Panama withdraws its diplomats from Venezuela and puts bilateral relations “on hold”

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By LatAm Reports Staff Writers

The Panamanian president said that “there is no other way for this decision” until the Venezuelan authorities carry out a review of the minutes.

The Government of Panama announced Monday that it is suspending diplomatic relations with Venezuela and has confirmed that it withdraws its diplomatic personnel from the Latin American country “until a review of the minutes” of the presidential elections are carried out.

“The fragile relationship established in recent years with the Republic of Venezuela has been strongly damaged in recent days. First, following the unilateral closure by the Venezuelan government of the airspace for flights of our Copa Airlines airline on Friday, July 26,” explained President José Raúl Mulino.

He also called the elections “advance about the free, open and transparent democratic system.” “We cannot look the other way in the face of the attempt to bring an institutional blow to the sovereign decision of the people of Venezuela,” he added.

The Panamanian president indicated that “there is no other way for this decision” until the Venezuelan authorities carry out a review of the minutes, as well as the computer system of the voting count.

This article has been translated after first appearing in Diario El Mundo