Venezuela, Italy to raise diplomatic missions to ambassadorial level

CARACAS, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil said Monday that Venezuela and Italy have agreed to raise their diplomatic missions to the ambassadorial level following talks with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.

Gil said on Telegram that the agreement was reached during a phone conversation in which both sides also agreed to work on a bilateral agenda. "In the coming days we will make the corresponding announcements and contacts."

During the call, Gil also briefed Tajani on recent U.S. attacks against Venezuela.

He said the bombings at several locations across the country "caused hundreds of deaths among civilians and military personnel, in open violation of international law and the United Nations Charter." ■