"They can impose sanctions and tariffs, but what they cannot sanction is the love and patriotism of the Venezuelan people." 

Photo: Presidential Press

Caracas, March 25 (RHC)-- The president of Venezuela has denounced the sanctions and pressure exerted by the United States government, which imposed 25 percent tariffs on those countries that purchase its oil.

President Nicolas Maduro emphasized that "if yesterday the battle was fought with swords, spears, and rifles on horseback, today the battle is to produce, supply, export and develop."

Acknowledging that "Venezuela has everything, we lack nothing," Nicolás Maduro pointed out: "What we need, we have here: land, sun, water, wealth.  And it is Venezuelan.  Our homeland will never be a colony."

The decision was made one day after the arrival of 199 migrants from the U.S. through Honduras and after the rejected deportation and kidnapping of more than 230 Venezuelans to a prison in El Salvador.

In this context, the president stated that "the imperial announcements confirm that we are on the path toward the absolute independence of our economy."

The tariff measure against countries that buy Venezuelan gas or petroleum will take effect on April 2nd.

[ SOURCE:  teleSUR ]