Venezuelan Opposition Delegation Urges Italy To Back Guaido

Rukhshan Mir (@rukhshanmir) Published February 12, 2019 | 11:58 PM

A delegation sent to Rome by Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido asked Italy on Tuesday to back their bid for a transition of power in Caracas

ROME (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th February, 2019) A delegation sent to Rome by Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido asked Italy on Tuesday to back their bid for a transition of power in Caracas.

Rodrigo Diamanti, who speaks for the rival Venezuelan government on European foreign aid matters, said the goal was to call a snap presidential vote.

"Italy needs to help us by sending badly-needed humanitarian aid... We need the support of the entire Italy. It is unacceptable for its government not to side with freedom," Diamanti said.

The delegation also includes Francisco Sucre, the chair of the opposition-run National Assembly's foreign committee, former Caracas Mayor Antonio Ledezma, and lawmaker Gabriel Gallo.

The delegates met with Italian Foreign Minister Enzo Moavero Milanesi and Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, as well as with Vatican officials.

Earlier in the day, the Italian foreign minister said that Rome demanded a new election in Venezuela as soon as possible, but stopped short of recognizing Guaido as interim president.

According to a Sputnik source, Italy vetoed an EU joint statement that was supposed to recognize Guaido. Russia and China are among powers that support President Nicolas Maduro as the sole legitimate president of Venezuela.