Uruguay walks out of regional summit over Venezuela

By Vakkas Dogantekin

ANKARA (AA) - Uruguay on Thursday withdrew from a summit of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Colombia, citing the illegitimate presence of Venezuelan opposition.

The overwhelming majority of the 35-member OAS, including the U.S., Colombia and Canada, call Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro a dictator, while others urge dialogue between the Venezuelan opposition and legitimate president Maduro.

"Uruguay considers this an attempt to impose the recognition of this delegation as legitimate representatives of Venezuela -- it is no more and no less than a subjugation of the legality of the OAS," Uruguay representative Ariel Bergamino said during the meeting.

"There is no other choice but to be against an act of this nature," he said, adding that Montevideo was not withdrawing from the OAS.

The Mexican and Bolivian delegations also voiced concern with the body's controversial decision to invite the Venezuelan opposition as the official representatives of the oil-rich country.

OAS secretary Luis Almagro said Wednesday the organization would increase pressure on Maduro and consider sanctions.

Venezuela announced its withdrawal from the OAS in April 2017, with Maduro accusing the U.S.-based organization of being controlled by Washington.

The OAS came into being in 1948 with 21 American countries signing the Charter of the OAS in Bogota, Colombia.