Dialogue key to resolving Venezuelan crisis: Bolivia’s Senate president

In an interview with Iran's Spanish-language television channel, Hispan TV, Adriana Salvatierra said that La Paz supports political talks between the the Caracas government and the opposition to settle their differences.

The Bolivian official said Venezuela’s political turmoil should be resolved without interference of others who have no right to determine the future of nations and pursue colonization policies.

He further called on other countries to respect Venezuela’s national sovereignty and help the nation address its issues via peaceful means.

Venezuela has been in political turmoil over the past weeks. The opposition has been holding widespread anti-government protests, blaming President Nicolas Maduro for an ailing economy, hyperinflation, power cuts, and shortages of basic items, and urging him to resign.

Opposition figure Juan Guaido, 35, further plunged the country into political chaos on January 23, when he proclaimed himself the “interim president” of Venezuela, a bizarre move that was nevertheless met with US President Donald Trump’s immediate support.

Canada, a number of right-leaning Latin American countries, and several European Union member states followed suit with America. Other countries, including Russia, China, Turkey, and Iran, have expressed support for the elected government in Venezuela and condemned any foreign interference in the country.

Earlier this month Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov censured the United States for its interference in Venezuela’s internal affairs under the “hypocritical pretext” of offering humanitarian aid.

Lavrov said Washington was violating accepted international norms and laws in a flagrantly shameless manner.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also slammed foreign meddling in Venezuela, saying the days of foreign intervention in Latin America are “long ago gone.”

Guterres’ comments last month came after President Trump repeated his threats of taking military action against the South American country.

The US president has time and again said that military force is an “option” to use against Venezuela, but has not specified under what circumstances he would dispatch troops there to remove Maduro from power.