Venezuela Proposes Turkey To Be Protecting Power Of Embassy In Washington - UN Envoy

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th May, 2019) Venezuela is proposing Turkey to become the protecting power of its embassy in Washington, Venezuelan Ambassador to the UN Samuel Moncada said during a press conference.

US activists have been living inside the Venezuelan embassy since late April to prevent the opposition from taking over. Earlier in May, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza called on the United States to protect its diplomatic mission.

"The United States is appointing the Swiss government as the protecting power in Caracas and we are respecting that, but we also need that they accept our protecting power," Moncada said on Wednesday. "We are proposing Turkey, for example."�

All US diplomats departed Venezuela in mid-March at the request of the Venezuelan authorities.

The US State Department ordered Venezuelan diplomats to leave the embassy in Washington by April 24.

Moncada said he hoped the Department of State will think twice before handing over the embassy to representatives of the opposition leader Juan Guaido.

Tensions in Venezuela have been high since Guaido proclaimed himself to be interim president in January and received recognition as such from the United States and its allies. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in turn, was backed by Russia, China and other states as the only legitimate president of Venezuela. The United Nations also still recognizes the Maduro government.