Venezuela

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    Before I start talking about this topic, I want to ask all those who wish to participate, to do so in a respectful way, since this is a delicate and current issue that worries many people.


    As everyone knows for many years Venezuela lives in a humanitarian crisis.


    However, this week an event occurred that envisions a change in the Venezuelan situation and where different countries and interests intervene.


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    The president of the National Assembly, Juan Guaidó, was sworn in on Wednesday as interim president of the Republic of Venezuela and immediately received the recognition of US President Donald Trump.


    The pronouncement constitutes a heavy blow to the president Nicolás Maduro, whose presidency is unknown by the majority of Venezuelans and governments of the region even though he continues to exercise control over the institutions of the Venezuelan state.


    Different countries around the world took different positions. The list* at the moment:


    Recognising to Guaidó as president and in favor to him:




    • USA
    • Canada
    • Denmark
    • Paraguay
    • Brazil
    • Colombia
    • Peru
    • Ecuador
    • Chile
    • Argentina
    • Guatemala
    • Costa Rica
    • Panama
    • Honduras
    • Georgia
    • Albania
    • Kosovo
    • Haiti
    • Bahamas
    • Dominican Republic
    • UK
    • Germany


    Recognising to Maduro as president and in favor to him:


    • Bolivia
    • Russia
    • Cuba
    • Turkey
    • China
    • Nicaragua
    • Iran
    • Syria
    • El Salvador


    Neutral:




    • México
    • Uruguay
    • India


    Supporting the national assembly/elections but not necessarily Guaidó:


    • Spain
    • Portugal
    • Italy

    In analysis, but still without official position:


    • France


    List in update *



    EU


    The European Union (EU) yesterday proclaimed its support for the Venezuelan National Assembly as an institution "legitimately" elected in the country, but without recognizing Juan Guaidó, who on Wednesday had proclaimed himself president of the republic.


    "In principle, we do not recognize governments, but rather countries," said community spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic at the press conference of the European Commission.


    European prudence, which reflects certain internal vacillations, contrasts with the attitude shown by the United States, Canada and most Latin American countries. To clear up those doubts, the EU's High Representative for Foreign Policy, Federica Mogherini, agreed on the "total support" of the EU to the National Assembly as "institution democratically elected" by Venezuelans and urged "to restore and respect " Its powers.


    "On January 23, the people of Venezuela massively demanded democracy and the possibility of freely determining their fate.These voices can not be ignored," said the European communique, which asked to guarantee Guaidó's security.


    The Brussels authorities begin to perceive an internal division on the position to be taken in the face of the crisis. A part of its members is in favor of recognizing Juan Guaidó as interim president. Without saying it openly, that seems to be the preferred option of French President Emmanuel Macron, who yesterday went further than Mongherini in stating that "Europe supports the restoration of democracy" in Venezuela.


    France indicated that it is consulting with its European partners before announcing "soon" its official position.


    Without officially recognizing Guaidó, the British Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, considered that Maduro "is not the legitimate leader" and that Guaidó "is the right person to take Venezuela forward".


    From Davos, the president of the Spanish government, Pedro Sánchez, spoke with Guaidó to explain that the EU is "in favor of holding free elections."


    The German government demanded this Friday "free and fair" elections immediately in Venezuela and indicated that it is willing to provisionally recognize the self-proclaimed Venezuelan President Juan Guaidó as head of the interim state until such elections are called.



    USA & Russia


    On Wednesday, the president of USA Donald Trump recognized the opposition leader of the National Assembly, Juan Guaidó, as the president of the country in Venezuela. This caused Maduro to break off relations with Washington.


    The embattled government of Venezuela struck back against its opponents on Thursday, winning strong support from the country’s armed forces and the solid backing of Russia, which warned the United States not to intervene.


    The events put Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, at the center of a Cold War-style showdown between Russia, an ally that has shored up his government with billions of dollars, and the United States, which has denounced him as a corrupt autocrat with no legitimacy.


    The United States Department of State ordered diplomats and non-essential personnel from their embassy in Venezuela to leave the country.


    The agency said it made the decision for security reasons and that the embassy in Caracas will remain open.


    The decision was announced after the government of President Donald Trump rejected the order of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to break relations with the United States and that US diplomats leave the country for the weekend.


    The government said Maduro's order is not legal because the United States no longer recognizes him as the legitimate president of Venezuela.


    Some voices are concerned about an extreme scenario in which the United States may intervene in Venezuela due to the results of the United States in its interventionist past in other nations such as Syria and Iraq and they question the true intentions of the United States.



    Being the confrontation between Russia and the United States for this conflict, one of the factors of greater alert for many concerned people.


    One of the most discussed issues is the oil wealth of the Venezuelan country, which heads the list of crude oil reserves worldwide.


    Situation that makes think to diverse critical voices that the interest by the humanitarian crisis is only the facade by economic interests based on the petroleum wealth of the Venezuelan nation as the real objective.


    This because, there is someone who thinks that Juan Guaidó is a "puppet" from the United States to achieve control of the unstable region.


    However, above criticism and theories, USA will provide more than 20 million dollars in humanitarian aid to Venezuela


    The Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, assured that the funds will be destined to help them to confront "the serious shortage of foods and medicines and other serious effects of the crisis".


    On the other hand Russia has offered this Friday to mediate between the Government of Venezuela and the opposition



    Latin America


    The governments of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Canada announced today in Davos (Switzerland) that they recognize the president of the Parliament of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó, as "president of Venezuela". The announcement was made after a meeting at the Davos Forum in which participated the presidents of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro; Colombia, Iván Duque; Ecuador, Lenín Moreno; and the vice president of Peru, Mercedes Aráoz . Shortly after they began to add countries adding themselves to this recognition. Argentina, Chile and Venezuela also lined up on the Guaidó side.


    Duque, who was the first to speak before a small group of journalists, said that his country "recognizes Juan Guaidó as president of Venezuela and accompanies this process of transition to democracy so that the Venezuelan people can free themselves from the dictatorship." .


    In turn, Bolsonaro also said that Brazil recognizes Guaidó "as president and Brazil jointly with the other countries of the Lima Group."


    "We will give all the political support necessary for the process to take its course," she said. The Peruvian vice-president pronounced herself in the same sense.


    The president of Argentina, Mauricio Macri, announced on Wednesday that he recognizes the leader of the Parliament of Venezuela, Juan Guaidó, as "president in charge" of Venezuela.


    It is important to mention that the majority of countries belonging to MERCOSUR were favorable to Guaidó. However, not everyone in Latin America shared that position.


    The president of Bolivia, Evo Morales, expressed his support for Maduro through social networks. "Our solidarity with the Venezuelan people and Brother Nicolás Maduro, in these decisive hours in which the claws of imperialism seek again to mortally wound democracy and self-determination of peoples," he wrote.


    México & Uruguay


    Mexico following its internal protocol of the so-called "Estrada Doctrine" decided to remain neutral in this regard. The doctrine claims that foreign governments should not judge positively or negatively the governments or changes in government of other states, as such an action would imply a breach of state sovereignty. The policy was said to be based on the principles of non-intervention, peaceful resolution of disputes and self-determination of all nations.


    Uruguay distances itself from its Mercosur partners and joins Mexico. The government of Tabaré Vázquez, president of Uruguay, joined to the administration of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, president of Mexico, and called for dialogue in Venezuela. The decision distanced him from the position adopted by Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay - his Mercosur partners - which today recognize Juan Guaidó as the new Venezuelan president.


    Mexico and Uruguay issued a statement on Wednesday about the Venezuelan crisis. Both nations called on all parties involved to reduce tensions and prevent an escalation of violence that could aggravate the situation. In the statement, do not expressly endorse Maduro, but urge by a peaceful resolution.


    And precisely Mexico and Uruguay have made a proposal for the creation of an international commission seeking a peaceful solution.


    The venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said on Thursday that he agreed with the dialogue initiative proposed by Mexico and Uruguay to start a path of peace in the Caribbean country.


    "The government of Mexico and Uruguay have proposed that an international commission be created to seek a peace treaty, and I tell the government of Mexico and Uruguay publicly: I agree with a diplomatic initiative for the national dialogue in Venezuela. the dialogue, for the understanding, for the negotiation, for the agreement, "said Maduro during the opening ceremony of the judicial year. The "Chavista" leader indicated that he was ready for the negotiation: "I am ready, to speak, to hear, to understand each other, of course, that is the way," he stressed.


    Dead, protests and humanitarian crisis.


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    -Do not kill us!


    The riots registered in the midst of the protests against the government of Nicolás Maduro that broke out four days ago have left 26 dead, according to the NGO Observatorio Venezolano de Conflictividad Social (OVCS).


    "Until 2:00 p.m., 26 people are confirmed killed in protests," said this critical NGO of the Maduro government on Twitter, detailing that the capital Caracas recorded the highest number of deaths, with seven.


    Popular demonstrations began on Monday, in the context of the anti-Chavez ignorance of the new six-year term that he swore two weeks ago Maduro in the Supreme Court, following the Chavez leader winning a vote that was labeled fraudulent and not the bulk of the opposition was presented. When dozens of members of the Bolivarian National Guard rebelled against Maduro.


    The director of the Venezuelan Criminal Forum, Gonzalo Himiob, said that 278 people have been arrested since last Monday.


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