Venezuela urges US to have dialogue

By Bayram Altug

GENEVA (AA) - Venezuelan foreign minister on Wednesday called on the U.S. for dialogue and suggested the leaders of both countries could discuss their differences on a common ground.

"Why shouldn't they meet so that they can try to find common ground and work out differences?" Jorge Arreaza asked rhetorically to the 40th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, referring to Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro and his American counterpart, Donald Trump.

Arreaza said his country was under a U.S. blockade that has seized $30 billion worth of Venezuelan assets, particularly of oil companies, since November 2017.

He said international banks refused to work with Caracas and the U.K. blocked assets worth $1.5 billion while Belgium seized $1.4 billion.

He urged the Council to raise its voice against the blockade imposed on Venezuela and Cuba, saying such steps aggravated daily life of citizens.

Arreaza slammed Juan Guaido, Venezuela's self-proclaimed interim president who urged the U.S. to take military action in Venezuela using recent incidents near Columbian border as an excuse.

"This is not acceptable by any UN body," he said. He also called on Michelle Bachelet, UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, to visit Venezuela and witness the adverse effects of the blockade.

The delegations from the U.S., Argentina, Australia, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Canada, Israel and Argentina left the hall when Arreaza started began speaking.

The remaining delegations applauded Arreaza for an extended time after he was finished.

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 Venezuelan President Maduro, who vowed to cut all diplomatic and political ties with the U.S.

Trump pointed to military intervention as a possibility of a number of choices he could use to help solve the crisis.