Venezuela calls for international support at UN

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Venezuela is trying to gather support at the United Nations amid a political crisis at home.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza, flanked by representatives from 16 other countries, read a statement on Thursday to reporters at the UN Headquarters in New York.

"Today, we are announcing that an important group of members of the United Nations states, concerned over the need to maintain respect for the principles of the founding charter (of the UN) that governs the behavior of the international community, have decided to organize ourselves to coordinate actions to defend the charter and the right of all the member states," said the statement.

The statement called for respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of the peoples, respect for the sovereign equality of UN members, and non-intervention in the domestic affairs of the states.

"We believe these principles are being violated, putting at risk the right to peace and security of our peoples, the right to development, and full enjoyment of human rights," said the statement. "We all have the right to live without the threat of use of force, and without the application of illegal, coercive, unilateral measures."

"In the next few days, we will begin a series of actions to raise awareness around the dangers that our peoples currently face, particularly the case of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. We call upon all the member states of the United Nations to join us in defending international law as the only guarantor for humanity's peaceful coexistence."

The UN has been divided between countries that support Juan Guaido, who declared himself interim president on January 23, and those who back President Nicolas Maduro. The U.S. is leading a push to recognize Guaido, backed by about 50 member countries.

"In Venezuela there's only government - the government of President Maduro", Arreaza said.

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza speaks at the United Nations headquarters in New York, February 14, 2019. /Xinhua Photo

Meanwhile, twenty-five countries have pledged 100 million dollars in aid to Venezuela, a top U.S. official said Thursday, as Venezuela's Supreme Court took aim at oil executives appointed by the opposition.

U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton announced Thursday following an Organization of American States (OAS) conference on assisting the crisis-hit country. "Today, 25 countries, united at the OAS-hosted Conference on Humanitarian Assistance in Support of Venezuela pledged 100 million dollars in humanitarian assistance," Bolton tweeted.

According to David Smolanksy, coordinator of an OAS working group on migration and refugees from Venezuela, the money will go directly to aid collection centers set up on the borders with Colombia and Brazil and on the Caribbean island of Curazao.

The opposition-controlled National Assembly -- which is headed by Guaido -- appointed executives to form new boards for Venezuelan state oil firm PDVSA and its U.S.-based affiliate Citgo on Wednesday.

Venezuela's Supreme Court took aim at the move the following day, ordering that the new appointees face criminal prosecution.

(Cover: Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza speaks at the United Nations headquarters in New York, February 14, 2019. /Xinhua Photo)

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency