OAS Meeting On Friday To Follow Up On Decision To Recognize Guaido - Envoy

The Venezuelan opposition's envoy to the Organization of American States (OAS) Gustavo Tarre told Sputnik on Thursday that the organization's meeting tomorrow will focus on its recognition of Juan Guaido as the interim president of the country

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th February, 2019) The Venezuelan opposition's envoy to the Organization of American States (OAS) Gustavo Tarre told Sputnik on Thursday that the organization's meeting tomorrow will focus on its recognition of Juan Guaido as the interim president of the country.

On Wednesday, the organization announced that its Permanent Council will hold a special meeting on Friday to discuss the situation in Venezuela.

"The discussion will be mainly following the decision of the OAS to not accept as a legal government of [incumbent President Nicolas] Maduro," Tarre said on the sidelines of at the Global Conference on the Humanitarian Crisis in Venezuela. "That was approved by the Permanent Council and that is the following up on the decision.

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The meeting will be convened at the initiative of permanent missions of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Peru, and the United States.

Tensions in Venezuela escalated when Guaido, the head of the opposition-led parliament, proclaimed himself interim president on January 23, disputing Maduro's re-election, which took place last year.

Guaido's leadership was almost immediately recognized by the United States and some of its allies. Russia and China, as well as several other nations, have backed Maduro as the country's legitimate president and demanded respect for the principle of non-interference in Venezuela's internal affairs.