Maduro slams Citibank for 'financial blockade'
Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has slammed a major bank in the United States for a decision to close accounts belonging to the Venezuelan government, saying the move amounts to imposing financial blockade on the Latin American country.
Maduro on Tuesday slammed Citibank’s imminent decision to close the Central Bank and Bank Of Venezuela account with it, saying the move came with no prior warning or communication.
"That is what you call a financial blockade," Maduro said in televised remarks, adding that the move amounted to an "inquisition" by the administration of US President Barack Obama.
Maduro said Caracas had been using the account to make payments to other accounts in the United States and worldwide and Citibank’s move was just to impose more restrictions on the oil-producing nation.
He said the blockade would not stop Venezuela’s move toward a better future.
“Do you think they are going to stop us by putting in place a financial blockade? No … nobody stops Venezuela,” Maduro said, adding, “With Citibank or without it, we are moving forward. With Kimberly or without, we are moving.”
Citibank said earlier Tuesday that it made the decision to close the accounts "following a periodic risk management review." The bank did not elaborate on the results of the review and its relations to the current economic situation in Venezuela.
A Citibank spokeswoman, however, vowed that correspondence will continue with the Maduro administration to restore the financial relations.
"We value our dialogue with the president's administration and hope to address its concerns in the interest of continuing to serve our clients," said Danielle Romero-Apsilos, adding, "This decision is not a reflection of our commitment to a country we have served for almost 100 years."
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