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WORLD NEWS Friday 17 February 2017

Venezuelan court upholds sentence against opposition leader

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) ed a photo of himself with
— Venezuela’s highest Lopez’s wife, Lilian Tintori,
court has upheld a 14-year demanding that the oppo-
prison sentence for oppo- sition leader be let out “im-
sition leader Leopoldo Lo- mediately.”
pez, ruling a day after U.S. Venezuelan Foreign Min-
President Donald Trump ister Delcy Rodriguez ac-
called for his release after cused Trump of committing
meeting with Lopez’s wife. an “aggression” against
Lopez was found guilty of Venezuela.
inciting violence during a The development comes
wave of deadly anti-gov- during a turbulent week for
ernment protests in 2014, a U.S.-Venezuela relations.
conviction that many for- The U.S. announced sanc-
eign governments see as tions against Venezuela’s
politically motivated. vice president Monday,
Thursday’s ruling makes the accusing him of playing a
conviction final. major role in international
A day earlier Trump tweet- drug trafficking.q

Mexico’s likely next envoy to Antonieta Mendoza, mother of jailed opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, from left, Lilian Tintori, Lo-

US: Ties are at ‘critical’ point pez’s wife, and Mitzy Capriles, wife of jailed Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma, chant ”Freedom”
upon their arrival to the Simon Bolivar International Airport, in Maiquetia, Venezuela, Thursday,
Feb. 16, 2017. U.S. President Donald Trump’s surprise Oval Office meeting Wednesday night with
PETER ORSI senators from the opposi- Tintori sent shockwaves on social media in Venezuela but it remains to be seen if his willingness
Associated Press tion Democratic Revolu- to quickly take up the cause of the opposition will help or hamper regional efforts to resolve the
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexi- tion Party as the Senate nation’s political and economic crisis. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
co’s nominee to be its next prepares to consider his
ambassador to the United nomination.
States said Thursday that A recording of the encoun-
the two countries’ relation- ter was provided to The As-
ship is at a “critical” junc- sociated Press by a Senate
ture with the new adminis- official who was not autho-
tration of President Donald rized to release the audio
Trump. and agreed to so only if
Ahead of high-level talks granted anonymity.
scheduled for next week in Relations between Mexi-
Mexico City, ambassador- co and the United States
in-waiting Geronimo Guti- have been tense since
errez Fernandez said Mexi- the election and inaugu-
co must pursue a good re- ration of Trump, who has
lationship with Washington vowed to renegotiate the
but that should not come North American Free Trade
“at all costs nor under just Agreement and to build a
any conditions,” or in a way wall along the countries’
that is “to the detriment of shared border and force
national interest.” Mexico to pay for it. Mexico
“The relationship between has also bristled at Trump’s
Mexico and the United promises of more aggres-
States and more specifical- sive deportation policies
ly between their govern- and past remarks denigrat-
ments is at a critical point,” ing migrants who enter the
Gutierrez said. “In my judg- United States illegally.
ment there is a possibility of A planned recent visit to
a major derailment. In my Washington by Mexican
judgment there is also, and President Enrique Pena Ni-
it is within reach, the op- eto was canceled after
portunity to construct a far Mexico’s government said
more mature relationship.” it wouldn’t abide Trump’s
Gutierrez’s remarks came demand that it pay for the
in a private meeting with wall.q