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YVAN GIL PINTO, Minister of the People's Power for Foreign Affairs of Venezuela, told the UN General Assembly (UNGA) his country will not be intimidated by foreign threats as he reaffirmed Venezuela’s “Bolivarian vocation of peace” and the right to defend its sovereignty.

Addressing the 80th UNGA in New York on September 26, he said Venezuela’s history had been one of struggle against colonial domination and imperialist aggression. He invoked the legacy of Venezuelan independence leader Simon Bolivar and recalled incidences of colonial oppression, coups backed by foreign entities and other hardships.

He accused the US of waging a “criminal aggression” against Venezuela to take its natural wealth and force a regime change.