The Lima Group on Monday called on the United Nations to mobilize to respond to the humanitarian crisis in Venezuela and to work with the National Assembly and its leader, the opposition Juan Guaidó, before the “illegitimate” character of the Government of Nicolás Mature.
Diplomats from eleven countries of the Group met with the Secretary General of the UN, António Guterres, and gave him the latest declaration adopted by its members this month in Santiago, Chile.
In statements to Efe after the meeting, the first of its kind between the Group of Lima and Guterres, the Peruvian ambassador to the United Nations, Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, stressed that the crisis represents a “threat to peace and security” and ” continues to worsen “, with a very important impact for the countries of the region.
“We have asked him to make the greatest effort so that the entire system is mobilized in its entire area to urgently deal with this unprecedented crisis,” the diplomat explained.
According to Meza-Cuadra, the Lima Group also urged to ensure that “there is no political use of humanitarian assistance”, considering that the little help that has arrived “is being used by the Maduro regime.”
The Lima Group also requested support for the states that are receiving the mass exodus of Venezuelans who leave the country and defended against Guterres the “illegitimacy of the regime.”
“It is necessary that the United Nations also interact with the only truly legal and democratic body, which is the National Assembly and its legitimate representative, the president in charge, Mr. Guaidó,” said Meza-Cuadra.
“We believe that any fact that helps the regime is contrary to what is sought, which is a way out through peaceful, political and diplomatic,” he insisted, recalling that the Lima Group considers “necessary to isolate the regime.”
Despite the position of this important group of American countries and powers such as the United States, the UN continues to work with the Maduro government on issues such as the provision of humanitarian aid.
Guterres has maintained a neutral stance at all times and has repeatedly offered to mediate a possible dialogue between the authorities and the opposition.
At the meeting on Monday, the countries of the Lima Group also highlighted the “grave situation” of freedoms and rights in Venezuela and stressed the importance of “serious observation and pressure on the regime” by the high UN commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet. (EFEUSA) .-
