Moscow, July 31: Russia rejected an invitation to participate in the universal conference over the ongoing crisis in politically-hit Venezuela which is scheduled to take place in Lima, the capital city of Peru, on August 6, Moscow’s foreign ministry has said on Tuesday.
In an official statement, the Russian ministry, as cited by Sputnik news agency, stated: “We have carefully analyzed the goals and objectives of the organizers of the conference in Lima and discussed them with partners in Latin America and representatives of several other countries. As a result, the Russian side has a number of serious doubts.”
According to ANI news agency, the ministry stated it was not fully convinced of “correctness of approach which envisions the discussion of problems of democracy in Venezuela” excluding the representatives of embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro-led government.
The ministry said, “In view of the above, and after carefully weighing all the circumstances, we came to the conclusion that it would be advisable to refrain from participating in this event.”
Russia’s charge d’affaires in Lima’s has also delivered its decision to the Peruvian foreign ministry, Moscow’s ministry said.
Venezuela has been broiled into a political and humanitarian crisis, which Maduro declines to say, since opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself as the legitimate interim president of Venezuela, blaming that Maduro’s re-election was illegal.