Juan Guido

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Michael Pence

Photo: Gage Skidmore / wikipedia.org

Vice-President Michael Pence called the opposition leader of Venezuela Juan, Guido before he proclaimed himself head of state, writes The Wall Street Journal.

According to a senior source in the American administration, Pence promised Guide U.S. support if he would catch the reins of the President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro, referring to the Constitution of the South American country.

The next day, the President of the National Assembly of Venezuela announced the illegitimate government of Maduro, and the White house and the President of the United States Donald trump is almost immediately recognized, Guide interim President of Venezuela, writes the WSJ.

According to the publication, the team of trump a few weeks developed a secret plan to overthrow Maduro and held talks with the main representatives of the Venezuelan opposition, including Guido. Source WSJ reported that the development of the plan involved key members of the administration trump national security Council and opponents of Maduro in Congress.

Among the dignitaries who participated in the elaboration of the strategy of the United States, was Advisor to the President for national security John Bolton and Secretary of state Mike Pompeo, who advocated the recognition of Guido.

According to the sources, U.S. officials began negotiations with the Venezuelan opposition in late December – early January. January 2, Pompeo discussed with the President of Colombia Ivan Duque márquez, the issue of cooperation with regional and international partners for the return of Venezuela’s “democratic heritage”.

Conversation with Guido took place on 10 January, when the second time Maduro was sworn in as President of Venezuela. Five days later the national Assembly of the country has announced the government Maduro is illegitimate. Following this, writes the WSJ, trump at a meeting in the White house decided to implement the plan in recognition of Guido interim President of Venezuela. After this and had a telephone conversation Monday with the leader of the Venezuelan opposition.

Guido, secretly traveled to Washington

AR, in turn, reported the weeks of “secret diplomacy” on the part of the coalition of Latin American States and the United States, has supported the self-proclaimed, Guido.

According to sources, the Agency is under constant control of the activists received the secret message, and he Guiado in mid-December, has taken a risky trip to Washington, Columbia and Brazil to brief officials on the strategy of mass demonstrations of the opposition. The protests were to coincide with the inauguration of Maduro.

According to one of the anti-government leaders, who wished to remain anonymous, AR, Guido crossed the border with Colombia, bypassing the official points so as not to arouse suspicion from immigration officers, who sometimes harass opposition leaders at the airport and prevented from travel abroad.

The Agency notes that direct confrontation with Maduro became possible only thanks to the strong support of the American administration.

Considerable behind-the-scenes role was also played by made in the “group of Lima” Canada: Minister of foreign Affairs Chrystia Freeland spoke with Guido on the eve of the inauguration of Maduro and invited the leader of the opposition the support of the canadian government.

The activity shown and bordering Venezuela, Colombia, who already received 2 million migrants fleeing the economic crisis.

The controversial politician was responsible for “restoration of democracy” in Venezuela

U.S. Secretary of state Mike Pompeo was appointed special representative for Venezuela, Elliott Abrams, said in a Twitter office. According to Pompeo, he will be a valuable member of the mission of the Department of state, “to help the Venezuelan people by the cavity to restore democracy and prosperity” in the South American country.

Abrams along with Pompeo will take part in the meeting of the UN security Council for Venezuela on January 26. Sam Abrams at a press conference described the situation in Venezuela as “deep, complex and dangerous.”

Politico notes that the appointment of Abrams was unexpected. The politician, who formerly served in the administrations of presidents Ronald Reagan and George Bush, Jr., has established himself as a controversial figure, the article says.

In 2017, trump did not appoint him assistant Secretary of state, upon learning that Abrams criticized him. Under Reagan the career of Abrams in the American administration has been compromised because of involvement in high-profile international scandal “Iran-contra”, also known as “Irangate”.

In the mid-80s, it became known that some members of the U.S. administration organized secret arms shipments to Iran, thereby violating the arms embargo against the country. Further investigation revealed that the money received from the sale of arms went to Finance the Nicaraguan contra rebels, bypassing the ban of the Congress on their funding.

In 1991, Abrams pleaded guilty to withholding from Congress information about secret aid to the rebels. The following year, President George Bush senior pardoned him.

Politico also recalls that Abrams was accused of supporting a failed military coup in the same Venezuela in 2002, it has affected relations of the United States and the local government.

The official representative of Russian foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova called the appointment of Abrams ‘ attempt by Washington “to enter the direct control of the political situation in Venezuela, which the American establishment considers as its future regional vassal”. “Democracy in Iraq “restored”, too, in Libya, in Syria, are unable, or rather they were not given. Now Venezuela,” wrote Zakharova in Facebook.