Latin America
09:18, 26-Mar-2019
Lavrov tells Pompeo attempts to stage coup in Venezuela violate UN Charter
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that Washington's attempts to stage a coup in Venezuela are a blatant interference in the country's domestic affairs, Tass news agency reported on Monday citing the Russian Foreign Ministry.
"Lavrov emphasized that Washington's attempts to stage a coup in Venezuela and threats against its legitimate government were a violation of the UN Charter and blatant interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign state," the ministry said following a phone call between the two.
Two Russian air force planes with scores of troops reportedly landed in the Venezuelan capital Caracas on Saturday. Pompeo told Lavrov that Washington would "not stand idly by" while Russia throws its weight behind Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
An airplane with the Russian flag is seen at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Caracas, Venezuela, March 24, 2019. /Reuters Photo
An airplane with the Russian flag is seen at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Caracas, Venezuela, March 24, 2019. /Reuters Photo
U.S. State Department said Pompeo did not specifically mention reports about the Russian planes but condemned any Russian military support for the government.
Venezuela's Foreign Ministry official William Castillo wrote on Twitter: "Ridiculous.'Unconstructive behavior' is stealing Venezuela's resources and using them to finance corrupt terrorists like Guaido."
The Trump administration has imposed sanctions on Venezuela's crucial oil industry. On Friday it sanctioned its development bank, Bandes, in efforts to choke off financial flows to Maduro's government and called on Venezuelan military leaders to abandon him.
Maduro has denounced the sanctions as U.S. intervention and maintains diplomatic backing from Russia, China and Cuba.
A restaurant during a blackout in Caracas, Venezuela, March 25, 2019. /Reuters Photo
A restaurant during a blackout in Caracas, Venezuela, March 25, 2019. /Reuters Photo
The two diplomats also discussed issues on the Golan Heights.
Lavrov said the U.S. intention to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights leads to the violation of international law, impedes the settlement of the Syrian crisis, and aggravates the situation throughout the Middle East.
Trump on Monday signed a proclamation recognizing Israel's sovereignty over the disputed Golan Heights, territory that Israel seized from Syria in 1967.
(With inputs from Xinhua and Reuters)