Multi-national gathering in Venezuela to uphold United Nations Charter, denounce international sanctions
Rewritten Article:
Title: Venezuela Leads UN Charter Defenders Against Unilateral Coercive Measures
Mexico City, Mexico, May 14, 2024 (our website) - In a bid to protect multilateralism and challenge violations of international law, Venezuela hosted the Group of Friends in Defense of the United Nations Charter. With 18 members, this diplomatic coalition, founded in 2021, aims to reinforce solidarity and plans to debate unilateral coercive measures at the United Nations General Assembly in June.
Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil kicked off the summit on Monday, emphasizing the importance of unity in confronting global threats, such as fascism and wars. He criticized the United States for using its veto power to thwart Palestine's bid for full UN membership, deeming it a violation of the UN Charter.
The Group of Friends has been a strong supporter of Palestine's liberation struggle and the Palestinian people's admission as a full UN member. Following an overwhelming vote in the UN General Assembly, US officials rejected the outcome and labeled it a "unilateral" action.
The debate in June is expected to focus on condemning the usage of unilateral coercive measures, a practice that Venezuela has been subjected to in recent times.
Amidst this, the European Union (EU) has extended its sanctions on Venezuelan officials but reduced their review period from 12 to six months. The move has been met with criticism from Venezuelan officials, with National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez stating that the EU will not be invited to monitor the upcoming presidential election if sanctions persist.
Similarly, Elvis Amoroso, the head of the National Electoral Council, rejected the EU's temporary suspension of sanctions, calling it an attempt to exert pressure. Instead, he advocated for the total suspension of coercive measures against Venezuela.
As a response, Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez sharply criticized the use of economic sanctions during a UN-backed Caribbean Regional Seminar. She alleged that Venezuela has been penalized for its self-determination, considering these sanctions a modern form of neo-colonialism aimed at seizing resources.
Meanwhile, President Nicolás Maduro criticized the unilateral coercive measures as obstacles to his efforts to establish a new economic model in Venezuela. Amidst this, Maduro welcomed delegates from the Chinese Communist Party to deepen ties between the two nations.
Edited by Ricardo Vaz in Caracas.
Enrichment Insights:
- The Group of Friends in Defense of the United Nations Charter was established in 2021 and currently has 18 member countries. It is an initiative spearheaded by Venezuela to promote diplomacy, multilateralism, and adherence to the UN Charter.
- Recently, the group has been involved in several activities, such as commemorating the International Day of Multilateralism and Diplomacy for Peace, offering condolences on international incidents, and hosting national coordinators' meetings to reaffirm their commitment to countering neocolonial practices.
- The group's primary objectives include countering unilateral coercive measures, promoting multilateralism, and upholding the principles of the UN Charter, such as sovereignty, self-determination, and non-interference.
- The group has been vocal in their opposition to the use of illegal unilateral sanctions, which they believe undermine international law and destabilize the global order.
- The Group of Friends in Defense of the United Nations Charter encourages cooperation and adherence to international law as critical tools for constructing a more just and multipolar world order.
- Despite the EU extending sanctions on Venezuelan officials and reducing their review period, the National Assembly President, Jorge Rodríguez, asserted that the EU will not be invited to monitor the upcoming presidential election if sanctions persist.
- Elvis Amoroso, the head of the National Electoral Council, rejected the EU's temporary suspension of sanctions, labeling it an attempt to exert pressure, and advocated for the total suspension of coercive measures against Venezuela.
- Venezuelan Vice-President Delcy Rodríguez criticized the use of economic sanctions and argued that Venezuela has been penalized for its self-determination, considering these sanctions a modern form of neo-colonialism aimed at seizing resources.
- During a UN-backed Caribbean Regional Seminar, Delcy Rodríguez underscored the importance of addressing war-and-conflicts, policy-and-legislation, politics, general-news, and other deliberative issues to counteract the push of unilateral coercive measures and uphold the principles of the UN Charter, such as sovereignty, self-determination, and non-interference.
