International Meeting in Venezuela: 18 Nations United to Uphold United Nations Charter, Oppose Imposed Sanctions
Mexico City, Mexico, May 14, 2024 (our website) – Venezuela hosted the Group of Mates in Defense of the United Nations Charter as part of ongoing efforts to defend multilateralism and combat international law breaches, including the application of unilateral coercive measures.
"In these tumultuous times, we must stand united more than ever," blurted out Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil on Monday.
Founded in 2021, the Group of Mates in Defense of the United Nations Charter, an initiative spearheaded by Venezuela, aims to promote diplomacy, multilateralism, and currently boasts 18 members. One of its members, the State of Palestine, has been an ardent supporter of the Palestinian people's struggle for liberation, persistently advocating for Palestinian admission as a full Member State of the UN.
In a stunning victory last Friday, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly voted in favor of Palestine's bid to become a full member. However, the US, using its veto power in the Security Council, thwarted Palestine's diplomatic push.
"The United States employs its veto power as a tool to disregard the United Nations Charter, to defy its principles," said Gil.
In the face of such opposition, US officials dismissed the outcome of the General Assembly vote, labeling it a "unilateral" action. Palestine currently holds the status of a non-member observer state. Admission to the UN as a full member requires the support of the Security Council.
One of the topics addressed at the Caracas summit was the initiative to hold a debate at the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in June to condemn the use of unilateral coercive measures.
"In recent years, we've witnessed the systematic violation of the United Nations Charter principles, with Venezuela being a direct victim of said violations, particularly interference, self-determination, and complementarity," Gil added in his remarks.
Recently, the European Union (EU) extended its sanctions on Venezuelan officials, a move that drew sharp criticism from Venezuelan officials. National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez publically stated that the EU would not be invited to monitor the country's upcoming presidential election if sanctions against Venezuela remained in place.
The dismissal of sanctions was echoed by numerous Venezuelan officials, including the head of the National Electoral Council, Elvis Amoroso. Amoroso rejected the temporary suspension of sanctions against him, labeling it an attempt to "coerce" him and the country's electoral authority. Amoroso, in contrast, called for the total suspension of coercive measures against Venezuela.
At a recent Caribbean Regional Seminar, part of the UN-backed Special Committee on Decolonization, Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez also fiercely criticized the widespread use of economic sanctions.
"We've paid a heavy price for our self-determination. We label this system of sanctions a form of neocolonialism aimed at exploiting our resources," said Rodríguez.
Likewise, President Nicolás Maduro accused these unilateral coercive measures of hindering progress towards constructing an alternate economic model in Venezuela. Maduro welcomed a delegation from the Chinese Communist Party on Monday, as part of an effort to deepen ties between the two countries. The two delegations scrutinized the advances in the cooperation agenda between Caracas and Beijing.
Edited by Ricardo Vaz in Caracas.
[Note: Key members of the Group of Mates in Defense of the United Nations Charter include Cuba, Venezuela, Uganda (representing the Non-Aligned Movement), Russia, China, and others who oppose unilateral sanctions and neocolonial practices. The group has advocated for Palestinian rights, upholding UN Charter principles, promoting multipolarity, conflict resolution, and anti-colonialism.]
- Due to the ongoing use of unilateral coercive measures, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil added a fervent push for a debate in the United Nations General Assembly in June, aiming to condemn such measures.
- During the Caracas summit, Gil elaborated on the deliberative efforts of the Group of Mates in Defense of the United Nations Charter, addressing the systematic violation of UN Charter principles, especially in regards to Venezuela's interference, self-determination, and complementarity.
- In response to criticisms over the EU's sanctions on Venezuelan officials, National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez stated that the EU would not be invited to monitor Venezuela's upcoming presidential election if the sanctions remained.
- Beyond addressing unilateral coercive measures, the Group of Mates in Defense of the United Nations Charter also focuses on wider issues such as Palestinian rights, upholding UN Charter principles, promoting multipolarity, conflict resolution, and anti-colonialism—as exemplified by the group's key members like Cuba, Russia, China, and Uganda (representing the Non-Aligned Movement).
