Berlin Supports New Sanctions Against Venezuela - Government Spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer

Fakhir Rizvi Published February 25, 2019 | 05:55 PM

Berlin supports the introduction of new sanctions against Venezuela and is engaged in related consultations with EU member states, Ulrike Demmer, the deputy spokeswoman of the German government, said on Monday

BERLIN (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th February, 2019) Berlin supports the introduction of new sanctions against Venezuela and is engaged in related consultations with EU member states, Ulrike Demmer, the deputy spokeswoman of the German government, said on Monday.

"As you know, the European Union has taken measures targeting certain members of the regime [the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro]. We support further sanctions and are in close contact with our European partners on this matter," Demmer said at a briefing.

Venezuela is currently going through a political crisis. On January 5, lawmaker Juan Guaido was elected as the president of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, which all other governmental branches have refused to recognized since 2016.

On January 23, two days after the Venezuelan Supreme Court annulled his election, Guaido declared himself the country's "interim president." Maduro, who was sworn in for his second presidential term on January 10 after winning the May election, which part of the opposition boycotted, qualified Guaido's move as an attempt to stage a coup that Washington had orchestrated.

The United States immediately recognized Guaido, after which 50 other countries, including Germany, followed suit. Russia, China, Cuba, Bolivia and a number of other states have, in the meantime, voiced their support the legitimate government of Maduro. Mexico and Uruguay have refused to recognize Guaido, declaring themselves neutral and promoting crisis settlement via dialogue.