Use Of Force In Venezuela Should Be Avoided To Prevent Civil War - Mexico's Top Diplomat

MONTEVIDEO (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 08th February, 2019) Force in Venezuela should not be used by any means to avoid a civil war and civilian suffering, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard told Sputnik after the meeting of the International Contact Group (ICG) in Montevideo.

"I think we should avoid the use of force otherwise we can have something like a civil war in Venezuela and suffering of people," Ebrard said on Thursday.

On Sunday, President Donald Trump confirmed in an interview with the CBS broadcaster that US military intervention in Venezuela was "an option."

The International Contact Group (ICG) on Venezuela - which is comprised of eight EU and four Latin American states - held its first meeting earlier in the day in Montevideo. Mexico also participated in the discussions. The ICG's focus is to establish a common understanding of the situation in Venezuela and work with national and international actors to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis.

Bolivian Foreign Minister Diego Pary told Sputnik on Thursday that Bolivia does not support the ICG's declaration because external solutions should not be imposed on Venezuela. Pary, however, said Bolivia will support the Montevideo mechanism and participate in the contact group discussions.

On January 23, Juan Guaido, the head of the Venezuelan opposition-led National Assembly, proclaimed himself the country's interim president and was immediately recognized by the United States, Canada and other US allies. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in turn, cut diplomatic ties with Washington and accused the United States of orchestrating a coup. Russia, Mexico, China, Turkey, Uruguay and several other countries have come forward to reaffirm their support for Maduro as the country's only legitimate democratically-elected head of state.