Chile To Skip Conference On Venezuelan Crisis In Montevideo - Foreign Minister Roberto Ampuero

Chile will not take part in the upcoming conference in Montevideo aimed at initiating a peaceful dialogue between the Venezuelan government and the opposition, Chilean Foreign Minister Roberto Ampuero said on Tuesday

CARACAS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 05th February, 2019) Chile will not take part in the upcoming conference in Montevideo aimed at initiating a peaceful dialogue between the Venezuelan government and the opposition, Chilean Foreign Minister Roberto Ampuero said on Tuesday.

Mexico and Uruguay are planning to convene the conference on Venezuela on February 7 in the Uruguayan capital of Montevideo. Representatives from over 10 countries are expected to take part in the meeting.

"The contact group supports dialogue yet does not oblige [the Venezuela government] to hold elections," Ampuero said, adding that Chile would refrain from participation in the meeting.

Ampuero also noted that the dialogue in Venezuela was possible only if the country's President Nicolas Maduro announced a presidential election.

On January 21, large-scale protests against President Nicolas Maduro erupted in Venezuela. On January 23, National Assembly Speaker Juan Guaido proclaimed himself Venezuela's interim president. The opposition figure was supported by the United States and a number of other countries.

Maduro called the opposition leader a US puppet and accused Washington of attempting to organize a coup in Venezuela, declaring the decision to cut off diplomatic ties with the country.

Russia and China as well as several other countries have refused to support Guaido, backing Maduro as the country's legitimate president and demanding that other countries respect the principle of non-interference in Venezuela's domestic affairs.