US State Department spokesman Roger Curstens was able to meet an American who was illegally detained while in the capital Caracas, saying, "With senior officials from the Maduro administration. We will ensure that we receive appropriate care as needed. "
However, the visit by Ambassador Kirstens and Jimmy Story, who head the US Venezuelan affairs unit, ended Thursday without the Americans, who consider the US to be illegally detained, to return.
There are at least eight Americans currently known to be illegally detained in Venezuela-five of the six American oil executives collectively referred to as "CITGO 6"-Tomeu -With Vadel, Jorge Toledo, Aririo Jose Zambrano, Jose Luis Zambrano and Jose Angel Pereira-Luke Denman, Iran Berry, Matthew Heath.
"We will continue to seek immediate and unconditional release of US citizens unfairly detained in Venezuela on every occasion," a State Department spokesman said.
A senior State Department official told CNN that the talks between U.S. and Maduro officials were "constructive, but both sides did more to narrow the gap between their positions. There is something to be done. " "Some progress" came from previous discussions between the two, according to country officials who said there was also a sense of "open communication on this topic" between the United States and the Nicolas Maduro administration. .. Those who are not recognized by the United States as legal leaders in Venezuela.
Officials refused to provide specific details about the debate or tell who Karstens and the story met from the Maduro government, but Karstens considers the State Department to be illegally detained. I was able to visit all Americans. The detainee's visit did not appear to be in a hurry, officials told CNN.
Also, because there is no embassy and the consulate is examined when there is an embassy in the country, there was a feeling that men highly value meeting the special envoy. Tell them part of their story and let their loved ones know that someone has seen them and they can report. The official said. The United States ceased operations at the Venezuelan embassy in March 2019.
State Department officials said delegations would travel to make "health and welfare visits" for everyone. He detained an American before Heath's attempted suicide, which he said he had planned, but his welfare concerns made this week's visit urgent, which was highlighted in discussions with Venezuelan officials.
Heath's aunt, Toldi Rutherford, said in a statement Thursday that "Matthew's physical and mental health remains at stake and he fears he will try to commit suicide again." rice field.
"I am very grateful to Ambassador Kirstens and his team for this trip, but with a focus on taking Matthew and other American detainees home. It is important that there is a continuous and high level of involvement among the US governments. "She said.
"Both President Biden and President Maduro are in a position to benefit from ending the trials of all these Americans and their families, and not from long-term detention." Rutherford said.
Vadel's family, one of the "CITGO 6" imprisoned since 2017, said in a statement, "I'm disappointed to see the land of another US plane without Tomeu. ".
"For more than four and a half years, the human rights of this innocent person have been violated," the family said. "It's unacceptable."
The Vadels told "all stakeholders," including the US government, Venezuelan authorities, CITGO, and the United Nations, that he was almost 63 years old and "with all his heart." We are dealing with it, "he said, calling for efforts to ensure his immediate release. Problems and Latent Tuberculosis "
" His health and safety are our top priorities, "they said. "Every day is important, so everyone involved needs to act urgently."
This story has been updated with additional details.
