Filinto Duran, Venezuela's ambassador to Honduras, said that Honduran authorities had asked him to leave the country in the wake of their recognition of a diplomatic representative of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who had proclaimed himself the country's interim president
MONTEVIDEO (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 02nd February, 2019) Filinto Duran, Venezuela's ambassador to Honduras, said that Honduran authorities had asked him to leave the country in the wake of their recognition of a diplomatic representative of Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who had proclaimed himself the country's interim president.
"I would like to inform you that last night, I was summoned by the Honduran Foreign Ministry, where they read to me a statement saying that [the authorities] did not recognize me as the ambassador any more and they notified me that I should leave the country together with my family in the course of five days," Duran said, as quoted by the local Heraldo newspaper.
The outlet added that Duran had informed the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry about the meeting. The ministry, in its turn, asked the ambassador to return to Venezuela in the course of the indicated period and noted that "Honduras, unfortunately, does not respect any international law or established protocols."
In late January, Guaido announced his plans to appoint his diplomatic representatives to the United States, Canada and the member states of the Lima Group, which Honduras is part of.
Meanwhile, Costa Rica, another member of the bloc, on Friday said it had recognized the diplomatic representative appointed by the Venezuelan opposition leader.
"Costa Rica's government has recognized the diplomatic representative to Costa Rica, appointed by the acting Venezuelan President, Juan Guaido. She was received by Foreign Minister Manuel Ventura Robles today," the statement, published on the Foreign Ministry's website on Friday, read.
On January 21, large-scale protests against President Nicolas Maduro erupted in Venezuela.
On January 23, Guaido, the speaker of the opposition-led legislature, proclaimed himself the country's interim president. The opposition figure was supported by the United States and a number of other countries, while Russia, China, Mexico and several other states backed Maduro as Venezuela's only president.
The Lima Group of countries seeking to end the crisis in Venezuela was created in 2017. It Includes Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Guyana, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay and Peru.
