Foreign interference in Venezuela unacceptable, UN mechanisms should be engaged - Kosachyov
MOSCOW. April 30 (Interfax) - Interference in Venezuela's affairs from the outside is unacceptable, and other countries should act strictly in compliance with United Nations mechanisms, Russian Federation Council Foreign Affairs Committee head Konstantin Kosachyov said.
"Needless to say, there can be no talk about pretexts for interference from the outside - and we know perfectly well that there are external forces just waiting for a pretext to intensify their actions, including forcible ones. We are firmly convinced that other countries must act within the framework of the UN Charter and UN Security Council decisions," Kosachyov wrote on Facebook on Tuesday.
"Any attempts to act in circumvention of the existing international mechanisms constitute direct interference in a sovereign state's affairs," he said.
"Russia's position is unaltered: we favor the existing differences to be settled through an internal dialogue in line with the Venezuelan constitution rather than through putsches and coups," he said.
By all appearances, another coup attempt in Venezuela will fail, he said.
"It's understandable that Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido is presenting everything as nationwide protests, the army's uprising, the final phase of what is called Operation Freedom, and so on. He has no choice other than to expect most Venezuelans to believe in this and join in, or to simply keep silent," Kosachyov said.
However, the central government appears to be keeping the situation under control, he said.
"In particular, the republic's defense minister, Vladimir Padrino Lopez, has said the Venezuelan armed forces stand firmly in defense of the national constitution and the legitimate authorities. All military units have reported that the situation in their barracks and at the military bases is normal under the leadership of their commanders," Kosachyov said.