NEW YORK – Acting Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN Ambassador Usman Jadoon said unilateral military action taken by the US against Venezuela contravened the sacrosanct principles of the UN Charter and the doctrine of sovereign immunity.
“Such actions set dangerous precedents that risk eroding the foundations of the global legal framework. They also fuel instability, which – as history has shown time and again – can lead to unpredictable and uncontrollable outcomes for years to come,” the ambassador stated this at the UN Security Council Emergency Meeting on the Situation in Venezuela
“At this critical juncture, the path forward must be one of dialogue and diplomacy. Durable solutions to political differences can only be found through peaceful means, with full respect for the will of the Venezuelan people, free from any external interference,” he stressed.
Jadoon said Pakistan viewed the recent developments in Venezuela with profound concern. In a world already beset by multiple crises, escalating tensions and instability in the Caribbean do not augur well for regional and international peace and security.
“We hope that Latin American and the Caribbean region – as a Zone of Peace – will remain free from conflict and confrontation and continue its march towards enhanced regional cooperation and improved prosperity for the people.”
The Pakistan ambassador urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint, de-escalate tensions, pursue peaceful co-existence, refrain from any actions that could exacerbate the volatile situation, and engage in dialogue including by utilising the sincere offers of mediation. The good offices of the Secretary-General also always remain available for that purpose.
He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to contributing constructively to the discharge of the Security Council’s primary responsibility for addressing the threat to international peace and security – by diffusing tensions, promoting pacific settlement, and upholding respect for international law and the UN Charter. Peace and stability of Venezuela and the welfare and prosperity of its people, with full ownership, must be the over-riding objective of all efforts.
