Kathmandu, January 31

After the government made clear its views on the ongoing Venezuela crisis in a statement that observers termed ‘tacitly consistent’ with Nepal Communist Party (NCP)) Co-chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s, government Spokesperson Gokul Baskota today said international relations of political parties were different than those of countries.

“The government has made its position clear. We move ahead on the basis of our traditional and balanced foreign policy,” he said at a weekly press conference to announce Cabinet decisions today. “We do not want to be dictated.”

Under pressure to make its views clear after Dahal’s ‘strongly-worded’ and ‘hastily-issued’ statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Tuesday, “In line with its principled position, Nepal believes that internal political problems of a country need to be resolved within its constitutional parameters in a democratic manner, free from external interferences. The people of Venezuela have the ultimate authority to take a decision on the country’s political and constitutional course. We stand for peace, stability and unity of Venezuela and call for resolution of differences through peaceful means.”

Dahal’s statement last Friday supported Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and denounced ‘intervention in internal affairs’ of Venezuela by the US and its allies, terming it ‘an unacceptable intrusion in internal affairs and an attempt of imperialist coup’.

Venezuela plunged into a political crisis after opposition leader Juan Guaidó declared himself interim president, challenging Maduro’s authority last Wednesday.

The US, Canada and other South American nations already back Guaido as president,while France, Spain and Germany last Saturday announced they would also recognise Guaido as the leader of Venezuela if Maduro did not call elections within eight days. On the other hand, Russia, China, Mexico and Turkey have publicly backed Maduro.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet on Monday decided to amend the ‘ambassador appointment directives’. As per the amendment,  ambassadorial nominees will have to take the oath of office from the president, who also makes ambassadorial appointments.  Earlier, ambassadors had to take oath from the PM, according to Banskota. Crisis