Mexico asks OAS to clarify stance on Venezuela

The Mexican government has asked the Organization of American States (OAS) to provide a legal explanation regarding the future functioning of the continental body, after most member states recognized Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s acting president .

Guaidó declared himself interim leader on Wednesday , with Washington and most Latin American nations backing the move . But Mexico –once a vocal member of the Lima Group regional bloc created to pressure Maduro to enact democratic reforms- struck a discordant tone.

In the framework of the extraordinary OAS Permanent Council meeting , in which the political situation of Venezuela was discussed, the representative of Mexico, Jorge Lomónaco , pointed out that the Mexican government was well aware that the situation in the Latin American country was critical; nevertheless, they would maintain a neutral stance regarding the conflict.

Lomónaco pointed out the need to clarify the legal status of the acting president Juan Guaidó, appointed by Venezuela’s National Assembly, and who garnered international recognition.

“In this vein, Mexico requests the General Secretariat of the OAS to provide a detailed legal explanation, taking into account all relevant legal instruments, as well as the implications this decision could have in the future functioning of our organization in relation to its mandate ,” stated Jorge Lomónaco.

Last Thursday, the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for a OAS meeting for the recognition of the head of the Venezuelan Parliament, Juan Guaidó , as acting president, and warned the statesman Nicolás Maduro against the use of force to suppress demonstrations.

Meanwhile, the Russian president Vladimir Putin expressed his support for the Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro during a phone conversation on Thursday , according to a press release issued by the Kremlin .

Venezuela’s Armed Forces expressed their support for the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro

, deeming that the self-proclamation of the opposition leader Juan Guaidó as acting president, which immediately received international support, was a coup d’état .

The European Union was extremely cautious in defining their stance regarding the Venezuelan crisis. European leaders have tried not to break off dialogue with the country, though they now face both internal and external pressure to back what some critics have deemed a coup d’état orchestrated by the U.S .

Mexico said on Friday that it is willing to mediate between the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader and congress chief Juan GuaidÓ, if both sides request and agree to it.

Leftist President Andrés Manuel López Obrador

’s government said it would not take sides and branded support for Guaidó a violation of sovereignty .

“Let both sides ask for it. We’re willing to help in the mediation... we can’t do so just because one of the sides proposes it and says here we are,” López Obrador told journalists.

“If they come to an agreement and really want dialogue, to find a peaceful solution, our country as it has done in the past on issues of foreign policy would again serve as a mediator,” he added during his daily press conference.

Socialist Maduro said he supported proposals by Mexico and Uruguay to “ create an international initiative for dialogue between the political forces in Venezuela , to seek an agreement within the framework of our Constitution, which guarantees stability and peace to all Venezuelans .”

Maduro, who has led the oil-rich nation since 2013 and was re-elected last year in an election largely seen as a sham, severed diplomatic ties with the United States earlier this week. Some U.S. diplomats left the Caracas embassy for the airport on Friday .

Russia on Friday also offered to mediate between the government and opposition in Venezuela if necessary, saying it was ready to cooperate with all political forces that acted responsibly.

Mexico's Foreign Policy: Principle of Non-intervention

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