US Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament Robert Wood, commenting on Caracas' offer for US President Donald Trump to meet Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro, said Wednesday that the United States recognized self-proclaimed "interim president" Juan Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate leader
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 27th February, 2019) US Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament Robert Wood, commenting on Caracas' offer for US President Donald Trump to meet Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro, said Wednesday that the United States recognized self-proclaimed "interim president" Juan Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate leader.Earlier in the day, Venezuela's Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza suggested at UN Human Rights Council session that Maduro and Trump should meet to discuss their differences over a political crisis in Latin American country.
"President Trump is prepared to meet with the rightful president of Venezuela, and that is Juan Guaido," Wood told reporters, when asked about the invitation.
On January 5, Guaido was elected as the president of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, which all other government branches have been refusing to recognize since 2016.
On January 23, two days after the Venezuelan Supreme Court annulled his election, Guaido declared himself the country's "interim president." Maduro, who was sworn in for his second presidential term on January 10 after winning the May election, which part of the opposition boycotted, qualified Guaido's move as an attempt to stage a coup orchestrated by Washington.
The United States immediately recognized Guaido, after which some 50 other countries followed suit. Russia, China, Cuba, Bolivia and a number of other states have, in the meantime, voiced their support for the legitimate government of Maduro. Mexico and Uruguay have refused to recognize Guaido, declaring themselves neutral and suggesting that the crisis should be settled via a dialogue.
