President Ricardo Martinelli told Venezuela on Friday that its decision to break off ties with Panama should not serve as an excuse to renege on its debt exceeding $1 billion.
Martinelli's warning came a day after Venezuela ordered the expulsion of Panama's ambassador and three other diplomats in a worsening dispute stemming from protests against the Caracas government.
"I don't want to think that this is an excuse not to pay and that the Venezuelan state is a deadbeat," the Panamanian leader told reporters.
At least 20 people have been killed in more than a month of anti-government protests in Venezuela that President Nicolas Maduro blames on a US-backed "fascist" plot.
Maduro lashed out Wednesday at Panama, calling it a "lackey" of the United States for seeking a meeting of the Washington-based Organization of American States on the turmoil, and announcing he was cutting ties with the country.
In an escalating war of words Friday, Martinelli suggested that Maduro's real motive in recent days was to get out of paying huge bills owed to the Colon duty-free trade zone and to COPA, the Panamanian airline.
"Venezuela would appear to be bankrupt, although it shouldn't be because it is a very rich country," said Martinelli.
It "has no excuse" to not pay off its debts, he added, before taking to Twitter to denounce "vile attacks and false accusations" from Maduro.
Guatemalan President Otto Perez offered his country's services to broker dialogue between Panama and Venezuela.
Perez said he had instructed Foreign Minister Fernando Carrera to lobby other top diplomats in the region to foster a rapprochement.
"We have always sought and encouraged further integration (of the region) and for dialogue to prevail," Perez said.
The manager of the Colon Free Zone, Leopoldo Benedetti, said Venezuelan importers have about $2 billion in unpaid bills.
COPA, which Martinelli said is owed $480 million, issued a statement saying its flights between Panama and Venezuela were operating normally.
President Ricardo Martinelli told Venezuela on Friday that its decision to break off ties with Panama should not serve as an excuse to renege on its debt exceeding $1 billion.
Martinelli’s warning came a day after Venezuela ordered the expulsion of Panama’s ambassador and three other diplomats in a worsening dispute stemming from protests against the Caracas government.
“I don’t want to think that this is an excuse not to pay and that the Venezuelan state is a deadbeat,” the Panamanian leader told reporters.
At least 20 people have been killed in more than a month of anti-government protests in Venezuela that President Nicolas Maduro blames on a US-backed “fascist” plot.
Maduro lashed out Wednesday at Panama, calling it a “lackey” of the United States for seeking a meeting of the Washington-based Organization of American States on the turmoil, and announcing he was cutting ties with the country.
In an escalating war of words Friday, Martinelli suggested that Maduro’s real motive in recent days was to get out of paying huge bills owed to the Colon duty-free trade zone and to COPA, the Panamanian airline.
“Venezuela would appear to be bankrupt, although it shouldn’t be because it is a very rich country,” said Martinelli.
It “has no excuse” to not pay off its debts, he added, before taking to Twitter to denounce “vile attacks and false accusations” from Maduro.
Guatemalan President Otto Perez offered his country’s services to broker dialogue between Panama and Venezuela.
Perez said he had instructed Foreign Minister Fernando Carrera to lobby other top diplomats in the region to foster a rapprochement.
“We have always sought and encouraged further integration (of the region) and for dialogue to prevail,” Perez said.
The manager of the Colon Free Zone, Leopoldo Benedetti, said Venezuelan importers have about $2 billion in unpaid bills.
COPA, which Martinelli said is owed $480 million, issued a statement saying its flights between Panama and Venezuela were operating normally.
