Agri group weighs in on Venezuela crisis

The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) has committed to providing technical assistance to Venezuela’s “constitutional authorities” to help in rebuilding its food production and trade system amid a political and economic crisis.

In a press release issued on Wednesday, the specialised technical assistance agency advised: “The director general (Manuel Otero) … in recognition of the constitution of Venezuela and what was stated by the interim president, His Excellency Mr Juan Guaido, expressed his commitment to sharing the institute’s capacities to support a democratic transition thorough humanitarian and food aid as well the launching of actions aimed at strengthening Venezuela’s agriculture and rural well-being.”

This was in response to a declaration by Guaido, the parliamentary opposition leader, that he was the de facto leader of the South American country. Since then, the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Peru have declared their recognition of and support for Guaido as the constitutional leader.

The IICA release added: “The statements and decisions made by the director general are fully in keeping with the primary objectives of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), as well as its mission and historic mandate to encourage, promote, and support the efforts of the member states to achieve agricultural development and rural well-being.”

Meanwhile, the leader of Venezuela’s armed forces, defence minister Vladimir Padrino López, yesterday declared loyalty to President Nicolás Maduro and said that the opposition’s effort to replace him with a transitional government amounted to an attempted coup.

In a further blow to the opposition, Russia warned the United States against meddling in Venezuela, a long-time Kremlin ally that has received billions of dollars in Russian support.