UN Willing To Bring Venezuelan Opposing Sides For 'Serious Negotiations' - Guterres

Fakhir Rizvi Published February 10, 2019 | 09:36 PM

ADDIS ABABA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th February, 2019) The United Nations is willing to bring Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaido together for "serious negotiations" at their request, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said during a press conference at the 32nd African Union summit on Sunday.

"We consider that the United Nations and myself, we offer our good offices to both parties at their request for a negotiation, a serious negotiation able to take the country out of the present standoff," Guterres said in reference to Venezuela's leadership crisis.

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 Maduro as the country's only legitimate democratically elected head of state.