Lima Group To Consider Russia's Help In Settling Venezuela Crisis - Peru Foreign Minister

UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 04th June, 2019) The Lima Group will discuss how Russia can assist in resolving the political crisis in Venezuela, Peruvian Foreign Minister Nester Popolizio told Sputnik.

"Obviously, we are going to check whether [it is possible] that the Russian position [would] help [find] a solution," Popolizio said on Monday.

Earlier in the day, representatives of the Lima Group and the International Contact Group on Venezuela held their first joint meeting on a ministerial level at the United Nations headquarters in New York to address the Venezuelan crisis.

The Lima Group of 14 countries was created in 2017 to end the crisis in Venezuela. The group includes Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Guyana, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Saint Lucia.

The majority of the organization's member states are backing opposition leader and self-proclaimed interim President Juan Guaido.

The crisis in Venezuela intensified when Guaido proclaimed himself interim president of the country, called on the Venezuelan people and military to topple the government and when that attempt turned unsuccessful, requested that the United States intervene militarily.

The United States and more than 50 countries recognize Guaido, but Russia, China, Turkey and numerous other countries said they recognize President Nicolas Maduro as the only legitimate president of Venezuela.

Maduro has called Guaido a US puppet and accused the United States of orchestrating a coup in Venezuela to effect a change of government and claim the country's resources.