Iran Press/Europe: "The United States and its closest allies are creating the most serious obstacles to the possibility of international assistance in resolving the crisis in Venezuela so Moscow would do everything in its power to support the lawful authorities in Caracas", Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday.
Russian Foreign Minister noted that the opposition in Venezuela is highly influenced by foreign forces and has been prohibited from contacting the government, Sputnik reported.
The minister stressed that Moscow would do everything in its power to support the lawful authorities in Caracas. He also noted that the calls for open intervention in Venezuela were surging in the United States when addressing the recent news about National Security Adviser John Bolton holding a note with the words "5,000 troops to Colombia".
Bolton was earlier photographed with a yellow pad that raised questions about the White House's alleged plans to deploy US troops to Colombia, Venezuela's neighbour.
With handwritten notes visible on a legal pad, National Security Adviser John Bolton listens to questions from reporters during a press briefing at the White House Jan. 28, 2019, in Washington.
Lavrov has addressed the 'cynical sanctions', imposed by the US on the Venezuelan petroleum company PDVSA, stressing that the move shall lead to the deterioration of the international financial system, based on the US dollar, and also provoke a conflict in Venezuela.
"The US, unfortunately, has experience in such illegitimate handling of other’s money," Lavrov said, adding: "Such freezing was applied at one time to Iraq, Libya, Iran, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Panama. In most cases, this freezing essentially resulted in the confiscation of assets from another government. The British authorities are doing the same thing now by arresting, and in fact confiscating, the gold reserves of Venezuela, which are stored in London."
The Russian minister added that US companies operating in Venezuela had been excluded from the sanctions regime, highlighting that the US wanted to overthrow the government and also gain profits in Venezuela.
The leader of Venezuela’s opposition-led National Assembly, Juan Guaido, declared himself acting president last week.
Shortly afterwards, the US President, Donald Trump recognized Guaido as president of the country, Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro has condemned the decision of a number of countries to recognize Guaido as Venezuela’s acting president and broke diplomatic ties with Washington.
Maduro also has called for military exercises in response to US President Donald Trump's threat of possible military action.
Russia and China, both opposed the US call to support Guaido and condemned any international interference in Venezuela.
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