Source: United Nations (video statements)
The Council met in an emergency session to address the US rendition of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas, a move that has sent shockwaves through the region and beyond.
Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, delivering a statement on behalf of Secretary-General António Guterres, called for “respect for the UN charter and all other applicable legal frameworks to safeguard peace and security; respect for the principles of sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of states,” and “the prohibition of the threat or use of force.”
DiCarlo said, “the power of the law must prevail. International law contains tools to address issues such as illicit traffic and narcotics, disputes about resources and human rights concerns. This is the route we need to take.”
Colombian Ambassador Leonor Zalabata Torres said, “these actions remind us of the worst interference in Latin American and the Caribbean politics and are a threat to our region as a zone of peace.”
Colombia, backed by China and the Russian Federation, requested the meeting.
Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said, “there is no and can be no justification for the crimes cynically perpetrated by the United States in Caracas,” and called upon the US leadership “to immediately release the legitimately elected president of an independent state and his spouse.”
Nebenzia said, “we are particularly appalled by the unparalleled cynicism with which a Washington did not even attempt to conceal the true aims of its criminal operation, namely, the establishment of unbridled control over Venezuela’s natural resources and the assertion of their hegemonic ambitions in Latin America’s legitimate rights and interests.”
Waltz, in his address to the Council said the US, “successfully carried out a surgical law enforcement operation facilitated by the US military against two indicted fugitives of American justice, narco-terrorist Nicolas Maduro and Celia Flores.”
He stressed that “there is no war against Venezuela or its people. We are not occupying a country,” and said, “this was a law enforcement operation in furtherance of lawful indictments that have existed for decades.”
The US Ambassador said, “this is the Western Hemisphere. This is where we live. And we’re not going to allow the Western Hemisphere to be used as a base of operation for our nation’s adversaries and competitors and rivals of the United States. You can’t turn Venezuela into the operating hub for Iran, for Hezbollah, for gangs, for Cuban intelligence agents, and other malign actors that control that country. You cannot continue to have the largest energy reserves in the world under the control of adversaries of the United States, under the control of illegitimate leaders, and not benefiting the people of Venezuela, and stolen by a handful of oligarchs inside of Venezuela.”
Moncada said, “the kidnapping of the President of the Republic by the government of the United States of America,” constitutes “a direct violation of an essential norm of the international legal order, namely, the personal immunity of heads of state in office,” adding that disregard for these norms “not only affects Venezuela. But also sets an extremely dangerous precedent for all states represented in this chamber, regardless of their size, power, or alliance.”
The Venezuelan Ambassador said, “when force is used to control resources, impose governments or redesign states, we are faced with a logic that harks back to the worst practices of colonialism, and neo colonialism.”
He said, “we request today that the government of the United States of America be demanded to fully respect the immune immunities of President Nicolas Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores, as well as their immediate release and safe return to Venezuela. Second, the use of force against the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela must be clearly and unequivocally condemned. Thirdly, that the principle of non-acquisition of territory or resources by force be reaffirmed, and fourth, that measures aimed at de-escalation, the protection of the civilian population and the restoration of international law be adopted.”
The US operation began with overnight strikes in and around the capital, Caracas. Venezuela has declared a state of national emergency, with casualty figures and the extent of the damage yet to be confirmed.
To watch full meeting in all UN official languages, please visit: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1k/k1kem3z5nm