(EFEUSA) .- The Venezuelan Foreign Minister, Jorge Arreaza, discussed on Monday with the Secretary General of the UN, António Guterres, the possibilities of increasing the cooperation of his Government with the United Nations in the humanitarian field in order to support the population of the country.
Arreaza, after leaving the meeting with Guterres in New York, explained that he proposed to the secretary “the deepening of the cooperation of the various United Nations agencies in Venezuela”, given that the economy “has been very disturbed”.
“It is necessary that multilateralism overcome any impact of the unilateral and we can cooperate with much greater force,” he told reporters.
According to Arreaza, that means “receiving cooperation and even allowing the Venezuelan State itself to invest in projects designed by the United Nations or different agencies for food, health, and the needs of the people.”
In recent weeks, the UN has reiterated that it is ready to increase its humanitarian actions in Venezuela in view of the impact that the crisis is having on the population, but has always pointed out that for this it needs the consent and cooperation of the Government.
The organization is already present in Venezuela, where it has provided aid and works with the Nicolás Maduro government in development programs.
At the same time, agencies such as the World Food Program (WFP) also support abroad Venezuelans who have left the country.
Asked about the current clash between the Government and the opposition regarding the entry of humanitarian aid organized by the United States. and by other countries opposed to the Government of Maduro and rejected by it, the UN insisted today that the important thing is that the issue is “depoliticized” and that the needs of the people are met.
“All those in need must have access to humanitarian aid,” spokesman Farhan Haq told reporters.
Arreza said that the meeting with Guterres was “a very good meeting” and that the UN Secretary General was “very open” to the idea of ​​strengthening cooperation.
The meeting, held at the Venezuelan request, took place in the residence of Guterres and not in the headquarters of the United Nations, given that the Portuguese diplomat had arrived shortly before New York after a long flight back from Ethiopia, where he attended a summit of the African Union.
At the political level, the UN continues to insist on the need for a dialogue between the government and the opposition to get Venezuela out of the current crisis.
Guterres, however, has avoided formally joining the various initiatives put in place by groups of countries to promote dialogue, although he has given them general support.
The secretary-general has offered both parties his “good offices” to mediate in a dialogue process, but for now he has not had answers, Haq said today before the meeting with Arreaza.
After the meeting, the UN issued a brief statement in which he merely explained that Guterres reaffirmed Arreza that “his offer of good offices to both parties is still available for a negotiation that will help the country to get out of the current confrontation for the benefit of the Venezuelans”.
The Venezuelan opposition considers illegitimate the elections of May of last year, in which Nicolás Maduro was re-elected president and have been questioned by the international community.
The crisis was accentuated after on January 23, the head of Parliament, Juan Guaidó, declared himself interim president when invoking some articles of the Venezuelan Constitution and obtained the support of the United States. and a good part of the countries of the American continent.
