New Elections In Venezuela Cannot Be Imposed By Other Countries - Trinidad Prime Minister

MONTEVIDEO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th February, 2019) A decision on a new vote in Venezuela is only up to the Venezuelans and cannot be imposed by other states, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Keith Christopher Rowley told Sputnik.

Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva told Sputnik on Thursday that members of the International Contact Group (ICG) on Venezuela, who gathered in Uruguay for their first meeting, agreed on the need for a new presidential election conducted via a credible electoral process.

"If the Venezuelan people come to that condition [to hold elections], having accepted the responsibility for their country, [to have] new elections, if that's the agreement, then so be it, but that is not to be imposed by us, the Venezuelan people will have to," Rowley said.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini said the ICG aimed to assist in facilitating the conditions to hold elections in the country in line with its constitution, and will send a technical mission to Venezuela to implement its goals.

"Of course, President [Nicolas] Maduro has said he is coming to the table without preconditions and we presume that the other people, whoever is opposed to his administration, they ... will have to understand that the conditions, that will come out of this, will only be sustainable and last if there is common purpose and common agreement," Rowley concluded.

On January 23, Juan Guaido, the head of the Venezuelan opposition-led National Assembly, proclaimed himself the country's interim president and was immediately recognized by the United States, Canada and other US allies. Russia, Mexico, China, Turkey, Uruguay and several other countries came forward to reaffirm their support for Venezuelan President Maduro as the country's only legitimate democratically elected head of state.

In late January, the European Union announced establishment of the ICG, comprised of representatives from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom along with Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Uruguay.