Russia Support Efforts Toward Dialogue Between Venezuelan Government, Opposition- Medvedev

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 04th March, 2019) Russia wants peace in Venezuela and supports efforts to foster dialogue between the government and the opposition amid the political crisis in the Latin American country, since this is the only way to stabilize the situation, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said.

"Russia opposes any and all interference in the internal affairs of other countries. In Venezuela, we support efforts - including those by representatives of the region - to foster dialogue between the government and the opposition. We continue to do so now ... The result that Russia wants to achieve is peace in Venezuela. It can be achieved only through a respectful, inclusive, intra-national dialogue," Medvedev said in an interview with the Bulgarian newspaper Trud.

The prime minister added that all those who cared about the peaceful future of Venezuela should make effort to promote dialogue.

The diplomat slammed Washington, which backs Venezuelan self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido, for damaging the global dialogue on the situation around Venezuela.

"Washington's efforts have led the discussion of the socioeconomic situation, the legitimacy or illegitimacy of the presidential election in Venezuela, away from constructive dialogue to a completely different place. This, unfortunately, is often followed by chaos, unrest, and the complete destruction of the economy and trade.

We have already seen this more than once in other countries," Medvedev said.

He also voiced the belief that "increase in the intensity of political passion" never did any good for the people.

The Russian prime minister added that his country was very much worried about Washington's statements about the possibility of military intervention in Venezuela.

"Statements come out of Washington about the possibility of military intervention. There are provocations on the borders. All this is very alarming and suggests that the policy of overthrowing any undesirable governments in the spirit of the Monroe Doctrine is once again becoming a priority for the United States," Medvedev said, calling on Russia's "South American friends" to take note of this change in the US policies.

Tensions in Venezuela escalated last month when US-backed opposition leader Guaido illegally declared himself interim president. The United States immediately recognized Guaido, seized billions of Dollars' worth of the country's oil assets, and threatened to use military action against incumbent President Nicolas Maduro's government.

Maduro has accused Guaido of conspiring with the United States to overthrow the country's legitimate government. Russia, China, Cuba, Bolivia and a number of other countries have reaffirmed their support for Maduro as Venezuela's only legitimate president.