Vice-president Istúriz blames a conspiracy policy for low oil prices

Venezuelan Vice-president Aristóbilo Isturiz presented yesterday his annual report (Memoria y Cuenta) to the opposition dominated National Assembly.

Isturiz told the assembly that the recent collapse of oil prices is no accident, but part of a “conspiracy policy” of the United States against oil producing countries.

He also said that last year Venezuela had suffered from an “induced scarcity” of basic products, for which he blamed smuggling, the hoarding of subsidized products, an attack against the Venezuelan currency, and industrial sabotage.