Top Venezuelan Diplomat Calls for More International Pressure, Seeks ‘Orderly Transition’ of Government

Venezuela's Charge d'Affaires Carlos Alfredo Vecchio speaks to the press following a meeting with US Vice President Mike Pence at the White House in Washington, on Jan. 29, 2019. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Venezuela’s newly appointed diplomat to the United States called for the support of the international community in ending Nicolas Maduro’s dictatorship and to assist the country in an “orderly transition” of power, during a discussion with international diplomats on Jan. 30.

Carlos Vecchio was appointed chargé d’affaires by Guaidó, with Washington’s blessing, on Jan. 25, not long after Guaidó declared himself interim president. Maduro has since refused to step down as leader, raising concerns about how Venezuela will transition to democracy.

Vice President Mike Pence shakes hands with Venezuela's Charge d'Affaires Carlos Alfredo Vecchio following a meeting at the White House in Washington on Jan. 29, 2019. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Just a day ago, Vecchio met with Vice President Mike Pence for an hour at the White House. He told reporters outside that he thanked Pence and the Trump administration for recognizing Guaidó as interim president and for supporting “our fight to restore democracy in Venezuela” amid the country’s ongoing political crisis.

Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump spoke to Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó on the phone to reiterate his support for “Venezuela’s fight to regain its democracy.”

Trump and Guaidó agreed to maintain regular communication to support Venezuela’s path back to stability as the interim leader noted the importance of the recent mass protests across Venezuela, according to the White House. Socialist policies introduced by Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chavez, have crippled Venezuela’s economy and driven millions out.

“They agreed to maintain regular communication ... and to rebuild the bilateral relationship between the United States and Venezuela,” White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a readout.

Speaking at the discussion hosted by the Atlantic Council, an American think tank on international affairs, Vecchio insisted on an “orderly transition” of government so that the country can “ease the suffering of our people.”

“We don’t want more conflict,” he said. “We are not willing to participate in any dialogue of the type that Maduro is interested in. The only thing we will accept is our agenda on how do we negotiate his exit? And that’s where the pressure has to be brought to bear.”

The top Venezuelan diplomat explained how three types of pressure now need to be exerted in Venezuela: internal pressure from the people in the streets, pressure from the National Assembly—the only legitimate democratic institution—and international pressure.

“The support of the international community is so important,” Vecchio said. “The national assembly is a true asset and it can pressure for the removal of the dictatorship but can also lend stability to a transitional government and be able to address the humanitarian crisis in our country. ... This is where the international community can help us.”

Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro offers a press conference in Caracas, on Jan. 25, 2019. Yuri Cortez/AFP/Getty Images

“The dream of freedom is so great that we won’t stop until we reach our goal,” Vecchio said, adding that Guaidó and other deputies of the National Assembly are taking great risks in order to achieve democracy.

International pressure against Maduro has continued to grow. Israel and Australia on Jan. 27 joined a growing list of countries pledging their support for Guaidó, including Canada and almost every Latin American country. Maduro, who has ruled the country since 2013 and is now in his second term as president, is alleged to have won re-election through illegitimate means.

Despite the mounting pressure, Maduro still has the support of the Venezuelan armed forces, even as Guaidó is offering amnesty to soldiers who join his side. The embattled dictator said on Jan. 30 that he is ready to negotiate with his opposition, as Guaidó has continued to call for his resignation in mass protests in the streets.

“Finally, the Berlin Wall is falling in Latin America and this will open the doors to a new process where many things will have to be redefined. There will be a new ideological prism through which we will see the economy and human rights,” said Julio Borges, the representative of the interim government of Venezuela to the Lima Group and former president of Venezuela’s National Assembly.

But Borges warned that Maduro is still in place, despite weakening military support.

“I don’t want you to think that the military are fully supporting Maduro now,” he said. “Let’s be clear—without exaggerating, 99.9 percent of the military do not support Maduro. But we understand if they do not react; it’s because they have been hamstrung by a system that doesn’t allow them to operate as they will.

“We have to be laser-focused and put an end to that very fragile support of the military.”

Meanwhile, David O'Sullivan, the European Union’s ambassador to the United States, said on behalf of the EU that the bloc fully supports the efforts of the National Assembly and Guaidó.