United States vice president Mike Pence has urged the United Nations on Wednesday to globally recognize the opposition leader and self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido as the legitimate leader of Venezuela.
According to ANI news reports, while launching a scathing attack against embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Pence stated under Maduro’s regime, Venezuela is a “failed state, and failed states know no boundaries”.
Pence was quoted by The Hill as urging to Venezuelan envoy to the UN Samuel Moncada: “With all due respect, Mr Ambassador, you shouldn’t be here. You should return to Venezuela and tell Nicolas Maduro that his time is up. It’s time for him to go.”
He urged the UNSC and general assembly to follow the Organization of American States (OAS) footsteps, which has on Tuesday recognized Guaido’s elected ambassador to OAS, declining Maduro’s candidate.
The US has moved a resolution in February in the UNSC to recognize Guaido as the only legitimate leader of Venezuela, but however, Russia and China voted against it.
Pence stated: “And while Russia and China continue to obstruct at the Security Council, rogue states like Iran and Cuba are doing all they can to prop up the Maduro regime.”
Continuing hitting on Maduro, Pence said he was in power only because of the backing of Cuba, adding there was also hike in Iran’s backing.
He alleged, “For decades, Cuba had tried to create client states across our region. While normal countries export goods, Cuba exports tyranny and strong-arm tactics.”