The 13 Latin American countries and Canada, united in the Lima group, want to use sanctions to force Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro to give up. Maduro’s government should be denied access to Venezuela’s international assets, the group demanded yesterday after a meeting in Ottawa, Canada.
She called on the international community to take action to deny the Caracas government financial transactions abroad. The group called on the Venezuelan military to loyally side with the opposition leader and self-proclaimed transitional president Juan Guaido.
Peaceful change of power required
Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland reiterated that the Lima group supported a peaceful change of power in Venezuela. It was discussed at the meeting how the country could be supported if it had a new, democratically elected government. The Venezuelans are suffering from a catastrophic supply situation. Guaido tries to push Maduro out of office and is supported by the Lima group and the US and European countries.
„Disgusting and ridiculous“
Maduro dismissed the call of the Lima group as „disgusting and ridiculous“ rejected. „You do not know if you should laugh or puke,“ Maduro said yesterday in Caracas. Each of her demands is „crazier than the other“. Maduro also criticized the EU states that had accepted Guaido as interim president on Monday, and US President Donald Trump, who had not ruled out a military operation again.
