Dozens of demonstrators are peacefully protesting in front of Uruguay's Executive Tower against US intervention in Venezuela and in support of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro amid a meeting of the International Contact Group (ICG) co-chaired by the host-country Uruguay and the European Union, a Sputnik corresponded reported from the scene on Thursday
MONTEVIDEO (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 07th February, 2019) Dozens of demonstrators are peacefully protesting in front of Uruguay's Executive Tower against US intervention in Venezuela and in support of Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro amid a meeting of the International Contact Group (ICG) co-chaired by the host-country Uruguay and the European Union, a Sputnik corresponded reported from the scene on Thursday.The protesters hold signs and chant slogans, including "US go home," "Venezuela's oil belongs to people, stop inventing stories to steal it," "No to Intervention in Latin America," "No to coup d'etat," while some waive Venezuelan flags.
The International Contact Group meeting kicked off at 11:30 a.m. local time at the Executive Tower, the workplace of the Uruguayan president.
The Uruguayan authorities had fenced off Montevideo's main square where the Executive Tower is located hours before the protest, and the protesters are present right at the fence.
The protest is peaceful and there is no significant police presence on the premises.
On January 23, Juan Guaido, the head of the Venezuelan opposition-led National Assembly, proclaimed himself to be Venezuela's interim president. The United States and many of its allies recognize Guaido as the interim president of Venezuela.
Russia, China, Turkey, Uruguay, Mexico and several other countries have reaffirmed they consider Nicolas Maduro to be Venezuela's only legitimate, democratically elected president.
Maduro has called Guaido a puppet of the United States and accused Washington of attempting to organize a coup d'etat in Venezuela. Maduro also announced that Venezuela has severed diplomatic relations with the United States.
In late January, the European Union announced the establishment of the ICG, comprised of representatives from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom along with Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Uruguay.
In a joint statement released on February 3, EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and Uruguayan President Tabare Vazquez said the agenda at the ICG inaugural meeting would be focused on finding a solution to help Venezuelans choose their own future.
Creating the ICG came after en EU ultimatum giving Maduro eight days to organize new presidential elections passed over the weekend.
However, several EU countries have chosen to abstain from backing Guaido, including Italy, Ireland, Greece and Slovakia.
Russia characterized the decision by some EU member states to recognize Guaido as "direct interference" in Venezuela's domestic affairs.
The International Contact Group on Venezuela's Terms of Reference, approved by group delegations on January 30 and released the following day, outlines the ICG's objectives and mandate.
