EU member states are consulting on a
joint reaction to the latest developments in Venezuela, a statement from
French president’s office said Wednesday.
“France
is consulting with its European partners about the situation in
Venezuela, the president's office said on Wednesday as the South
American country's opposition leader declared himself interim
president,” read a statement from Emmanuel Macron’s office.
Spanish
Foreign Minister Josep Borrel said a joint statement from the EU on the
situation is important amid demands of the government from the
right-wing opposition to recognize Juan Guaido as president
.
Some
Venezuelans living in the Spanish capital of Madrid who celebrated the
developments in a main square were joined by the leader of main
opposition party, the People’s Party.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass also said a joint response is being worked on with EU partners.
"We call on all actors Venezuela in prudence and to refrain from violence," he said. “ [We] Will coordinate a joint response with our EU partners,” he said.
Britain’s
Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Alan Duncan
said on Twitter he was “following the situation in Venezuela carefully’
and “Juan Guaido has widespread support among Venezuelans.”
He
said: “The political crisis has gone on long enough. Now is the time to
find a way forward that leads to a peaceful solution for all
Venezuelans.”
Danish Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen also took to the Twitter.
“New
hope in Venezuela. Denmark will always support legitimate elected
democratic institutions- not least the parliamentary assembly including
Juan Guaido,” he said. “Working for a strong EU statement.”
Meanwhile,
Guy Verhofstadt, the leader of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats
for Europe, urged the EU to recognize Guaido as president.
“The
US, Canada & many crucial EU partners in Latin American have
recognised @Jguaido as President of #Venezuela & the EU should do
the same,” he said on Twitter.
“He
is the only legitimately elected representative of the Venezuelan
people & authorities must guarantee his fundamental rights &
security,” Verhofstadt wrote.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that Washington would recognize opposition leader Guaido as interim president.
Venezuela’s
President Nicolas Maduro has slammed the decision and said his country
was cutting off diplomatic relations with the U.S., giving American
diplomats 72 hours to leave the country.
EU-Digest
