Sobers

Minister of Foreign and Caricom Affairs Sean Sobers (right) shakes hands with Venezuelan Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago Alvaro Sanchez Cordero during a courtesy call Monday at the ministry's offices. Photo courtesy the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs 

In the midst of a diplomatic row between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela, Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Sean Sobers has met with Venezuelan Ambassador Álvaro Sánchez Cordero.
 
In a ministry release Monday, it was announced that Sobers held discussions earlier that day with the Ambassador during a courtesy call at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs.
 
"During the meeting, Minister Sobers and Ambassador Sánchez recognised the importance of the longstanding fraternal relationship as neighbouring countries that share strong cultural and historical ties," the release stated.
 
"Both sides also discussed matters of mutual interest and concern, inclusive of recent events with Minister Sobers reiterating the Government of the Republic Trinidad and Tobago’s previous request for information from the Government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela," the release added.
 
The Ministry reported that "arising out of the discussions, it was agreed that in the spirit of constructive dialogue, open diplomatic channels would be maintained with a view to ensuring that the exchange of information is fair, transparent and consistent."
 
The courtesy call comes following a war of words between Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and the Venezuelan government over Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's claim that an armed group of men, including one the government said it identified as Trinidadian, had been intercepted trying to enter Venezuela from Trinidad and Tobago. 
 
Persad-Bissessar at a post-Cabinet news conference last week warned Venezuela to stay out of Trinidad and Tobago territory as any unidentified vessel entering T&T’s waters will be met with deadly force. The Venezuela Government responded by suggesting “complicity” by the Trinidad and Tobago Government and also expressed surprise at the tone of the Prime Minister's response.

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