Lithuania to consider stance on recognizing Venezuela interim government - president

VILNIUS - Lithuania will consider what position to take on recognizing Venezuela's interim government, President Gitanas Nauseda said, following recent US military action in the South American country.

"We will consider this issue," Nauseda told BNS in an interview.

He said a meeting would be held this week with the heads of parliamentary committees responsible for security and foreign policy.

"There are many issues that have accumulated where we need to be united, clearly identify the problems and, most importantly, know the ways to resolve them," the president said.

His comments came after the United States, following months of military and economic pressure, carried out unexpected air strikes against several targets in Venezuela earlier this month, with powerful explosions shaking the capital Caracas.

During the operation, Venezuela's authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife were flown to New York, where they have appeared in court on charges of drug trafficking and terrorism.

US President Donald Trump said Washington would "run" Venezuela during a transition period. Maduro's vice president, Delcy Rodriguez, was named interim president.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said last week that Vilnius supports a statement by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stressing that international law and the UN Charter must be respected under all circumstances.

Nauseda reiterated that Lithuania has never recognized Maduro as Venezuela's legitimate president and stressed that restoring democracy is a task for Venezuelans themselves.

"Restoring democracy is first and foremost the task of the Venezuelan people," the president said, adding that elections must reflect the will of the people.

He warned, however, that the detention and removal from the country of a person claiming the presidency sets a precedent and conflicts with the United Nations Charter.

Nauseda said he would like to hear directly from the United States that its actions were "truly in the name of democracy."

He added that he hoped the developments could help restore democratic processes in Venezuela, possibly through a transition period.