Guterres speaks with Maduro and expresses his concern about post-election violence

United Nations, Sep 20 (EFE).- Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro spoke on Friday by telephone with UN Secretary General António Guterres, who expressed his “concern over post-election violence and accusations of human rights violations” in the Caribbean country.

The call was at the initiative of the Venezuelan presidentGuterres’ spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said at his daily press conference.

On that call, Guterres insisted to Maduro that it was necessary to “resolve any political dispute peacefully through genuine and inclusive dialogue.”

The spokesman did not explain what message Maduro conveyed, but said that “he spoke very clearly and frankly about how he sees the situation,” which Guterres “took note of.”

In previous statements, Guterres has demanded that Venezuela communicate the detailed results of the electoral records of the July 28 elections, which has not happened, and has lamented the lack of transparency of the Venezuelan authorities.

However, he also recently said that the economic sanctions imposed by the United States “do not help” to resolve the situation.

Despite these words, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil criticized Guterres last week, saying that the UN Secretary General “avoids condemning the application of unilateral coercive measures (and) sides with those who sanction illegally. It is an affront to the mandate that the States have given him, all for defending Venezuela’s aggressors,” Gil said.

Asked a few days ago whether the electoral conflict would affect Venezuela’s recognition at the UN – since Maduro and Edmundo González are competing for victory in the elections – Dujarric clarified that the representation of the States is the responsibility of the other member States and not of the Secretary General.

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