Credit: Wikipedia Public Domain /  U.N. Security Council Chamber at world headquarters in New York City.

By Gary Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

Elliott Abrams is perhaps best known for being convicted of withholding information from Congress about the Iran–Contra affair while serving under President Reagan.  U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo last month named Abrams as the Trump administration’s new special envoy to crisis-stricken Venezuela.  Critics say Abrams had his fingers in the infamous U.S. Invasion of Panama in 1989 and America’s questionable policies in Latin America that included backing “death squads” in the region.  Speaking on behalf of the United States Government, Abrams, the U.S. Special Representative for Venezuela, called on the members of the Security Council yesterday to “pressure the illegitimate regime to peacefully step down.” He also questioned the value of dialogue with President Nicolás Maduro who, he said, would “rather block and burn donated medicine and bread than see it in the hands of Venezuelan children.” The UN has thus far continued dialogue with President Maduro’s diplomatic representatives despite U.S. pressure that it recognize opposition leader Jaun Guaidó who proclaimed himself as Venezuela president Jan. 23, 2019 in a bid to oust Maduro. 

Credit: UN Photo/Evan Schneider / Elliott Abrams, United States Special Representative for Venezuela, addresses the Security Council meeting on the situation in Venezuela Feb. 26, 2019.

Meanwhile, UN political chief, Rosemary DiCarlo, the UN’s political and peacebuilding chief, told the UN Security Council on Tuesday that the ‘protracted crisis’ in Venezuela has led to an  ‘alarming escalation of tensions’.  DiCarlo  stated that supplies sent by Russia and China have entered the country, in coordination with the Venezuelan Government, to be “distributed to those in need.” But she contended that food and medical supplies stockpiled by the United States and other countries at the Colombian and Brazilian borders, have been blocked from entering the country by Venezuelan authorities.

Troops Loyal To President Maduro Push Back Foreign Aid convoys From Venezuela’s Border

Over the weekend, there was a dramatic showdown at Venezuela’s border over humanitarian aid deliveries. Trucks carrying U.S. food and medicine returned to warehouses in Colombia after opposition supporters failed to break through lines of troops, who dispersed them with tear gas and rubber rounds, injuring dozens. In an interview with the BBC, Maduro said he would not allow humanitarian aid into Venezuela as it was a way for the US to justify an intervention. “They are warmongering in order to take over Venezuela,” he said.

The Permanent Representative for Russia, Vassily Nebenzia,  charged that the attempt to get US aid into Venezuela was “an attempted illegal state border crossing for the delivery of unknown cargo.” The Russia diplomat told the UN Security Council that if the US really wanted to help the Venezuelan people, it would have operated through UN agencies. Nebenzia stated that  Russian  successfully delivered 7.5 tonnes of medical goods through the World Health Organization (WHO), without any obstacles.

Venezuela’s Foreign Minister Accuses US  Of Attempting  “A Coup” Against Maduro Regime

Credit: UN Photo/Evan Schneider / Jorge Arreaza, Minister of the People’s Power for Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, addresses the Security Council meeting on the situation in Venezuela Feb. 26, 2019.

Jorge Arreaza, Minister of the People’s Power for Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela attacked DiCarlo’s briefing to the Council as being  “biased” and disseminated information “from one source” only.  Arreaza charged  the US had been attempting to mount “a coup” against his country. Regarding the the weekend attempts to deliver US and opposition-backed aid  across the border with Colombia into Venezuela, Arreaza said:

“That was the last chapter of the coup on Saturday, and I can tell you, read my lips, it failed. Now is the time for us to return to sanity and to respect international law. Among Venezuelans, we can build our own solution without intervention, interference from anyone, much less the United States.”    Jorge Arreaza, Minister of the People’s Power for Foreign Affairs of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela at UN Security Council Feb. 26, 2019.

Security Council Divided Between Those Who Recognise  Guaidó’s Legitimacy and Those Supporting Maduro 

This is the third Council meeting on the Venezuela issue in just over a month as a result of the escalation of the political crisis.  On Thursday February 28,  the Security Council is expected to hold a meeting on the situation in Venezuela. Council members will have opportunity to  vote on two competing draft resolutions, produced by the US and Russia, respectively. According to insiders,  the US draft will be vetoed, and the Russian draft will not obtain enough votes.

New York Protesters Ra lly On Wall Streetz To Say “NO War On Venezuela”!

Photo by Gary Raynaldo / Protesters rally on New York’s Wall Street  against potential US military intervention in Venezuela Feb. 23, 2019.