and what Chile has always done when those who believe their security is in danger ask for refuge in our country", he added.
The Minister reported that the magistrates have already received the status of asylum-seekers and a two-year residency in Chile. "We hope that your stay in Chile will be pleasant. You have had a sunny day and we hope that spring will be equally positive for you. In the meantime, we will continue with our commitment to the full restoration of democratic order in Venezuela", he said.
The Secretary of State also reiterated that next week he will travel to Canada to participate in a meeting of the Lima Group, where 12 countries that "have committed themselves to coordinate actions so that there is a peaceful, negotiated, credible way out of the deep crisis that Venezuela is experiencing in political, economic, social and humanitarian terms".