The Italian government has announced it will not recognize Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the country’s interim president.

Iran Press/Europe: Sputnik reported that Italy, at an informal meeting of the foreign ministers of EU member states on 31 January — 1 February in Bucharest, vetoed a statement on behalf of the EU, which was to be made by the head of European diplomacy Federica Mogherini and which said that the EU would recognize Guaido if new presidential elections are not organized.

It was also reported that the EU, plans to organize on February 7 the first ministerial meeting of the international contact group tasked with finding a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Venezuela.

A reported veto by Italy's right-wing populist government comes after the country's Deputy Foreign Minister Manlio Di Stefano stressed that Rome will not join many other EU member-states in recognizing Guaido amid a serious political crisis in the Latin American country.

Juan Guaido, the head of the National Assembly, declared himself acting president on January 23.

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. 101/202

 

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