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Venezuela Shuts Down Norway Embassy Days After Nobel Peace Prize To Machado; Here's Why
Venezuela Shuts Down Norway Embassy Days After Nobel Peace Prize To Machado; Here's Why
Days after Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado received the Nobel Peace Prize, President Nicolas Maduro ordered the closure of Venezuela's embassy in Norway, a move widely interpreted as a rebuke of the Norwegian Nobel Committee's decision to honour Machado's democratic activism.
The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry announced that the embassy in Oslo would be closed as part of a “reorganisation" of the country's diplomatic network.
At the same time, Caracas revealed plans to shut down its mission in Australia while opening new diplomatic representations in Zimbabwe and Burkina Faso, saying the realignment aimed to “strengthen ties with the Global South."
By Monday evening, phone lines at the Oslo embassy had already been disconnected.
Norway's Foreign Ministry said Venezuela provided no official explanation for the embassy's closure.
“It is regrettable," said ministry spokesperson Cecilie Roang, noting that “despite our differences, Norway wishes to maintain dialogue with Venezuela and will continue to do so."
Roang also clarified that the Nobel Peace Prize operates “independently of the Norwegian government."
Norway has played a key role as mediator in negotiations between Maduro's government and Venezuela's opposition since 2019, including talks that led to the Barbados Agreement in 2024, which ultimately collapsed.
The Maduro government has not publicly commented on Machado's Nobel Peace Prize, awarded on October 10, “for her tireless efforts to promote democratic rights and her pursuit of a peaceful transition from authoritarianism to democracy."
A prominent figure in Venezuela's Vente Venezuela party, Machado has long been one of Maduro's fiercest critics.
She has led multiple anti-government demonstrations and has frequently described the president's administration as a “dictatorship."
Following the 2024 presidential election, which the opposition claims was fraudulently won by Maduro, Machado and her allies asserted that Edmundo González, her party colleague, was the true victor.
Facing growing persecution, Machado went into hiding in August 2024, citing threats to her “life and freedom."
Despite not naming her directly, Maduro appeared to refer to Machado as a “demonic witch" during a speech on Sunday, a phrase often used by government officials to disparage opposition leaders.
Speaking to AFP from hiding, Machado said Maduro's “time is over" but offered that he could still exit power peacefully.
“Maduro has the opportunity to move toward a peaceful transition," she said.
“We are ready to offer guarantees, ones we will reveal only at the negotiation table. If he continues to resist, the consequences will be his responsibility. With or without negotiations, he will leave power."
Machado accused Maduro of having “declared war on Venezuelans" and added that opposition candidate González has invited her to serve as vice president in a prospective transitional government.
“I'll be wherever I can best serve my country," she said.
Source: News18
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Feeling bloated, gassy, or dealing with constant stomach discomfort? Maybe you've brushed it off as stress, late-night snacking, or just “normal digestion issues.” But your gut could be trying to tell you something important. From sudden changes in bowel habits to recurring heartburn
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