Top Venezuelan diplomat criticizes EU countries

By Sinan Dogan

ANKARA (AA) - Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza criticized the EU's call for a presidential election as a solution for the country.

“Europe must not fall at the feet of the United States for Venezuela,” Jorge Arreaza said Sunday in an interview with local El Pais newspaper.

Arreaza said the EU is not objective toward the crisis in Venezuela and he regards the EU and the U.S. as being responsible for food, medical shortages and high inflation. He said the blockade fuels the crisis.

Venezuela has been rocked by protests since Jan. 10 when President Nicolas Maduro was sworn in for a second term following a vote boycotted by the opposition.

Tensions rose when opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself acting president Jan. 23, a move which was supported by the U.S. and many European and Latin American countries.

A total of 19 EU states including Spain, Germany, France and Britain joined Monday in recognizing Guaido as president after an eight-day period for convening free, democratic and transparent elections in Venezuela expired.