Above Photo: The Caricom meeting began Tuesday morning on the dual-island nation of St. Kitts and Navis | Photo: teteSUR
The two articles below show there are counter-balances to those calling for escalation and militarism in Venezueala. A senior United Nations official called for dialogue and de-escalation countering the war rhetoric of Vice President Pence and the aggressive Lima Group. And, the 15 member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) also sought to diffuse the situation. These actions, as well as divisions in the Lima Group over military action as well as with EU nations, is isolating the United States and coup plotters behind Guaido. KZ
As political and economic events unfold in various countries in the region, including Haiti, Venezuela, and Guyana, the 15-member group aims to de-escalate tensions.
Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders concluded a two-day summit Tuesday in Basseterre, on the dual-island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis, where the member countries once again reiterated their support for a peaceful resolution in regards to Venezuela while rejecting interference.
“Our community could be justifiably proud of our stance and efforts to help the people of Venezuela resolve their crisis. I have no doubt in my mind that the principled position taken by CARICOM working with like-minded countries has prevented so far a catastrophe on our borders. We will continue to urge that dialogue is the only way to achieve a lasting solution,” said CARICOM chairman, and host Prime Minister Dr. Timothy Harris
He commended Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago and the Secretary-General of CARICOM for “promoting and supporting a peaceful resolution to the situation in Venezuela.”
In a statement published on CARICOM’s website after the summit, the organization said, “The Community maintains that the solution must come from among the Venezuelan people and abides by the internationally recognized and accepted principles of non-interference and non-intervention in the affairs of states, respect for sovereignty, adherence to the rule of law, and respect for human rights and democracy.”
CARICOM has intended to play a leading role in trying to diffuse the situation in the South American country of Venezuela where Opposition lawmaker Juan Guaido, who declared himself interim president, is leading an effort to remove President Nicolas Maduro from office.
Guaido has the backing of the United States and several other right-wing governments in the region, while many nations in the global south, continue to recognize President Maduro as the country’s legitimate president despite pressure from western nations.
Over the last weekend, the military in Venezuela prevented the so-called aid from Washington from entering the country through Brazil and Colombia and United States Vice President Mike Pence met with Guaido in Bogota Monday amid reports of more sanctions being imposed on Caracas.
In later meetings, Harris, who led a CARICOM delegation to Uruguay, is expected to bring all the leaders up-to-date on the Montevideo Mechanism in response to the call by the United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, to find a pathway to a peaceful resolution through dialogue and from a position of respect for International Law and Human Rights.
Earlier this month, Harris said the proposal presents “the only objective mechanism” to address the complex political situation in Venezuela and that it is the only initiative available for international actors “who want to see peace in Venezuela.
“We expect that the Montevideo Mechanism will become a landmark document in terms of moving forward. Not only will it survive in the context of what is happening in the Republic of Venezuela, but I believe it provides a platform, if you will, a framework for engagement in other disputes that would impact upon us,” Harris said.
As the Venezuela crisis continues, a political situation is unfolding in Guyana, where the coalition government of President David Granger has collapsed after the main opposition People’s Progressive Party (PPP) had been able to successfully move a motion of no confidence in the National Assembly Dec. 21, 2018, where the government had enjoyed a one-seat majority.
The Granger administration has since filed a motion in the Appeal Court seeking to overturn a High Court ruling in January that the motion was valid and which refused to provide a conservatory order, thereby halting the 90 day period required by the Guyana Constitution for new elections to be held — once a motion has been successfully passed against the government.
Simultaneously in Haiti, the only French-speaking member within the CARICOM group, political protests over government corruption and high oil prices have also been ongoing.
President Jovenel Moise, who took up office in 2017 following protracted elections, is under pressure from opposition parties to step down over his handling of domestic affairs as well as the use of funds under the PetroCaribe an oil alliance of many Caribbean states with Venezuela.
Several people have died since the street demonstrations started. In an earlier statement, CARICOM said the organization “is deeply concerned about the continuing violent protests in Haiti, which have resulted in the loss of life, property, destruction of infrastructure and caused grave distress.”
“The Community calls for calm and a cessation of the violence, appealing to all involved to engage in constructive dialogue and to respect the Constitution, the rule of law and democratic processes so that issues can be resolved in a peaceful atmosphere and allow for the return to a state of normalcy,” CARICOM said. President Moise has already indicated that he does not intend to step down, acknowledging that “the crisis we are going through is very serious”.
In all of this, the Guyana-based CARICOM Secretariat said that enhancing regional air and maritime transportation and further advancing the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME) that allows for the free movement of goods, skills, labour and services, across the region, will be among the matters for deliberation.
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The United Nations encourages political solutions, saying military interventions no longer have a chance in Latin America.
Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Amina Mohammed insisted Tuesday on the need for the Venezuelan government and the opposition to negotiate, avoid politicizing humanitarian aid and to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. The United States has also called for a special Security Council meeting.
“We encourage both parties to sit down at the negotiating table for the sake of Venezuelans and seek a peaceful resolution,” Mohammed said as she was visiting Spain to promote the United Nations’ Agenda for Sustainable Development.
For his part, the United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Monday that military intervention no longer has a place in Latin America international politics.
“The time for military interventions in Latin America has passed,” Guterres said, adding that the region has a long democratic history “which makes authoritarian regimes no longer have a chance.”
While the US humanitarian “aid” propaganda show ramps up on the Colombian border, I visited a market in El Valle, Caracas where food provided by the government was sold well below market value. This is all taking place amidst an escalating US economic war & threats of invasion. pic.twitter.com/LbRm7nSO9n
— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) February 22, 2019
Since the beginning of the U.S.-backed attempt to destabilize Venezuela, the U.N. has advocated political dialogue as the only possible option. In order to do so, Guterres has even offered his “good offices” to mediate between President Nicolas Maduro administration and the opposition, if they so request.
“It is not easy under the current circumstances. However, through the good offices of the UN Secretary General, we have hope that people speak,” Mohammed said and recalled that “there have been attempts to politicize” the humanitarian assistance in Venezuela.
The U.N. diplomat also mentioned her regrets about the loss of life or injuries possible in the situation that took place over the last few days.
👉🏼I’m not here to tell you what you want to hear. They (Fake News) tell you what you need to hear.
👉🏼The Us government wants another “Vietnam War” in Latin America
👉🏼The opposition sent orders to burn the trucks coming from Colombia with humanitarian aid.#HandsOffVenezuela pic.twitter.com/fNUwhbRZQs— Augusto C. Sandino (@NicaPatriotico) February 26, 2019
On this issue, the Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez denounced the false “humanitarian aid” that the U.S.-backed opposition intended to forcibly enter Venezuelan territory.
“One more evidence that the false humanitarian aid has nothing of help or humanitarian! It is the century’s scam!,” she said and announced that “Venezuela will receive support through the UN international cooperation agencies.”
The U.N. Deputy Secretary-General also stressed that the agency is hopeful to see moves in the direction of negotiation.
“There is a need for humanitarian assistance in Venezuela, but it has to be done under the principle that everyone has to be included,” she said and added that the U.N. “will continue to work with the Venezuela’s government to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches those who need it. The important thing is that the parties sit down at the negotiating table and explore ways to get people the assistance they need.”
The U.N. Security Council has been called to a special session for Tuesday afternoon by the United States as it aims to continue its destabilziation and intervention campaign.