On his Telegram account, the high-ranking diplomat noted that the action lasted 63 days, between December 2002 and February 2003, and was promoted by the state-owned opposition, Fedecamaras (the Venezuelan Federation of Chambers of Commerce), and managers of the state-owned oil company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA).

He recalled that the objective was to overthrow the government of Commander Hugo Chavez by “paralyzing oil production and exports.”

The Foreign Minister emphasized that it was the working class, the people, and the National Armed Forces who recovered PDVSA and “gave a lesson in patriotism to those who tried to harm the entire Venezuelan people.”

Gil stated that the Venezuelan oil industry suffered aggression and blockades since the arrival of the Bolivarian Revolution, in an attempt to weaken a sovereign process.

He asserted that “these attempts have been defeated and confronted with unity and morale.”

abo/arm/mem/jcd