The Montevideo mechanism envisages the immediate launch of a dialogue, a negotiation process, the drafting of an agreement and its implementation.
The UNSC, at the request of the United States, will meanwhile vote on a draft resolution calling for new presidential elections in Venezuela, a diplomatic source told Sputnik. The US resolution requests mitigating efforts from the UN to ensure “free, fair, and credible presidential elections”, the text of the document reads.
The US-sponsored draft document calls for holding presidential elections under international observation, as well as facilitating the delivery of “humanitarian aid” to Venezuela.
A source said on Wednesday: “The voting is planned to take place tomorrow [Thursday]”.
The Venezuelan opposition tried on February 23, to forcefully ram US-sponsored aid into Venezuela from Brazil as well as Colombia, but failed. The efforts resulted in riots against the Venezuelan National Guard officers, who prevented trucks with aid from crossing the country’s border without permission. They were attacked by pro-American protesters.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez denied American allegations of a humanitarian crisis in the country. He said that international law provided for deliveries of foreign humanitarian aid only in cases of natural disasters and armed conflicts.
Both the United Nations and the Red Cross have urged Washington not to politicize humanitarian assistance and to stop delivering aid without the consent of the Venezuelan government.
Support for opposition lawmaker Juan Guaido, elected as the president of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, has been dwindling. On 23 January, after the Venezuelan Supreme Court annulled his election, Guaido had declared himself “interim president”. Guaido’s move has been dismissed as an attempted coup and President Nicolas Maduro has accused Washington of staging it.
Although the US has recognized Guaido – with 50 other countries following suit – Russia, China, Cuba, Bolivia and a number of other states have voiced their support the legitimate government of constitutionally elected Maduro.
Mexico and Uruguay have also refused to recognize Guaido, declaring themselves to be neutral.
