- Sputnik International, 1920
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

Nicaragua Reportedly Foils EU-СELAC Summit's Consensus Condemning Russia

© AFP 2023 / JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN(From L to R) Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, European Council President Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen hold a press conference at the end of the EU- CELAC summit on July 18, 2023
(From L to R) Argentina's President Alberto Fernandez, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, European Council President Charles Michel and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen hold a press conference at the end of the EU- CELAC summit on July 18, 2023 - Sputnik International, 1920, 19.07.2023
Subscribe
During a recent regional summit attended by EU officials, Nicaragua reportedly proved to be the most resistant to condemning Russia over its special military operation in Ukraine.
Participants of the just-ended EU-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) summit in Brussels failed to agree on a joint declaration due to Nicaragua’s position on the Ukraine conflict, a UK newspaper has reported.
At the same time, “leaders of the two regions maintained that their first summit in eight years had pushed forward relations,” according to the newspaper.
Venezuelan Flag - Sputnik International, 1920, 12.07.2023
Americas
Venezuela Supports Cuba's Criticism of EU's Lack of Transparency on EU-CELAC Summit
The media outlet added that Nicaragua reportedly was “the sole holdout on a text approved by 59 other nations that expressed ‘deep concern’” over the Ukraine standoff.

“European leaders stressed they had achieved broad agreement for the expression of ‘concern’ about the war, including from other Russian allies such as Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia,” the newspaper noted, in an apparent nod to the Russian special military operation in Ukraine.

At the same time, a US news agency cited unnamed sources as saying that the summit has seen the EU’s failed attempt to upset Russia amid the struggle for influence across the region, a US news agency has cited unnamed sources as saying.
During the two day-summit, which wrapped up on Tuesday, senior EU officials reportedly tried to court their Latin American and Caribbean colleagues, amid a performance of classical music and a gala dinner.

According to the sources, the gathering was overshadowed by a diplomatic row over “how, if at all, to criticize Russia or the country’s President Vladimir Putin" for Moscow’s special operation. The insiders claimed that EU officials pointed the finger at Nicaragua, Cuba and Venezuela as the most resistant to the bloc’s lobbying for a strong condemnation of Russia.

The sources argued that it was impossible to convince Managua, Havana and Caracas of alleged Russian guilt, insisting that they were loyal to Putin ostensibly because his support allowed their leaders to remain in power.
The insiders also claimed that EU officials were disappointed over Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s unwillingness to accept any strong language on Russia when it comes to its special operation in Ukraine.
The US news outlet noted in this vein that “the dispute underscored the wider challenge that the EU and its Group of Seven (G7) partners face in getting Latin American countries onside, when the BRICS — Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — are gaining in influence.”
This follows Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira telling Sputnik on Tuesday that his country is interested in using national currencies in mutual payments with its key trading partners and is working on establishing relevant mechanisms, similar to the one already in place with Argentina.
In late May, Brazilian President Lula da Silva said he would want to see a common currency introduced for the BRICS member states so that Brazil would not need to use US dollars in foreign trade.
Dominican Foreign Minister Miguel Vargas Maldonado (on screens) delivers a speech during the opening of the XLVIII Senior Officials Meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the European Union (EU) in Santo Domingo, on October 24, 2016 - Sputnik International, 1920, 06.07.2023
World
Latin American Nations Reject Pro-Kiev Position Ahead of EU-CELAC Summit
With this year's BRICS summit scheduled for August in South Africa, the country’s Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor earlier told reporters that worldwide interest in the group was "huge" and that she had 12 letters from interested countries on her desk.
"Saudi Arabia is one,” she said, also mentioning the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Algeria, and Argentina.
Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала