Caracas -The Venezuelan government rejected today denigrating and offensive statements against the Venezuelan people of the Colombian Vice President, Germán Vargas Lleras, issued in the Colombian territory of Tibú, department of Norte de Santander.

In a statement this Friday, the Bolivarian Republic strongly opposed the hatred of the Colombian vice-president, who installed the first stone for the construction of 204 free homes and asked the governor of Norte de Santander to prevent Venezuelan access to the governmental program.

The houses built here should not be handed over to 'Venecos' (Venezuelan residents in Colombia) the Colombian politician said yesterday, using that discriminatory term to refer to the citizens of this country.

According to the text released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs International Law requires equal treatment of people, and provides for due respect and good treatment of human beings, regardless of their social status, ethnicity, nationality, or any other consideration.

He also states that, with the position of its vice president, Colombia does not comply with international instruments of which it is a party, whose precepts prohibit discrimination against any social group and obliges to promote dignified treatment to the populations residing in their territories.

Venezuela - it is added in the text- 'deeply regrets the hurtful and degrading tone with which the second national authority of Colombia broke these principles and tried to ignore the indissoluble historical ties of brotherhood of our peoples guided by the common sword that gave them freedom.'

'Vargas Lleras seems to ignore the United Nations reports that recognize Venezuela's management to provide a safe, respectful and integral shelter to millions of Colombians who flee just from war, discrimination and class hatred,' he stated.

Likewise, he considers it reprehensible that even existing fraternal relation between the two peoples, 'the Colombian oligarchy systematically attacks the Venezuelan people and their dignified demonym.'

Finally, he demanded that the government of Colombia apologize to the Venezuelans for the xenophobic expressions of Vargas Lleras and declared that he will act in the international instances against any aggression or violence against Venezuelans in that country, instigated by the message of hatred of his vice president.