"We consider that the United Nations and myself, we offer our good offices to both parties at their request for negotiation, a serious negotiation able to take the country out of the present standoff", Guterres said in reference to Venezuela’s leadership crisis.
The statement comes after Juan Guaido, the head of the Venezuelan opposition-led National Assembly, who has been challenging the presidency of Maduro, welcomed humanitarian aid from abroad. The Venezuelan opposition has announced its plans to hold an international conference for attracting humanitarian aid to Venezuela in Washington on February 14.
On January 23, Guaido declared himself the country’s interim president and was immediately acknowledged by the United States, Canada and other US allies.
Russia, Mexico, China, Turkey, Uruguay and several other countries came forward to reaffirm their support for Maduro as the country’s only legitimate democratically elected head of state.