Malaysia has expressed its view that Venezuela’s ongoing crisis should be solved by Venezuelans, without external interference. — AFP photo

 July 1, 2019 @ 5:45pm

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has expressed its view that Venezuela’s ongoing crisis should be solved by Venezuelans, without external interference.

Minister Counsellor and Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Venezuela in Malaysia Morella Barreto Lopez said the view was conveyed to her by Foreign Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob during her courtesy call in Putrajaya on June 27.

Describing the meeting as cordial, the Venezuelan diplomat said they had exchanged information about the state of diplomatic relations between Caracas and Kuala Lumpur, which was established in 1986.

Barreto said she provided detailed information on the current situation in Venezuela and its effects on its people.

“Malaysia reiterated its position of respect for international law, the Charter of the United Nations, non-interference in the internal affairs of other states, and the self-determination of peoples,” she said, here, today.

Barreto said Malaysia had always been committed to the peaceful settlement of disputes via negotiation and dialogue.

She said Venezuela had invited Malaysia to attend the Ministerial Meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM – CoB) in Caracas, from July 18-21, themed “Promotion and Consolidation of Peace through Respect for International Law”.

The crisis in Venezuela escalated after Nicolas Maduro’s inauguration as president for a second six-year term on Jan 10 and opposition leader Juan Guaido proclaiming himself interim president at an opposition rally in Caracas on Jan 23.

Claiming that Maduro’s second term was illegitimate, Guaido alleged that the Venezuelan constitution allowed him to step in as president.

On Jan 24, the United States imposed economic, financial and other sanctions on Venezuela, announced its recognition of Guaido as the legitimate president of Venezuela while Russia, China and many other countries are still backing Maduro. – Bernama