The International Contact Group on Venezuela has discussed the decision to establish contacts with the Lima Group, Caribbean Community, Cuba, Russia, China and others to help create an environment to resolve the political crisis in the Latin American country, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said Tuesday.
“We have discussed today the need and decision to intensify contact and coordination with the Lima Group, but also with CARICOM countries, with the US, with Russia, with China, with Cuba, with Mexico, with the Holy See, with others that can help create a conducive environment for the Venezuelans to engage in a democratic and peaceful outcome of this crisis”, Mogherini said at the meeting of the ICG in the Costa Rican capital of San Jose.
Mogherini also stressed Tuesday that the ICG would continue its work to bring the country toward democratic elections through political negotiations. “The International Contact Group stresses that the best way forward lies in a credible negotiated political process with the objective of bringing the country to democratic elections. The International Contact Group will continue to support and facilitate efforts that can allow the country to move in this direction”, Mogherini said.
The confrontation between the Venezuelan opposition, led by US-backed Juan Guaido, and the Maduro government resulted in a full-scale political crisis in the country in January, after the former illegally proclaimed himself interim president, contesting the results of last year’s presidential election. Guaido was swiftly recognized by the United States and its allies, including those in Europe, while Russia and China among numerous other countries have backed the constitutionally-elected Maduro.