Rome, Jan. 3 (LaPresse) – “Our primary concern is the safety of our fellow citizens.” This was stated by the Italian ambassador to Venezuela, Giovanni Umberto De Vito, to RaiNews24 after the US attacks on the country, explaining that the embassy is in constant contact with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, the Foreign Ministry, the consulates in Caracas and Maracaibo, and the Italian community in the country. “We have been mobilized for weeks with contingency plans to ensure maximum assistance. At this time, we strongly recommend that our fellow citizens remain in their homes, not go out into the streets, and avoid any travel,” the ambassador stressed, noting that the situation is “very fluid and uncertain”. There are around 160,000 Italians in Venezuela, mostly dual nationals, but also expats and tourists. For the moment, no particular requests for help have been reported, the ambassador explained. “The airspace is closed and it is not possible to organize flights,” he added, “the priority is to stay informed and maintain contact with the embassy and consulates.”