May 18, 2005
Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs: 'U.S. is obliged to extradite Posada Carriles'

(ABN) - "Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alí Rodríguez Araque said the U.S. is obliged to comply with the request for extradition of terrorist Luis Posada Carriles, who has been accused by Caracas and Havana of several attacks. 'We are waiting for the United States to contribute with the arrest of this criminal, as a country who is signatory of the extradition treaties with Venezuela since 1922 and one of the countries that most aggressively condemns terrorism'.

Minister Rodríguez said the White House has an ethical duty to complete the extradition request made on May 13 th by Venezuela for the arrest of the Cuban activist who has Venezuelan nationality.

The 77-year-old terrorist is accused by Venezuela of planning the 1976 attack against an aircraft of Cubana de Aviacion in which 73 passengers died. Havana also accuses him of planning the 2000 failed attack against Cuban President Fidel Castro in Panama. Cuba is also demanding the extradition of Posada Carriles for other crimes against Cuban interests in the past 40 years, among which are the 1997 bombings in several hotels in Havana.

Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs reminded that Posada Carriles has to be extradited to Venezuela because in 1985 he escaped from jail in this country when waiting for an appeal on the case of Cubana de Aviación.

This is the second time Venezuela begins procedures to extradite Posada Carriles. The first time was in Panamá in 2001 when he was jailed for the failed attack against Castro. In August 2004 he was reprieved by Panamanian President Mireya Morosco and never heard of again. In May, the Cuban terrorist was detained by Federal Agents in Florida, USA. The United States has to reply to Venezuela 's request for extradition made last May 13th".