WASHINGTON (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 05th February, 2019) The United States is calling on all members of the European Union to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a press release.
Earlier in the day, Austria, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom recognized Guaido, the leader of Venezuelan National Assembly, as the country's interim president.
"We encourage all countries, including other EU member states, to support the Venezuelan people by recognizing Interim President Guaido and supporting the National Assembly's efforts to return constitutional democracy to Venezuela," Pompeo said in the release on Monday.
Ireland, Switzerland, Norway, Italy, Greece and other countries in the EU have not recognized Guadio as the interim president.
EU countries were expected to recognize Guaido in a joint statement, but, according to a diplomatic source in Brussels, Italy blocked the move.
Guaido proclaimed himself Venezuela's acting president on January 23. The United States and several of its allies swiftly recognized Guaido's declaration.
Russia, China, and a number of other countries are supporting incumbent President Nicolas Maduro as the legitimate head of state in Venezuela.
