US envoy rejects Venezuelan calls for dialogue

By Bayram Altug

GENEVA (AA) - The U.S. permanent representative to the Disarmament Conference in Geneva dismissed Venezuelan foreign minister's call for dialogue on Wednesday.

"President [Donald] Trump is preparing to meet with the rightful president of Venezuela, that is [Juan] Guaido," Robert Wood said, speaking at a news conference.

Wood made a series of accusations against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and said that the legitimate president of the country was Guaido, the opposition leader.

He argued that Maduro would be held responsible if something happened to Guaido, adding that Washington viewed Maduro administration as unacceptable and it will not recognize it.

Earlier Wednesday, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza, referring to the presidents of the U.S. and Venezuela, said: "Why shouldn't they meet so that they can try to find common ground and work out differences?"

Guaido declared himself acting president on Jan. 23 until new elections were held, and was recognized by Australia, Canada, Columbia, Peru, Ecuador, Paraguay, Brazil, Chile, Panama, Argentina, Costa Rica and the U.S. The European Parliament took a step in the same direction.

Turkey, Russia, Iran, Cuba, China, and Bolivia reiterate support for Maduro, who vowed to cut all diplomatic and political ties with the U.S.

Speaking about the situation in South Asia, Wood said that Washington was worried about the escalating tensions between India and Pakistan and was closely monitoring the situation.

"They are not in a war right now. They have difficult relationships. The important thing is to try to reduce tension. That's what countries in the region and all of us would be trying to do," he evaluated.

Pakistan and India claimed on Wednesday they had shot down each other's aircraft along the border in the aftermath of a deadly bombing that killed more than 40 Indian troops earlier this month.

India blamed Pakistan for the attack, a charge Islamabad denied.