UN Secretary-General expresses deep concern over developments in Venezuela

New York: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the developments in Venezuela following a US military operation that resul...

New York: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the developments in Venezuela following a US military operation that resulted in the detention of President Nicolas Maduro last Saturday, warning of the risks of escalating instability within the country and its potential repercussions across the region.

In a statement delivered on his behalf by UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on Monday, Guterres said that the United States did not adhere to international law in carrying out its military operation in Venezuela, describing the action as a "dangerous precedent” that threatens the foundations of international relations and the UN Charter.

He stressed that Venezuela's near-term future is highly uncertain and expressed concern about the potential rise in instability within the country, its impact on the region, and the precedent it may set for interstate relations.

Guterres noted that Venezuela has suffered for decades from deep internal instability, coupled with a severe social and economic crisis and erosion of democratic principles, which has forced millions of citizens to flee the country.

He called on all Venezuelan parties to engage in an inclusive democratic dialogue that allows all segments of society to determine the country's future.