Russia calls for dialogue to solve Venezuelan internal crisis

Venezuela should resort to dialogue to settle its internal political crisis and the international community needs to make more efforts in getting all parties interested to engage in negotiations, the Russian foreign ministry said Thursday.

"In our opinion, only an inclusive dialogue without preconditions will help to reach compromise solutions on the crisis," said Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian ministry, in a press briefing.

Venezuela has been plunged into a political crisis since January when the opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself the country's interim president and he was recognized by the U.S. and some other countries.

The U.S. has been pursuing a policy of economic sanctions and diplomatic isolation against the Venezuelan government in support of Guaido. In March, the U.S. Department of the Treasury slapped sanctions on Venezuelan Economic and Social Development Bank and four other financial institutions it owns or controls.

Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry. /VCG Photo

Zakharova said that imposing unilateral sanctions does not contribute to Venezuela's national reconciliation and even fuels its domestic political confrontation.

In view of the critical situation, it has become increasingly urgent to step up international assistance in resolving the Venezuelan crisis, she said.

"We once again urge all responsible political forces of Venezuela that are independent in their actions, whatever views they may hold, to come to the negotiating table in the name of a peaceful future for their people and their homeland," Zakharova said.

Venezuela crisis

Following Guaido declaring himself the interim president on January 23, several countries, including the U.S., Lima Group members (excluding Mexico), Australia, Albania, Georgia and Israel, as well as the Organization of American States, recognized him as Venezuela's interim president. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in turn, blasted the move as a coup staged by Washington and said he was severing diplomatic ties with the United States. On February 4, most of the European Union member states also recognized Guaido as Venezuela's interim president.

Juan Guaido, the leader of the Venezuelan opposition-controlled National Assembly, declared himself the country's interim president on January 23. /VCG Photo

In contrast, the United Nations secretary general, in turn, called for dialogue to resolve the crisis, while Russia, Belarus, Bolivia, Iran, Cuba, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Syria and Turkey voiced support for Maduro.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov and his Venezuelan counterpart Felix Plasencia have held consultations, calling for respecting Venezuela's sovereignty, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

"The parties reiterated the two countries' principled position that all domestic political differences in Venezuela must be resolved peacefully, through an inclusive dialogue between political forces," the statement read.

"Given Venezuela's initiative to establish an informal group in support for the United Nations Charter and international law, they emphasized the need for all the interested parties to respect Venezuela's sovereignty, abide by the principles of non-interference in its domestic affairs, non-use of force or threat of force."

Russia Vs U.S.

On March 23, two military planes carrying about 100 Russian personnel and equipment arrived in Caracas, Venezuela.

Maria Zakharova, later said that the individuals were "specialists" who had arrived in the country as part of a bilateral "military-technical cooperation agreement" between Moscow and Caracas, and that they would stay in the country "for as long as the government of Venezuela needs them."

The influx has fueled tensions between Russia and the U.S. that were sparked earlier this year as the two countries picked opposing sides in Venezuela's debilitating political crisis.

The conversation heated up as U.S. President Donald Trump told Russia "to get out," and the Russian Foreign Ministry shot back that "the U.S. should get out of Syria first."

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday again called on NATO allies to adapt to confront emerging threats, including Russia's military interventions in places such as Venezuela. He told reporters after the meeting that NATO members had agreed Russian troops needed to withdraw from Venezuela, where they were deployed in support of President Maduro

Venezuela's Deputy Foreign Minister, Ivan Gil, said on Thursday that Russian forces would stay in Venezuela as long as needed and did not rule out the possibility more could be added, Interfax news agency reported.

(CGTN )